SLEF and EOI

Whether you’re planning a campus-wide event, launching a new initiative, or curious about how your fees enhance student spaces, we’re here to help. Every term, we provide funding that empowers you to improve campus life, foster belonging, and make a real impact.

Submissions to both the Student Life Endowment Fund (SLEF) and Equity, Opportunity, and Innovation Fund (EOI) can be submitted to the Internal Funding Group Proposal Form.

Important Info

Deadline: Reviewed every May, July, September, November, January, and March

Who decides? A student-led Funding Committee reviews and approves grants each cycle.

What Can You Apply For?

There are two main funding streams available to undergraduates:

1. Student Life Endowment Fund (SLEF)

Here are just some of the things students have made possible with this funding. 

Two women in elaborate costumes and crowns stand on stage with a misty, blue-lit background.

Fashion for Change Arcana Showcase

A band performs on stage with a singer-guitarist, bassist, and drummer under colorful lights.

Jam Network Student Concert

Two people in suits hold trophies in front of a banner for "The GH Cup International Mooting Competition.

UW Moot Court Competition

A group of young adults in green outfits and accessories pose together at a lively party with bright lighting.

UWCSA Midnight Social

Three performers in lion dance costumes and masks dance indoors during a cultural celebration.

UWVSA Lunar New Year Festival

Do you want to improve student spaces, run a standout campus event, or launch a project that makes student life better? Apply to the Student Life Endowment Fund (SLEF) today!

Total Fund: Since the Spring of 1992, undergraduate student contributions have grown the Fund to over $6 million. Interest generated each year is allocated to projects on campus by the Funding Committee: for students, by students.

SLEF funds the following areas:

  • Improvement of health, wellness, and safety on all campuses; 
  • Improvement of accessibility on all campuses; 
  • Building a stronger student community; 
  • Renovation to student operated or managed spaces; 
  • Improvement of current lounge and study spaces; 
  • Activities promoting or furthering the academic goals of WUSA; 
  • Joint projects with municipal or provincial governments that improve student wellbeing

2. Equity, Opportunity, and Innovation Fund (EOI)

Here are just some of the things students have made possible with this funding. 

A panel of five speakers sits on stage at an industry event with an audience seated at round tables.

UW Aviation Society Gala

A breakdancer balances on one arm while performing for a crowd in an indoor dance competition.

UW Breakers Ground FX Competition

Two people play chess in a focused tournament setting with others competing in the background.

UW Chess Club Canadian University Chess Championship

This fund exists to assist with projects that bring awareness to systemic issues borne by marginalized groups on campus, support professional development opportunities like conferences and competitions, and fund the costs of new projects that benefit students on campus.

Total Fund: Today the EOI fund stands in excess of $1 million, and uses the interest generated to fund student-led projects as evaluated by the Funding Committee.

EOI funds the following areas and aims for the attached percentage breakdown of funding:

  • EQUITY (25%): Promote a safer, healthier and more accepting campus
    • remove barriers for equity-seeking or Indigenous communities;
    • demonstrate meaningful consultation with those communities;
    • amplify under-represented voices on campus;
  • OPPORTUNITY (25%): Individual students or student groups who wish to engage in projects, conferences, or other experiences that promote professional development. Funding should not typically exceed $500 per student.
  • INNOVATION (50%): New student-led initiatives that will provide a lasting benefit to undergraduate students and/or promote innovation on campus.

 

Month

Application Deadline (11:59 EST)

Funding Committee Meetings

May 2025

June 4th

June 7th

July 2025

July 23rd

July 26th

September 2025

TBA

TBA

October 2025

TBA

TBA

January 2025

TBA

TBA

March 2025

TBA

TBA

  1. Complete the online application form and submit it before the funding deadline to be considered in that cycle. Late submissions will be considered in subsequent cycles (usually in two months).
  2. You or a representative may be asked to attend a Funding Committee meeting to present your request and answer questions.
  3. You should hear back on funding decisions within 1-2 weeks of the deadline!
  4. If granted funding, your event or project should acknowledge the contribution of SLEF/EOI through social media, event promotions, or other reasonable means.
  5. Please ensure that a complete and formal estimate of costs is included with your submission for each item and option. This may include invoices, online quotes or costs given by Plant Operations on campus. They can be contacted at extension x36318 and will need two weeks to give a full estimate.
  6. Funding is open to full-time undergraduate students only.
  7. Note that expenses incurred before Funding Committee approval will not be retroactively reimbursed: you may only begin spending after being approved!
  8. The amount you receive is what you will be funded. If your purchase price is higher than expected, it is your responsibility to cover the difference.
  9. You may not submit reimbursements for different expenses then that which the Funding Committee has approved. If you wish to modify or re-allocate previous grants, you must submit a new proposal.
  10. All reimbursements must be submitted within one year of the granting of funds. If you fail to submit all invoices and receipts by that date, your funding will be forfeited, unless an exception is granted by the Funding Committee Chair.

Past funding decisions can now be found within our Funding Sharepoint site.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Eligibility: The applicant must be a full-time undergraduate student currently enrolled at the University of Waterloo. The proposal and all subsequent work should be led and directed by students and not be on behalf of a department on campus. The applicant must not be ineligible to apply due to previously not following any requirements or regulations.  
  • Promotion: The applicants must agree to use SLEF branding on the project. 
    • Will be given SLEF stickers if it is a physical project; 
    • Must include the SLEF logo in event promotion materials; 
    • Must be included in any sponsors/funding section; 
    • Agree for SLEF to publish excerpts, metrics, and images; 

APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS

  • Scope: How many students will the proposal benefit over the lifespan of the items? 
    • Positive: Open to all undergraduates, broad student appeal/accessibility 
    • Negative: Exclusive, benefits a limited group 
  • Lifespan: How long will the funded items last? More relevant for expensive proposals. 
    • Positive: Long-lasting, such as durable equipment and furniture 
    • Negative: Short-term items such as food, drinks, rentals 
    • More weight is given for long term capital projects over one off projects 
  • Need: Other funding sources exist on campus. Is the proposal specific to a group (ex. program, faculty) that is supported by another fund? 
    • Positive factors: Unique funding need 
    • Negative factors: Overlaps with other funding sources, did not explore alternatives 
  • Application presentation:
    • Positive: Clear and comprehensive, especially for high-cost proposals 
    • Negative: Vague, missing quotes or key details 
  • Value for money: Does the proposal yield benefits in line with its costs? 
  • Repeated Applications: 
    • New applications are given more weight over applications that previously got funding. 

Negative factors do not make an application ineligible for funding, just as positive factors do not guarantee funding. Larger ($) proposals will require more consideration toward the guidelines. 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS 

Speaker fees, honorarium, gift cards: Speaker fees, honorarium, and gift cards are typically not funded. Rationale: These direct external transfers usually do not efficiently benefit students. 

Travel costs, team competition fees: Any proposals seeking support for travel costs or competition fees must be open for any undergraduate student to join, with a reasonably fair and transparent process for selection explained in the application. For Opportunity funding, this does not apply but individuals should justify that support is needed. 

Fundraisers: Any costs toward fundraisers should not be funded. Rationale: Funding is intended to directly benefit students rather than raise additional funds. Direct investment in student resources and experiences is prioritized.  

Food: Costs for food should be carefully scrutinized with regards to value for money. Rationale:  In most cases food should complement, not be the primary focus of, student events or activities. Emphasis should be on providing food that enhances an event’s experience in a responsible and cost-conscious manner.

Conflict of Interest

  • Members of the Funding Council must declare any conflicts of interest if affiliated with a proposal. Any conflicted member may not vote nor participate in any discussion on that proposal. 

Progress and Final Reporting 

  • Final Report: within 30 days of project completion and no later than 12 months after approval recipients must submit: 
    • A summary of outcomes from the project. 
    • Two to three measurable impact metrics (e.g., students reached). 
    • High-resolution photos or visuals of the project. 
    • Proof the project acknowledged SLEF funding.  
  • Non-Compliance: failure to report, or follow any other procedures and guidelines, may result in ineligibility for future funding. 
    • The chair will alert the applicant and Board if they are ineligible. 

Reimbursement Deadline 

  • All receipts and reimbursement requests must be submitted within twelve (12) months of the Funding Council approval date unless otherwise approved in writing by the Chair.  

Term-Based Spending Cadence 

  • The Funding Council will aim to disburse approximately one-third (≈ 33 %) of the annual spendable income each academic term (Spring, Fall, Winter). Unallocated funds may roll to the next term but should be re-balanced so that year-end spending aligns with the yearly spending allocation. 

 Appeals 

  • If the chair rules an applicant is ineligible to apply to future funding, due to breaking any rules and regulations, they may request an appeal to the Board of Directors. 
  • Within 6 months of a formal appeal being submitted to the chair, the Board of Directors will hear the appeal and vote to confirm or remove the restriction.

Questions or concerns about SLEF/EOI?

Email slef@wusa.ca

Published: Friday, June 13, 2025

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