Student Activity Fee Funding

The Student Activity Fee fund was developed to enhance campus-wide social, recreational and community-building activities. Groups wishing to apply for event funding should first find an appropriate date and reserve an event space. The next step is developing an event plan and budget.

When you’re ready, submit a Student Event/Initiative Funding Request Form, found at the SAF portal on The Link. For events costing over $1,000, you will be required to schedule a short presentation about your event or initiative.

Student groups should never sign contracts or make verbal agreements with talent or vendors. For more information about contracts and agreements, visit the SOFO website.

Criteria for Receiving SAF Funds:

• SAF funding is available for events or initiatives organized by chartered student organizations, student committees or councils advised by university departments, or faculty and staff departments. Individual students*, faculty, or staff members are not eligible to receive SAF funds. Unaffiliated students are asked to seek collaboration with a student group or department in order to apply.
  • Chartered Student Organizations
  • University Departments 
  • Student committees or councils advised by University Departments
    • *Individual students with ideas for events or initiatives should seek to collaborate with chartered student groups or university departments.
• Event/initiative enhances campus traditions OR events that contribute to a vibrant student experience.
• Event/initiative unites the campus OR has campus-wide appeal.
• Event/initiative MUST be open to all students.
• Event/initiative is in line with one or more of the Campus Life Strategic Themes
  • Reimagining the campus as a classroom
  • Inspiring One Wake Forest
  • Creating pathways to leadership, meaning and purpose
  • Elevating our consciousness of care
  • Maximizing processes, systems and resources
• Special consideration will be given to events that involve the collaboration of two or more organizations and/or offices.
• All groups listed on a proposal must make some financial or resource contribution to the proposed event/initiative. Financial contributions do not have to be equal and should be proportionate to organizational budgets. Contributions may also include staffing, printing and/or other services.

Funded by SAF

SAF Funding Expectations

• Because SAF allocations are funded by undergraduate student fees, the primary audience for SAF-funded events is WFU undergraduate students. Graduate students, faculty/staff and community members may be present at SAF-funded events but should not be the primary audience.
• Funding is awarded on annual basis. Funding allocations are not guaranteed for future years.
• Student Activity Fee Funding must be applied for prior to the event or initiative in accordance with the committee guidelines found at the SAF Portal on The Link.
• Applicants cannot apply for SAF funding in order to cover funding shortages post-event or initiative, or after the application deadline.
• Any group that receives funding must go through the event planning process with the Office of Student Engagement.
• Publicity for all events funded by SAF must include the statement “Funded by the Student Activity Fee.” If the event is funded by several sources, publicity should read “Funded in part by the Student Activity Fee.”
• All funding requests must be accompanied by an event or initiative budget on the approved budget template. You can find the required budget template within the application. You must provide an updated, current budget rather than utilizing one from previous years.
• Please ensure that your budget template includes price quotes and/or pricing estimates obtained from vendors or vendor websites within 30 days of the application date.
• SAF does not fund contingency amounts, only costs documented with price quotes.
• SAF funds will not be transferred into an organization’s account. Rather, expenses will be paid using the services of the Student Organization Finance Office (SOFO).
• All organizations/offices receiving funding are expected to manage such funds in a prudent manner. Evaluations and final reflections for all allocations will be due within two weeks following the event/initiative. Failure to turn in evaluation and final report forms in a timely manner may affect future funding.
• Taking attendance at your SAF funded event/initiative is essential.  Accurate attendance data helps the SAF committee assess the impact of your event and supports the allocations of funding based on participant numbers. Recipients of SAF funding may choose to utilize bar code scanners to track student event attendance. Barcode scanners may be borrowed from the Office of Student Engagement (using this form) or departments may purchase their own equipment with departmental funds.
• When requesting funding for an existing event (one that has been held in past years) be sure to include attendance and expense information for the past event in your request, as well as lessons learned and planned improvements.
• All events with food and/or beverages must use Harvest Table Catering as the exclusive food service provider of Wake Forest University, unless obtaining an approved Aramark Food Waiver. Requestors should attempt to obtain a food waiver prior to submitting a request.
• SAF funds cannot be spent on the following:
  • T-shirts
  • Costumes or other apparel
  • Gift cards
  • Gifts to performers or other talent
  • Prizes to non-Wake Forest community members 
  • Any durable item intended for long-term use by the organization or department, even for future iterations of the same event. Chartered Student Organizations may seek funding for durable items through the SBAC annual budget process or a Contingency or Capital request.
• SAF funds may not be used for events that overlap with large-scale events already on the campus calendar.
• SAF funds may not be used to sponsor events that are fundraisers or recruitment for a student organization.
• SAF funds may not be used to purchase alcohol for the event. However, alcohol can be present at the event.
• Organizations may be asked to revise proposals in order to meet the criteria and policies outlined above.
• The full list of Student Activity Fee Funding Expectations can be found here.