The Alcohol-Free Mini-Grants Program
The Mini-Grants program is designed to support late night social and recreational programming through mini-grants to student groups that offer such programs.
Applications for mini grants are administered through the Division of Student Affairs. A subcommittee of the Alcohol Task Force makes award decisions. This committee is chaired by Divisional staff and includes several Pitt student leaders. Grants are awarded up to $1,000 per event. An organization will not be awarded more than $3000 in mini-grants in a single academic year. Applications must be received at least two weeks prior to the event date. To be considered, your event must meet the following criteria:
- Alcohol-free
- Held between the hours of 10P.M. – 2A.M. on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night.
- Held on campus
- Open and easily accessible to all Pitt students
- A fun, creative social event that will realistically occupy and engage participants throughout the evening (reducing the likelihood that students will leave and consume elsewhere).
Preference is given to programs that:
- Do not charge an admission or entry fee
- Receive funding from several sources
- Are collaborative efforts from multiple organizations
- Are not serving as fundraisers for an organization or cause
- Are likely to attract a large number of students
Download the 2007-2008 Mini-Grant Application Packet by clicking here.
Stipulations for mini-grant award
PUBLICITY: After receiving an award, you must post your event to the Student Events Calendar on Pitt’s website. Post events to the Calendar by going to http://www.events.pitt.edu/view.asp.
You will be required to fill in your information. Someone will respond to your email within 4 working days regarding the posting of your event.
All Mini-Grant awards are submitted for consideration to the Weekend Checklist a weekly residence hall posting of weekend events. If any aspect of your event changes (location, event time, etc.) you must notify the committee immediately.
All mini-grant funded events must be advertised in the Pitt News. The cost of the ad should be paid with your mini-grant funds. You must also put on the ad that your event was sponsored or co-sponsored by an Alcohol-Free Mini-Grant. Please make sure to place the ad at the Pitt News not later than 3 pm, two working days before the needed publication date. Please provide a clipping from the Pitt News showing proof of the advertisement of your event.
REPORT AND SURVEYS: After the event a student representative (e.g. president) of the organization/group approved for the award must complete a one page, typed report. The report should describe the event (time, date, number of people, cost, etc.). The report should also indicate if the event is successful or unsuccessful. Also, the student representative should have approximately 50 students complete a survey during the event. The survey was included in your application packet. If you need a copy they can be found online at http://www.studhlth.pitt.edu/healthed/minigrants.html. The report and collected surveys must be submitted to the Alternatives Committee by the end of the semester in which the event was held. Turn in reports to Jocelyn Cilik in 119 WPU.
ACCOUNTING FOLLOW-UP: The student representative must follow-up with Gina in the SORC to give her the student account number and verify the award amount. You can visit her at 833 WPU or call 8-7836.
Summary: Organizations that receive mini-grant awards and do not complete the above stipulations will not be considered for a mini-grant award in the semester immediately following the semester of the event in question.
If you have any further questions or need more information, contact Jocelyn Cilik in 119 WPU or at 412-648-7897. Applications are accepted from September through April.