SOAR Funding

• Must be currently registered with Student Activities for 2025-2026
• Must have achieved Bronze Talons Up! level status
• Be in good conduct standing
• Must not have received any funding in the current fiscal year Student Service Fee budget
• Not have received funding for the same request from Eagle's Nest, Raupe Travel Grant, GSC Event Fund, GSC Travel Grant, or Student Organization Foundational Funding Award

• Requests for funding must be submitted via the SOAR Funding Request form at least 10 business days before the student organization needs to spend the funds or pay for an item. 

• • Prior to submitting the Funding Request form and no less than 5 business days before, the student organization may request an exception to the deadline by emailing Jeremy.Sippel@unt.edu. 
  • In the email, include information about the item, vendor, and when the item is needed.
  • If Student Activities can accommodate the request on short notice, it will. 

• The student organization must use the budget spreadsheet template provided in the Funding Request form. 
• Student Activities will process purchases on behalf of the organization; student orgs cannot purchase items and be reimbursed.
  • If approved for funding for Dining Services (i.e. Verde or Food to Go), the student organization will need to place the order with Dining Services and provide the invoice to Student Activities.
  • If approved for funding for PDS or Design Works, the student organization will need to place the order with the approved vendor and provide the invoice to Student Activities.
• If the date the item(s) is/are needed is unrealistic, Student Activities will reach out to the student organization to discuss. This may include the recommendation of purchasing an alternative item.
• All purchases must be eligible for tax exemption. Prior to submitting the Funding Request form. Please ensure any vendor you are interested in purchasing from will accept the university's tax exemptionl If tax exemption is not accepted, an alternative vendor that does allow for tax exemption will be required.
• When a requested item can be purchased by an on-campus vendor (i.e. Dining Services, Design Works) for an amount close to the purchase price of an off-campus vendor, it must be.
• Items that are purchased for a student organization will be delivered to Student Activities and must be picked up after notification is made on the Funding Request form.
  • Exceptions: Some Walmart will need to be picked up by the organization; Verde Catering will either deliver to the event or the organization will need to pick up the order from Food to Go.
• Payments cannot be made to a vendor via physical check or money transfer app.
• If requesting funds for an event, the student organization must have an associated Event Application submitted.
• Any expenditure that exceeds the approved dollar amount is the financial responsibility of the student organization. SOAR funding will not cover any overages or additional costs unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by the Assistant Director, Student Organizations.
• When Student Activities purchases supplies or equipment for a student organization event using funds from Eagle’s Nest, SOFFA, or SOAR, any reusable supply/equipment will remain the property of Student Activities. Your organization will be required to return the items after use; however, the organization will be able to check-out the items for future events.
• Student Activities reserves the right to make changes to the guidelines as needed.

Ideas for funding include:

• Items to promote the student org (flyers, brochures, branded table cover, etc.)
• Meeting supplies
• Virtual professional development opportunities

Restrictions include:

• Free speech activities
• There is no limit to the dollar amount a student organization can request or receive, with the exception of $500 on promotional items for the year,  however, Student Activities is allocated a limited amount for the fiscal year and approximately 400 student organizations are eligible to apply. As such, large requests will not likely be awarded in order to ensure funding is available to student organizations throughout the year.
• SOAR cannot fund an event if charging admission or collecting payments
• Events that are eligible for or receiving SGA's Eagle's Nest or GSC's Event Fund in the current fiscal year
• SOAR cannot fund travel
• Programs funded by the Student Organization Foundational Funding Award
• Prizes or items  of individual, rather than organizational, benefit such as awards, graduation stoles/cords, personalized apparel
• Food or drink for meetings, except when the food item is an integral part of an educational activity conducted during the meeting or of the student organization's mission (e.g. using coffee for a discussion on how that coffee's brewing affected the taste)
• Items needed in/to be used in an upcoming/future semester. Student Activities will only review requests for items needed in/to be used in the current semester
• Expedited fees or priority shipping
• UNT students, who cannot be paid for services (e.g., student DJ, student videographer/photographer for an event)
• Student Activities will not fund any activities or expenses that violate University Policy (e.g., alcohol); the Code of Student Conduct; or Local, State, or Federal law (e.g., that discriminate based on protected classes).

SOAR Funding is available throughout the academic year until funds are no longer available. Requests must be submitted at least 10 business days before the student organization needs to spend the funds or pay for an item. 

1. Requests for funding must be submitted via the SOAR Funding Request Form at least 10 business days before the student organization needs to spend the funds or pay for an item. 
2. Student Activities will review the application and notify the RSO of the funding decision.
3. RSO works with Student Activities staff to make purchases for allocated request.