What is the Annual Fund?

Thousands of Exeter University alumni and supporters of the University help current students through generous donations to the Alumni Annual Fund, by giving gifts of time or money in order to enhance the student experience. Guild societies and groups can apply to access this funding each academic year. 

To be awarded funding, projects must demonstrate that they will enhance the experience across the wider student community, benefitting current and future generations and making Exeter an even better place to live and study.

A wide range of projects are supported every year – for example, they may allow innovations within academic contexts, provide new equipment for sports clubs or societies or enable new activities to be piloted.

How can I apply for funding?

You can apply for funding at any time in the year by completing an Alumni Annual Fund Application Form (hyperlinked).

Decisions about which projects will be awarded funding for all applications from Guild societies/groups are reviewed by a member of the Activities Team and the current Societies and Employability Officer. 

To be successful, projects must demonstrate that they will enhance the student experience and impact on a large audience of students. 

In addition, projects which create or improve links with the local community or which help to promote Exeter on a national or international scale will be looked upon more favourably. Further, respect for the alumni donors must be demonstrated in how applicants go about accessing funding.

More information about your application and where to access support can be found on the following webpage (hyperlinked). 

Things to note...

• Groups can apply for up to £3000 of funding per project. 
• Projects have to either benefit at least 25 Exeter students or enhance the student experience at Exeter to be eligible for funding. 
• Annual Fund money cannot be spent on food or refreshments. 
• In your application, you need to demonstrate what the funding will be used on and you cannot make a profit on a project within which you will be utilising annual funding.

How to claim your funding?

If you have been successfully awarded grant funding from the Annual Fund, please follow the steps below to claim the money:

1. Spend the money as usual from your society account.

2. Once the expenditure appears on your society statement, please complete the form found here (hyperlinked).

3. After submitting the form, it will be received by the Activities Team. We will then request the transfer from the Annual Fund.

Please note that this transfer can take 10–20 working days to appear.

Important Information

• The Annual Fund is separate from your society’s normal expense account.
• You can only claim for items that were approved in your original application to the Annual Fund.
• The allocated Annual Fund money is not automatically added to your society account.
• You must either claim directly using the form above or submit a Financial Disclaimer Form if applicable.

If you do not have enough funds in your society/group account to make initial payments, which will be reimbursed from your allocated annual funding, please email the Activities Team via activities@exeterguild.com, and we will look to support you with making this initial payment.