Funding

Login to Student Organization Management

On This Page:

• CSA Funding
  • Who can apply for and receive funds?
  • Operating Funds
  • Programming Funds
  • Audits
• Additional fiscal support and resources
  • CSA Funding Support
  • USG Funding
  • Coca-Cola Beverage Donation
  • Treasurer action items
  • Tax Information
    • EIN
    • Non-profit designation
  • Bank Accounts

CSA Funding

The Council on Student Affairs, or CSA, is a subscommittee of the University Senate. CSA has an Allocations Committee that offers funding support to registered student organizations through an allocation from the Student Activity Fee.

The two main types of funding sources available to student organizations from CSA are Operating Funds and Programming Funds.

Who can apply for and receive funds?

Only registered student organizations can receive funds from CSA. An organization can be in Pending, Active, or Inactive status to apply for funds, but must be in Active status to receive funds. 

The listed treasurer in the online roster is the only individual who is able access to the online application for CSA Funds via the Student Organization Management System.

All funding is available on an annual basis, resetting each year on June 1. Unused funds from one year do not roll over to the next year. The funding cycle ends on May 31 each year.

There are some organizations, as noted in both the Student Organization Registration and Funding Guidelines, that are not eligible for the CSA Programming or Operating Funds, such as Sport Clubs through Rec Sports, Student Governments, Bohorts, Residence Hall/Community Councils, and so on.

Operating Funds

Purpose: Operating Funds are intended for expenses necessary to maintain your organization through your general operations during the year.

Amount: Organizations can apply for up to $500 per year.

Application deadlines:  Applications are submitted on a rolling basis in the  Student Organization Management System.

Receipt of funds: Funds can be requested as an up-front payment or a reimbursement of prior expenses. For up-front payment, funds are provided first, and an audit is due to substantiate evidence of payment by the respective deadline*. For reimbursement, audit/receipts are submitted, and a check is issued post-transaction to reimburse the expense(s). All checks are made available for pick-up in the Ohio Union Resource Room (second floor).

*Please note: If the full amount issued as an up-front payment is not entirely used or the audit is not fully approved, remaining funds are required to be returned to CSA as a transaction in the Resource Room. Expectations for returning funds will be communicated in the Management System.

Audit submission:  If you request up-front funding, your audit is due within 30 days from when you pick up the check in the Ohio Union (KBK) Resource Room. If you request reimbursement, your audit is due within 30 days of the oldest receipt that you are submitting for reimbursement.

Use of funds: The following chart shows examples of how organizations can and cannot use Operating Funds.

Above table from Student Organization Funding Guidelines.

Programming Funds

Purpose: Programming Funds are intended to support programs hosted by your organization. Programs must be on-campus and open to any Ohio State student to attend.

Amount: Organizations may apply for up to $3,000 or $4,500 per year. Organizations with Active status can apply for up to $3,000, and organizations with Active - Established status can apply for up to $4,500 per year. Completing the annual registration process leads to Active status. Learn more about registration and status designations on the registration page. 

Application deadlines: The Programming Funds application has 5 specific deadlines throughout the year that are based on the program date. Late requests will not be reviewed. Applications are reviewed once the deadline passes. No advance notification can be given for early submissions, as each funding window is viewed as a collective.

Programming Funds application deadlines and notification date: 

Receipt of funds:  Funds are issued on a reimbursement basis upon successful completion of an audit. Reimbursements to student organizations are the most common way that CSA disperses Programming Funds. However, CSA can pay several entities directly and will endeavor to do so to minimize the upfront costs associated with programs to student organizations.

Audit submission: The Programming Funds audit is due within 30 days after the program date. See information below regarding audits.

Use of funds: The following chart shows examples of how organizations can and cannot use Programming Funds:

Above table from Student Organization Funding Guidelines

Audits

Student organizations that receive CSA funding are required to submit a CSA Funding Audit. While organizations must meet the audit deadlines, they are welcome and encouraged to submit audits as soon as they are able.

Operating Fund audits are due depending on which request type you picked. If you request up-front funding, your audit is due within 30 days from when you pick up the check in the Ohio Union (KBK) Resource Room. If you request reimbursement, your audit is due within 30 days of the oldest receipt that you are submitting for reimbursement. Organizations that did not receive operating funds during the fiscal year are not required to submit an operating funds audit.

Programming Fund audits are due no later than 30 calendar days after the scheduled event date. Organizations approved for programming funds will be reimbursed after submitting their audit. The items for which the organization will be reimbursed must comply with the Student Organization Funding Guidelines fundable expenses. Failure to submit programming fund audits within 30 calendar days will result in the audit being void and not reimbursable, unless the student organization requests an extension before the audit deadline and is approved for the extension. Date changes to events must be communicated to the CSA Fiscal Coordinator to ensure funding will remain available.

Please use a copy of the appropriate form and include your receipts and documentation

2025-2026 Operating Funds Audit Form - Submit electronically in the Student Organization Management System

2025-2026 Programming Funds Audit Form - Submit electronically in the Student Organization Management System

Tips for submitting audits:

• Audited items may deviate from the original budget as submitted on the request form, as long as expenses submitted are still fundable and within the approved dollar amount.
• You must provide original (physical or digital), itemized, legible receipts that list the following information:
  • Date of transaction
  • Vendor/place of purchase
  • Itemization of expenses
  • Proof of payment
    • Typically, this is indicated by the last 4 digits of the payment card, and may also be demonstrated with supplemental documentation such as a cancelled check or bank statement.
• You must provide a list of attendees which includes the name.# of all Ohio State affiliated attendees and a program flyer.
• Provide accurate, specific information on the vendors, amounts, and description of expenses
• List all receipts individually on the audit form - do not subtotal any expense categories
• For direct payment to Ohio State University vendors (e.g., Student Life Events and Conferences), include invoice and write "please pay directly"
• By default, all payments are issued via a check to the organization directly (cannot be issued to individuals or outside businesses). The only exceptions to this are for invoices generated within the university or for reimbursement to a sponsoring university department. For reimbursement to other Ohio State University departments, please provide appropriate worktags in your audit.
• You will attach a copy of all receipts in one single uploaded document (recommended as Adobe PDF); please ensure photos/scans of receipts are clearly legible
  • It is recommended to keep copies of all receipts/documentation until after your audit is fully approved

Additional fiscal support and resources

CSA Funding Support

Book an appointment with a Student Organization Coach for one-on-one support with funding applications, usage, and audits.

Email CSAFunding@osu.edu for questions about the status of your application.

USG Funding

The Undergraduate Student Government’s Allocations Committee accepts funding requests on a rolling basis. Student organizations are eligible to apply for up to $1,500 per application and up to $3,000 per academic year. Eligible requests include speaker fees, room reservations, travel expenses, and more. You can apply at https://usg.osu.edu/resources/finances-funding/student-organization-funding-opportunities and email sl-usgallocations@osu.edu with any questions.

Coca-Cola Beverage Donation

Coca-Cola beverages may be donated to groups that qualify. These donations can help reduce costs for your organization when hosting events. Coca-Cola can provide donated beverages (including Dasani bottled water and Powerade) at your events, generally limited to one per person in attendance. Ice and cups are not provided. Certain major events or programs, such as Beat Michigan Week, can receive additional assistance and donations. Read more about the guidelines and request a donation by visiting the Coca-Cola Donation page.

Treasurer action items:

• Treasurers are required to complete annual registration requirements to keep the organization in good standing/Active status, which allows the organization to receive funding support. 
• Treasurers are the only organization member who can access the funding applications for CSA Operating and Programming Funds in the Student Org Management System.
• Complete a Payee Set-Up Form before receiving funding, which establishes a vendor ID with the university. This allows organizations to receive checks from the university and must be on file before any funds are distributed. The form and instructions are attached to this webpage.
  • The form can be filled out electronically and signed (cannot be typed signature)
  • All required fields must be completed, partial forms cannot be submitted
  • Fill out the full student organization name where it says Business Name
  • Use the primary leader or treasurer's phone number
  • Enter your EIN
  • Sign, print name, and date the form
  • Upload the form into the Student Organization Management System under Funding Documents (available only to the treasurer). Uploading to the system ensures the document will stay on-file for the organization and reduces requirements to resubmit.
• During officer transition, be sure to transfer ownership of the bank account to new officers as well as the EIN associated with the account.
• Get familiar with the Student Organization Funding Guidelines, which contain full details on CSA Funding requirements.

Tax Information

Student organizations are not legal entities of the Ohio State University, and thus are not tax-exempt or nonprofit by virtue of their existence or registration as a student group. This means that fiscally, organizations may bank with any bank of their choosing and are in charge of their own tax-related responsibilities. 

EIN

An EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. Any organization who wishes to obtain funding from the university must have an established bank account, which means there must also be an EIN on file with the IRS. An EIN can be obtained from the IRS by calling 1-800-829-4933 or by applying online.

When you apply online, you will be asked to identify your organization's type of legal structure. It is recommended to select: "View Additional Types, Including Tax-Exempt and Governmental Organizations" and then "Social or Savings Club."

• Learn more about the legal designation of a Social Club on the IRS website.
  • Information on filing annual tax returns is available from the IRS: Although they are exempt from income taxation, social clubs are generally required to file annual returns of their income and expenses with the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to filing an annual exempt organization return, social clubs may be required to file other returns and pay employment taxes. Some clubs may be required to file certain returns electronically.

Treasurers may login to the management system and click on "View Org Information" to view the EIN on file for the organization. Importantly, all treasurers can save their organization's EIN letter in the management system under the EIN section. We encourage you to do this so future treasurers have easy access to this information.

Need more information about the EIN? Can't find the EIN for your organization? Need another copy of your EIN letter? Explore more on the IRS webpage for EINs.

Non-profit Status

Student organizations can apply to be considered a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization (501c3). These organizations may be subject to additional restrictions in accordance with the IRS rules and regulations. For more information on the policies associated with being a nonprofit and for more specific directions on how to apply for non-profit status, you can go to the IRS Charity/Non-Profit webpage, or review the 501C3 general information section (for educational purposes only).

Bank Accounts

Because registered student organizations are independent from the university, they can bank with any bank of their choosing. Unless receiving funding from the university, it is not required to have a bank account as financial management is wholly up to the organization, though because checks from Ohio State are issued directly to the student organization, there must be a bank account in which to deposit any issued funds.

When opening a bank account, most banks will offer a student organization account type. A student organization account typically requires an EIN Letter, a copy of the organization's constitution, and a valid government-issued ID for the account owner(s). Consider having more than one individual on the bank account for continuous access and be sure to transition ownership of the account when organization leadership changes. Each bank may have their own variations of account options, eligibility requirements, and processes, and may change their policies, so direct communication and receiving information from the bank is essential.