The GSA provides funding to student organizations for various activities that benefit the graduate student body. If you'd like to read all the questions first, please view the GSA Funding Application Prep Sheet
Apply for grants using this application form!
**Please note that grant applications are due the first of the month *preceding* the event.**
**Please note that the funding application can be found on the GSA page on OwlNest and that you need to be a member of GSA on OwlNest to see the application**
Apply for loans with the GSA Loan Form! Once you fill in the details, it goes to GSA for approval. Upon approval and signature, you will receive the updated copy of this via mail. After this, if you have any queries related to loan amount showing in account, “you have to contact the Bursar’s office, but please keep gsafinance@rice.edu in the conversation loop”.
*Spring 2026 semester only with a faster turnaround* Apply for a sustainability pilot grant using this application form! Contact- Anika Gupta, GSA Sustainability Director, ag300@rice.edu
Large-Scale Organizational Grants
1. Programming Partnership Fund (PPF)
* PPF funding is broken up evenly across five deadlines throughout the year (Feb-1, May-1, Aug-1, Oct-1, Dec-1).
* At each deadline, $6000 is available to be distributed amongst all approved PPF applications.
* All PPF event applications must be submitted at least two months before the planned event date, e.g. By April 1 if your event is on August 1.
* Strict adherence to the deadline is required; failure to do will result in strict action being taken by the GSA.
* For queries, contact the current VP of Finance (Nitisha Mehrotra) at gsafinance@rice.edu.
PPF Guidelines-https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jHUZPlKFfPMULtVv0NVQ6DMRm9a30_chmzJfM9i43w
2. Student Activities/President’s Programming (SAPP) Fund
* The Student Activities/President’s Programming (SAPP) Fund is designed to provide financial support for student clubs and their events on campus.
* All registered student clubs are obligated to follow Rice University policies and procedures for the utilization of SAPP Funding.
SAPP Guidelines and Deadlines- https://studentcenter.rice.edu/student-activities/club-resources/financial-resources/sapp
Organizational Grants
1. GSA Enrichment Grant
* Sponsors broad-based educational, cultural, or service projects proposed by members of the Rice University community.
* Funded events or projects must be open for all graduate student participation.
* Enrichment Grants do not exceed one thousand dollars ($1000) per funding award.
* All Enrichment Grant applications must be submitted at least two months before the planned event date, e.g. By April 1 if your event is on August 1.
* Strict adherence to the deadline is required; failure to do will result in strict action being taken by the GSA.
* The Grants Committee reviews Enrichment Grant applications on a monthly basis. For queries, contact the Grants Director (Lul Sharif) - gsafinance@rice.edu
GSA Enrichment Grant Procedures and Reimbursement Guidelines
2. Graduate Student Activity Grant (GSAG)
* Provides supplementary funding for broad-based educational, cultural, service projects, or social events that may not be able to accommodate all graduate students. The individual/group organizing the event may apply.
* The GSAG will not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per award (one award per event).
* Each individual/group is limited to one award per semester. The Grants Committee reviews GSAG applications on a monthly basis.
* Deadlines are 11:59PM on the 1st of every month. For queries, contact the Grants Director (Lul Sharif) gsafinance@rice.edu.
Graduate Student Activity Grant Procedures and Reimbursement Guidelines
3. GSA Community Service Funding
* Provides funds to organizations/students to execute community service activities. All Rice graduate students, undergraduate students, faculty, staff and campus organization are eligible to submit proposals for funding.
* The maximum value of any award will be five hundred dollars ($500) and the number of awards will be left to the discretion of the Community Service Committee.
* To receive funding, events must be open to participation by all graduate students.
For queries, contact the Community Service Director or gsafinance@rice.edu.
4. Professional Development Grant
* Aims to improve and expand the professional development opportunities available to graduate students at Rice.
* The maximum value of any award will be five hundred dollars ($500).
* Deadlines are 11:59PM on the 1st of every month. The Grants Committee reviews Professional Development Grant applications on a monthly basis.
* Please note that this funding is solely meant for the organizing of professional development opportunities for multiple Rice student participants.
For queries, contact the Grants Director (Lul Sharif) - gsafinance@rice.edu
Loans
1. GSA Loan Funds
* The GSA Loan Fund is here for you in your time of need! Eligibility criteria: you must be a currently registered Rice graduate student and must not already have a GSA loan.
* Any such qualified graduate student can borrow up to $500; the total fee is only 2%. A loan may have no more than a 90 day repayment term.
* GSA retains the right to create extra paperwork by placing your academic record on hold (prevents graduation, registration, transcripts, etc.) and reporting you to the credit bureau – so please pay your loan on time!
For more information, please contact the current VP of Finance (Nitisha Mehrotra) at gsafinance@rice.edu
2. Mosely/Adams Graduate Student Loan Fund
* The Mosely/Adams Graduate Student Loan Fund is administered by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and provides loans of up to $3,000.
* See the Mosely/Adams Graduate Student Loan Fund for full details on how to apply. For queries, contact Pia Byrd pia.byrd@rice.edu
General Guidelines
For any doubts or queries, please reach out at gsafinance@rice.edu. Please avoid using personal email IDs.
You need to be a member of GSA on OwlNest to access the application form.
Strict implementation of p cards for any purchase: coordinate the pickup (3-4 days before event) and return p cards to respective director by contacting at gsafinance@rice.edu (no personal money should be used).
P cards should be return on time always (within 3 days after the event); please avoid keeping for longer time.
In case of event cancellation, please communicate with the GSA finance team at the earliest.
For GSA loan, once approved and signed by GSA, it is forwarded to the Bursar’s office. (GSA has no authority after submission).
Always apply before deadline and use legitimate information when filling the forms to avoid delays/rejections
Please be patient if you do not receive an immediate response: we all can be occupied sometimes.
Details - Available at https://gsa.rice.edu/funding