Open Fund Grant
The ASM Open Fund Grant provides funding for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for routine operational expenses and recruitment of new members. The grant is designed to be an easier way for groups to obtain operational funding without having to go through the hearing process required of other ASM grants.
Unfortunately, all available Open Fund Grant resources for this academic year have been fully awarded. As a result, the application page is now closed.
Applications will reopen for the 2026–2027 academic year in Fall 2026.
Information for Current Open Fund Organizations
Remember to re-register your group with the Office for Student Organizations, Leadership & Involvement (SOLI) before October 13th. Your organization must comply with CfLI’s requirements to spend grant funds.
Grant workshops will be held via a Canvas course. If your RSO is awarded an Open Fund Grant, the contacts provided on the Open Fund Grant application will be added to the Canvas course. These are the only individuals who will be authorized to expense Operations Grant funding for your RSO.
Open Fund Grant Information
The ASM Open Fund Grant provides funding for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for routine operational expenses and recruitment of new members. The grant is designed to be an easier way for groups to obtain operational funding without having to go through the hearing process required of other ASM grants. Open Fund Grants are always allocated as $150.00 for printing and $50.00 for office supplies, for a total grant award of $200.00. After applying and receiving an award notice, the RSO would then need to partake in a grant workshop to review grant policies and procedures.
Click on the tabs above to learn more about each step in the grant process.
Only UW-Madison Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) in good standing with the Office for Student Organizations, Leadership & Involvement (SOLI) may apply for the ASM Open Fund Grant. Individuals, departments, or other non-RSO entities seeking operational funding support are ineligible to receive the ASM Open Fund Grant.
The ASM Open Fund Grant can fund:
- Printing: For operational and recruitment purposes. No printing may be used to advertise for events unless they are specific to recruitment, such as a group kick-off or the Student Org Fair. All printing must contain the ASM Logo & Disclaimer.
- Office Supplies: Operational supplies required for the functioning of your group.
Important notes on the application:
- RSO officers are the only members of an RSO who can apply for a grant. They will need to log in with their Net ID.
- RSOs can only apply for ONE Open Fund Grant per academic year.
- For the 2025-2026 academic year, RSOs are eligible to receive both the Open Fund grant AND the Operations grant. This will allow RSOs to use the printing budget from the Open Fund grant for recruitment at the Fall Student Organization Fair on September 9th and 10th.
- The award amount is the same for all grant recipients: $200.00 in funding with $150.00 allocated for printing and $50.00 allocated for office supplies.
No grant hearing is required for the ASM Open Fund Grant.
The grant contacts will receive notice of award or denial within 5 business days of application submission.
- If the grant application is denied funds, your RSO will be informed by the ASM Financial Specialist as to the reason for denial.
- If the grant application is awarded funds, two (or more) RSO officers are required to partake in a grant workshop with the ASM Financial Staff before funds can be accessed.
Grant workshops will be held via a Canvas course. If your RSO is awarded an Open Fund Grant, the contacts provided on the Open Fund Grant application will be added to the Canvas course. These are the only individuals who will be authorized to expense Operations Grant funding for your RSO.
The workshops go over grant use policy, procedures for spending grant funds, and additional funding resources available to your group.
The following link will direct you to learn more about the RSO Print & Resource Center.