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Finance

RSO Funding

Student Goverment Association (SGA) Funds for Registered Student Organizations

One of the most popular benefits of being a Registered Student Organization (RSO) is the ability to apply for funding through the Student Government Association (SGA) allocation process. SGA receives a portion of the University’s Student Activity Fees each year and in turn distributes it to registered student organizations for use. The allocation process takes place early each spring semester and involves an application, budget, and interview/meeting requirement.

SGA funds RSOs through two processes:

  • Primary Funding is an annual funding process which takes place in early spring semester; funds are intended to be used for the subsequent academic year. RSOs who received Primary Funding for 2026-27 applied in spring 2026. See legislation below. Please note that you must be a returning RSO, with no recent breaks in registration, to qualify for Primary Funding. 
  • Auxiliary Funding is a rolling application process which opens in the fall semester. Since the source of Auxiliary Funding is unused RSO funds from the previous year, there is no deadline to apply and applications will be taken until funding has depleted. 

Click on the button below to see if your RSO already has funds for 2026- 2027.
 

RSO Funding for 26-27 (PDF)

SGA Funding FAQs

SGA Funding for Registered Student Organizations

Applying for SGA Funding

Here is how your RSO can apply:  

  • Log into OU Engage. 
  • Click on My Groups on the left side, and then on your RSO. * Please remember that you must be an officer and have organization management access to apply for funding. *
  • Click on Manage. 
  • Click on Money. 
  • Click on the 2026 - 2027 SGA Auxiliary Funding 
  • Click on Create a Budget.
  • Please remember to not only submit the budget with the funding request but also submit the supplemental question form. Both are needed for a complete application. 

SGA will only fund items that are allowable purchases, per SGA policy. Click on the button below for appropriate use of SGA funds. 
 

Allowable/Non-Allowable Expenses (PDF)

Budget Approval Process

After an SGA budget application has been submitted:

  1. All applications are seen and evaluated by the SGA Budgetary Committee.  This committee is composed of members of the Undergraduate Student Congress (Congress) and Graduate Student Senate (GSS). 
  2.  After each application is evaluated, SGA funding legislation is created and sent to a weekly Congress meeting and also a separate, biweekly GSS meeting for their consideration. 
  3. Once approved, the legislation is sent to the SGA President for signature approval.  
  4.  After the funding is approved by SGA, the funds are allocated to the Accounts section of the RSO’s OU Engage page. 

*** Please note that the full funding process can take 3-5 weeks.***

How do I spend on-campus funds?

Click on the button below to download the RSO purchasing guide for on-campus purchases. Please allow sufficient time (at least 72 business hours) for processing. If your event requires you to make expenditures through university accounting, do not plan events that are taking place within 3 weeks. 

RSO Purchasing Guide (PDF)

 

Important Financial Information for RSOs

 

  • Registered Student Organizations (RSO) will have their on-campus financial account (OU Financial Services Org Number). More information can be found by emailing sbsc@ou.edu.
  • Any revenue that RSOs make by selling products (such as event tickets, t-shirts, novelties, etc.) are subject to sales tax with the State of Oklahoma. Advisors and student organization members need to ensure they are complying with state tax laws any time they decide to sell items. Groups may consult advice from accounting professionals for this purpose. More information about State of Oklahoma tax laws.  OU employees are not trained in tax law and cannot serve as advisors in this capacity.
  • One of the primary roles of the RSO advisor is to help the group with financial decision-making and record-keeping. The advisor should NOT BE the primary sponsor of any financial account off campus but should still be actively involved with any financial decisions of the group and account reconciliations in order to make sure that the groups is remaining financially responsible. 
  • The university has a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), as well as an approved campus standard that all university entities must adhere to when depositing funds into university accounts.  As RSOs are not entities of the University of Oklahoma, RSO Advisors and officers undertaking this responsibility will be held accountable for any security breach.
Outside Bank Accounts

RSOs are allowed to have organizational accounts at outside, local banking institutions; however, RSO advisors are not allowed to be approvers or signatory authorities on any outside bank accounts. RSO advisors may have financial recordkeeping oversight in order to ensure proper financial records are kept and any necessary taxes are filed.

To set up a local bank account, a registered student organization will be required by the bank to obtain a Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN). This number is obtained directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by completing the SS-4 form. This form should be completed by a student leader, not the RSO advisor. 

Obtaining a FEIN number does not give an organization tax exempt status. Becoming tax exempt is a very involved process that may or may not be beneficial for a registered student organization. If it is desired, the student organization will need to obtain the services of an outside lawyer and accountant. Student Affairs does not (and cannot) provide these services for groups. It is imperative that the organization's advisor be highly involved with the registered student organization regarding financial decisions of this nature.

Sponsorships for Registered Student Organizations

Coca-Cola Sponsorship

Provides funding and products to support events benefiting OU students. Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) receive priority; departments may also apply. Sponsorships may include funding, product, or both, up to $1,500. One case of product equals $11 in funding.

Funding Priorities:

  • Free events open to all students
  • Events with a small admission fee may be considered
  • Off-campus events are generally not eligible

Application Requirements:

  • Events must be registered on Engage.
  • RSOs must be in good standing with OU and have an OU Shared Business Services account and Chartfield Spread (CFS).
  • Apply at least 1 month before the event for funding or 10+ cases of product.
  • Apply at least 2 weeks before for fewer than 10 cases of product; the event must be free to students.
  • Funding/product cannot be requested for general meetings.
  • Coca-Cola products may not be resold.
  • Previous recipients must provide documentation of Coca-Cola recognition from past events.
  • Requests for funding or 10+ cases require a pre-event interview.
  • Award recipients must submit photo/documentation of Coca-Cola recognition through Engage within 5 business days after the event. Failure to do so may affect future eligibility.
  • Please recycle used cans and bottles.

The Division of Student Affairs Sponsorship

The Division of Student Affairs provides sponsorship funding for events that enhance campus life, promote inclusivity, and align with OU’s mission and Student Affairs priorities. Funding is available to eligible OU organizations and third-party organizations with a verifiable OU affiliation.

Applications are accepted throughout the academic year and reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funds. Organizations are encouraged to apply at least 30 days before their event through OU Engage. Funding is not guaranteed.

Funding Eligibility:

  • OU Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) in good standing
  • Third-party organizations with a verifiable OU affiliation and clear benefit to OU students

Funding Priorities:

  • Benefit to OU students
  • Anticipated student reach and engagement
  • Alignment with Student Affairs priorities
  • Demonstrated need
  • Budget and funding plan
  • Feasibility
  • Accessibility
  • Available funding

Ineligible Requests:

  • Department Sponsored Organizations (DSOs)
  • Greek-letter organizations
  • Individual travel or conference expenses
  • Tailgate-related activities
  • Physical assets requiring long-term university storage or maintenance
  • Payment of existing or prior debt is generally not eligible for sponsorship funding.

Exceptions are rare and must be approved in advance by Student Affairs based on extraordinary circumstances.

Application & Review:

Submit your application through OU Engage with a detailed event plan and budget. Applications are typically reviewed within 30 days, and applicants receive feedback regardless of the decision. Additional review may be conducted by a Student Affairs committee.

Application deadlines: Fall events — December | Spring events — May

Questions? Contact the Division of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@ou.edu or (405) 325-3161.

Student Government and
Organization Services
Oklahoma Memorial Union
900 Asp Ave., Ste. 181
Norman, OK 73019
Updated 10/8/2026 by Student Government and
Organization Services: kga@ou.edu