CSA Grant

CSA funding is designed to support student-led activities, projects and opportunities that benefit your club, society and the wider student community. As funding is limited, applications are assessed against a set of criteria to ensure funding is allocated fairly and where it can have the greatest impact.
As part of receiving funding, clubs and societies are expected to deliver at least one open session or event that is accessible to the wider student body. This helps create new opportunities for students to get involved, try something new, and engage with the activities your group offers.
Before applying, we encourage you to consider how your proposal will benefit students, support the aims of your club or society, and contribute to a more active and inclusive student experience at Cranfield.

Who Can Apply 

• Any CSA-affiliated Club or Society or cultural group in good standing. 
• Clubs/Societies must have submitted their annual registration and constitution before applying. 

What Funding Can Cover: 

• Purchase of necessary equipment and kit, first aid supplies 
• Guest lecturers & speakers' expenses   
• Sports coaching fees for sports clubs  
• Printing, postage, stationery etc. (note, most printing can be done for free by sending to csa@cranfield.ac.uk)  
• Insurance costs (not personal)   
• Affiliation fees to relevant bodies  
• Film / video hire relevant to your club/society's interests   
• Competition entry fees  
• Subscriptions to appropriate publications  
• Hire of sports facilities for sports clubs  
• Hire of meeting rooms for clubs & societies (if the event can’t be held in the CSA meeting rooms)  
• Up to 50% subsidy of entry tickets to relevant organisations/places of interest 
• Guest speaker or coaching fees (at 50% - capped at £50 and with justification)

Funding will not normally cover: 

• Travel expenses 
• Food and drink 
• Personal items or clothing (unless essential and shared) 
• Prizes, gifts, or charitable donations 
• Private functions - i.e. for committee or other selected members only 
• Payments to individuals representing ideas or policies which are contrary to CSA policy or constitution  
• Functions not within the societies or CSA’s aims or which might bring the CSA into disrepute 
• Activities that exclude members unfairly or duplicate existing provision 

Membership money and fund raising can be used for: 

• Social events &food/drink for socials 
• Travel 
• To subsidise your grant 
• To subsidise / pay for presents / gratuities to instructors, lecturers, coach drivers etc. 

Assessment Criteria: 

• Student Benefit (30%) – how many students benefit and how the activity enhances student life. 
• Alignment with CSA Aims (25%) – supports inclusion, engagement, and personal development. 
• Value for Money (20%) – clear, reasonable budget and other funding contributions. 
• Planning & Feasibility (15%) – realistic and well-organised proposal. 
• Wider Impact (10%) – long-term benefit to students or the community. 

Application Process 

1. Download the Grant Application Form from the resources page
2. Complete the form. 
3. Submit the form to CSAclubsandsocieties@cranfield.ac.uk in time for the scheduled review. 
4. Applications are reviewed by the CSA Community Support Officer and/or Clubs & Societies Committee. 
5. You will receive a decision within 72 hours of the committee meeting. 
6. Once approved, a date for a wider engagement session is set within 4 weeks. 

Grant Application Form

Decision-Making & Appeals 
Funding decisions are made transparently and recorded by the CSA. If you wish to appeal a decision, please speak to the student community’s coordinator first then contact the CSA Manager on Lorraine.wright@cranfield.ac.uk should appeals not be rectified informally. 
All formal appeals must be received by the CSA Manager within 10 working days of receiving your outcome. 

Please ensure you apply a minimum of 14 days before the event or activity for which you are seeking funding. 
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email. The panel decision can take up to 14 days and, once a decision has been made, you will be notified by email whether your application has been successful. 
If your application is successful, payment can take up to 14 days so please ensure you leave enough time for the application to be approved if you need the funding by a certain date. 

Club/Society Funds

The Cranfield Students’ Association (CSA) holds and manages funds on behalf of all affiliated clubs and societies through our banking arrangements with NatWest.

To help ensure your group remains financially secure, legally compliant and fully supported by the CSA, all membership fees, event ticket sales must be processed through the CSA website, and any other income or expenditure declared with the CSA.

Why does this matter?

As a registered charity, the CSA has a responsibility to ensure that all financial activity is transparent, accountable and compliant with legal and regulatory requirements. Processing payments through approved channels allows us to accurately track, audit and verify transactions, helping to protect both your group and the wider organisation.

Payments collected outside of CSA systems cannot be properly monitored or audited and may result in compliance issues for both your club or society and the CSA.

Insurance and liability

Activities and events organised through affiliated clubs and societies are covered by CSA insurance only when they are managed in accordance with CSA policies and procedures, including financial processes.

Where activities or payments take place outside of approved CSA systems, insurance cover may not apply. This could leave committee members and participants personally liable in the event of an incident or claim.

Groups that  operate outside approved financial procedures may risk losing their affiliated status. This could result in the loss of access to CSA support, insurance cover, room bookings, facilities, use of the CSA and Cranfield name, and eligibility to apply for grant funding.