Funding

Chapter Fundraising Ideas | Future Faces Travel Stipends | Chapter Reporter Awards

Chapter Fundraising Ideas

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Start raising funds now for your trip to congress.

1. Approach the student government/senate for funds:

Emphasize that it is a national meeting of physics students and professionals with top-notch speakers (list them). It is also helpful to build in a contribution by the student and the department with the
proposal--say $100 each or so.

2. Take advantage of department specific items:

a. Buy textbooks for a discount and sell them to students.
b. Sell lab manuals.
c. Have a used book sale.
d. Have a “garage sale” or silent auction of department junk. Old scientific apparatus makes
     fine curiosities. (You might even try selling them on e-bay!)

3. Tie fundraising in with your SPS activities:

a. Sell physics themed t-shirts/toys for a profit. (Not just to your SPS members!)
b. Provide tutoring for a fee—especially right before exams in the freshman physics classes.
    (Check out an SPS chapter that does this)
c. Host a liquid nitrogen ice cream social.

4. Don’t forget about food:

a. Sell donuts or other baked goods regularly in your Physics/Science building in high traffic areas.
    (Be sure to check with your school on the rules pertaining to this!)
b. Try hosting bake sales in front of local businesses. (Don’t forget to get approval from
     store management.)
c. Sell pizza and snacks during a “study party” before big tests. (Or while you help tutor
     freshman students.)

5. Be Creative!:

a. Try a “Rent-a-Student” Campaign with your campus community.
     i. Campus Professors and Staff often need help with things during the fall months
        (raking leaves, washing cars, tutoring,etc.). Set aside a couple Saturday mornings
        and offer your services each morning for a fee.
b. Have a car wash, especially in winter, where they salt the roads.
    (Many Wal-Marts and other stores will match what you make, so you turn a bigger profit.)

Future Faces of Physics Travel Stipends

In keeping with its commitment to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional physics community, the Society of Physics Students adopted “Future Faces of Physics” as the theme for the 2007-2008 academic year. With this theme, SPS aims to raise visibility and focus on issues of student diversity in physics. 

SPS Chapters that sponsor a Future Faces of Physics event on their campus or in their community and want to present a poster on that event will be eligible for $200 travel stipend to the Congress. See the Poster Session section for details.

• Read about Future Faces of Physics on the SPS website.

Chapter Reporter Awards

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Would your Society of Physics Students Chapter or Sigma Pi Sigma Chapter like $500 to help offset your registration and travel expenses to the Sigma Pi Sigma Quadrennial Congress and the chance to share your experience with others?

Apply for a $500 Congress Reporter Award!

How it works:

(Should your situation require that some or all of the award be provided prior to the Congress, please contact the National Office.)

For more information, contact the national office.