The Student Organization Partnership Program (SOPP) seeks to meet the needs of both UW–Madison students wanting to engage in community-based work through Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and community partner organizations seeking to build long-term partnerships with these RSOs. The goal is to better connect the RSOs with the Morgridge Center to enhance the quality and quantity of community-based work, a key aspect of UW–Madison’s Civic Action Plan.
SOPP supports RSOs and community partners in building sustained and mutually beneficial relationships through workshops, individual meetings and reflection sessions. In addition to community engagement workshops and support, RSOs will have access to:
- $500 of mini-grant funding, $250 awarded each semester
- Transportation options to community sites over 35 mins away
The application to become an affiliated org is closed.
Outside of the application process, if you are accepted as a SOPP org, you will be expected to fulfill the following requirements:
Fall Semester
- Must attend fall kickoff (exec board member)
- Two members (general OR exec) must attend a workshop
- Must attend 1:1 meeting with SOPP intern
Spring Semester
- Must attend spring kickoff (exec board member)
- Two members (general OR exec) must attend a workshop
- Must attend 1:1 meeting with SOPP intern (exec board member)
- Must attend end of year celebration & reflection (exec board member & new exec board members (if applicable)
The Morgridge Center is proud to offer transportation options to our affiliated programs. The transportation options available to SOPP organizations include:
- BCycle passes
- Lyft passes
- Fleet vehicles (application required, must have drivers license for 2+ years and clean record)
- Union Cab
Email the Student Organization Partnership Program intern at mseuring@wisc.edu
RSOs currently partnered with SOPP are listed below.
RSO Mini Grant Award Information
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What is the Mini-Grant Program?
RSOs are eligible to receive $500 for each school year, with $250 disbursed each semester. Disbursal of grant funds is dependent upon whether the RSO has fulfilled their semester requirements and has created and submitted a budget for that semester.
As a part of the campus-wide Civic Action Plan, the Morgridge Center has identified the need to better prepare students to do community-engaged work and to build partnerships that are sustained, culturally sensitive and aware, and collaborative and mutually beneficial with community partners.
Student organizations on campus are provided the tools to start engaging in this work while learning to recognize differences in power and privilege between the University and the Madison community.
These Mini-Grants will be awarded to assist projects designed to further this mission as well as the Morgridge Center mission of connecting campus and community through service and learning. See sample budget sheet.
Who is Eligible?
- Must be a student organization in the Student Organization Partnership Program through the Morgridge Center
- The organization must submit all items listed in the application to be considered, as well as complete a reflection piece within the academic year of the project
- Projects must include a partnership with a community organization, which seeks to address recommendations in the UW Civic Action Plan, or demonstrate evidence of furthering high quality community-engaged work and partnership
What can the mini-grants be used for?
Permissible
- Supplies/equipment
- Guest speakers/community partners for virtual events
- Training materials/registration
Not Permissible
- Transportation
- Salaries
- Social events
- Food
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What are some important things to consider?
Here are some tips about questions to consider and answer in your application:
- What does this organization do in the community? How do they do it?
- What issue does this organization aim to address? Why is this an issue?
- Who/what does this organization serve?
- To what community does this organization belong?
- How have volunteers efficiently contributed in the past?
Additional FAQ
- Who can apply?
- Only student organizations that are part of the Student Organization Partnership Program through the Morgridge Center for Public Service
- Can the funds be used for food or for a social event for my organization?
- The funds can only be used to support a specific project/event/community-identified need. How the grant will be used should be outlined in the proposal budget, which the review board will take into consideration when distributing awards.
- What types of things can the money be used for?
- Examples could be supplies or equipment, but it could go to a variety of things that are necessary for the project and community partner.
- Can I use the grant for transportation?
- Funding will not be awarded to cover transportation costs as the Morgridge Center already provides transportation support.
- Student organizations interested in transportation should contact the Transportation Intern at transportationMCPS@office365.wisc.edu.
- Can I use the grant to pay volunteers/members of my student organization?
- Funds will not be awarded for salaries.
- Funds can be used to pay community partners for a service provided (e.g. guest speaker, facilitator, consultant).
- Does this grant have to establish a new partnership or a new program?
- No, the grant could be awarded to further already established programs/events and campus-community partnerships.
- I’d like to apply for a grant, but I’m not sure where to start, who to partner with and what kind of project to do. Who can I talk to?
- Email: jramirez27@wisc.edu