Instructions for Applying for SORF in CollegiateLink
Prerequisites
All SORF Requests must be submitted by the RSO’s treasurer. The following is required before
the treasurer is eligible to apply for SORF funding on behalf of his/her organization:
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Organization needs to be registered with the Office of Registered Organizations in the
CollegiateLink database with currently active President, Treasurer, and 3 Authorized
Agents listed as Student Organization Officers.
Organization treasurer must review the RSO Handbook and SORF Guidelines online and
complete the treasurer and SORF quizzes at https://compass.illinois.edu with a score of
100%.
Organizations is required to have an established RSO account with a zero or positive
balance as of the deadline for funding requests.
Questions regarding registration, officers, quizzes, or RSO Accounts can be directed to the
Office of Registered Organizations ([email protected] or 244-2357). Questions regarding SORF
can be directed to [email protected] or 244-2357.
How to Apply
It is the responsibility of the organization to read, understand, and comply with SORF deadlines,
policies, procedures, and processes. Because SORF operation is subject to change, it is highly
recommended that applicants read SORF information before submitting a funding request.
Information can be found at http://union.illinois.edu/involvement/sorf/.
To apply for SORF funding, the organization treasurer must access his/her organizations page in
CollegiateLink following the steps below:
1. Log into CollegiateLink using NetID and AD password (http://illinois.collegiatelink.net/)
2. Once logged in, you are automatically taken to your personal Home page.
3. Access your organization’s page by searching for your RSO or by going to the “My
Involvement” tab at the top of the page and selecting “Memberships.”
As a confirmed treasuer for your RSO, you will have access to features that allow you to
manage information and submit funding requests for your organization. These features are
accessed through the “Finance” section ofr you organizations page. To submti a SORF funding
request, follow the stops outlined below:
1. Go to “Finance” in the list of sections along the left side of your RSO’s page.
2. Click on the button in the top right corner labled “Create Funding Request”
3. The funding request contains many fields. The instructions below will break the funding
request into 3 parts, providing information on how to complete each section along with
a visual representation of what you will see on the screen. Any field marked with
(required) must be completed in order to submit your funding request. The first five
fields of the funding request that you must complete include:
a. Subject: This will be the title of your particular request as it is saved in
CollegiateLInk.
b. Total Requested Amount: CollegiateLink does not automatically total your
individual requests into this field, and you must enter in the total yourself. This
total should be the sum of each sub-total in your funding request. Totals in all
cases should be the actual or estimated cost of the event or activity. The SORF
Board will calculate and apply their Standards when making allocations.
c. Description: This should be a brief (2-3 sentences) description of your overall
request.
d. Account: Once your organization has established an RSO Account with the
Office of Registered Organizations, you will be able to select this account by
clicking on the “Select” button. You should be brought to a list of valid accounts.
Choose the account with the same name as your RSO.
e. Categories: From the list, select the answer that summarizes what requests are
contained in your application. You may be applying for only one of SORF’s six
categories: Contractual Services, Publications/Communications, Permanent
Equipment, Rentals, Films, or Travel, or you may be applying for Multiples
Categories.
4. The next six fields (field numbers beginning with 1) are for basic information for your
RSO and contact information for you officers. Every field in the “Additional Fields”
section has a character limit of 1000 characters (including letters and spaces).
Exceeding this limit will make the application unable to be submitted, instead reloading
the application at the top of the page without submitting. Any information that cannot
be entered into the application due to the character limit can be communicated during
the pre-review process. These fields include:
a. Funding Period: Select the appropriate funding period that you are applying for.
Each period has a specific set of dates within which activities and events will be
funded.
b. RSO Mission Statement: Enter your organization’s mission statement.
c. Organization Finances: Indicate 1) Other anticipated funding sources for this
request, 2) Co-sponsors for this request, 3) How your organization plans to cover
costs not funded by SORF.
d. Treasurer Email: Enter the treasurer’s University Email (@illinois.edu). A SORF
Board member will contact the treasurer for clarification of information as it
relates to the funding request.
e. Treasurer Contact Number: Enter a telephone number at which the RSO
treasurer can be reached. If unresponsive to email, a SORF Board member may
contact the treasurer with requests for clarification.
f. President Email: Enter the President’s University Email (@illinois.edu). A SORF
Board member may contact the President for clarification of information as it
relates to the funding request.
5. The remaining fields in the funding request are for your specific requests. There is
space enough in a single application for you to ten individual requests, which can be
made in any combination of SORF’s six funding categories. A single funding request may
contain requests for items that are not related to the same single event (for example, a
speaker visiting campus and a travel by your RSO at another time. The information you
will enter into each of the cells will depend on which category you are applying for. An
example of request in each category is included below:
a. Contractual Services Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Contractual Service”
ii. Description of Request: Include the name of the individual/group being
contracted, contact information for the group, and the type of service
(performance, speaker, judge/referee, etc.)
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of the event.
This can include a brief synopsis of the speaker/performer.
iv. Event Information: Include the date, time, and location of the event.
v. Expense Information: Include the contract fee, transportation fees, and
lodging fees for the contracted agent.
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this request
you would like the Board to know.
b. Publications/Communications Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Publications/Communications”
ii. Description of Request: List the type of publication/communications
(Flyers/Posters, Daily Illini Ads, magazine, journals, newsletters, etc)
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of the event
being publicized.
iv. Event Information: Include the dates/locations of distribution.
v. Expense Information: Include the cost per copy and number of copies
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this item you
would like the Board to know.
c. Permanent Equipment Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Permanent Equipment”
ii. Description of Request: List the equipment purchase being requested.
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of item
requested and its use by your organization.
iv. Event Information: Enter the date that your RSO plans to purchase the
equipment.
v. Expense Information: Include the cost per item and number of items
being requested.
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this item you
would like the Board to know.
d. Rental Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Rental”
ii. Description of Request: Include the item being rented, the name of the
Individual/Group providing the rental, and the type of rental (facility,
equipment, service, etc)
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of the event
utilizing the rental.
iv. Event Information: Include the date, time, and location of the event.
v. Expense Information: Include the number of items rented and the cost
per item.
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this item you
would like the Board to know.
e. Film Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Film”
ii. Description of Request: Include the name of the film being licensed and
the company licensing the product.
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of the event.
iv. Event Information: Include the date, time, and location of the event.
v. Expense Information: Include the cost for film licensing.
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this item you
would like the Board to know.
f. Travel Requests:
i. Funding Request Category: Select “Travel”
ii. Description of Request: Include the number of travelers, the mode of
transportation, the destination, and the type of travel (Educational,
Competition, Performance, Service Project).
iii. Purpose/Event Description: Include the brief description of the event.
This can include a link to the event website or itinerary
iv. Event Information: Include the date, time, and location of the event.
v. Expense Information: Include any registration fees, transportation costs,
lodging fees, or travel insurance you are requesting.
vi. Sub Total: List the total cost of all expenses for this item.
vii. Additional Information: List any other information about this item you
would like the Board to know.
6. To complete your funding request, you must read and certify the statement of
understanding at the bottom of the request. Once this is complete, click on the submit
button to submit your request.
Your request will be submitted to the CollegiateLink database where it will be reviewed
by the Board the following allocation meeting. The Board will make its funding
recommendations at this meeting, which are forwarded to the Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs for final approval. Only when final approval has been granted are any
funding decisions finalized.