The Student Government Association finished determining how to allot $70,000 for university student organizations for the year.

According to the SGA website, the Activities Funding Board (AFB) is in charge of distributing SGA funds to campus student organizations.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, SGA plans to allocate approximately $100,000 to student organizations, which is about a seventh of its total budget.

The AFB process involves student organizations applying for funds and making a presentation to the board, which is comprised of the Student Body Treasurer, the SGA Finance Committee Chair and eight appointees from SGA, according to the organization's website. 

“In past years, AFB would take place twice a year,” David Belpedio, student body treasurer, said. “One time in the fall semester, and again in the spring semester.”

In the past, AFB has allocated about $50,000 each semester, Belpedio said.

This is the first time AFB is distributing the bulk of its funding at the beginning of the school year.

“We now allocate $70,000 through AFB in September, and the (remaining) $30,000 is for student organizations to ask for additional funding,” Belpedio said.

Student organizations recognized prior to this semester can apply for additional funding at any point this year, while newly-created organizations can request more funds beginning next semester, according to SGA organizational funding guidelines.

“We had more student organizations apply for money this year than in the past,” said Belpedio.

According to AFB allocation documents, student organizations requested a total of about $175,000. 

SGA awarded $45,000 to over 30 student organizations.  Another $25,000 was awarded to 18 club teams, according to the documents.

Some organizations received the full amount requested, while other organizations received no funding from SGA.

Belpedio said AFB follows specific guidelines and priorities for funding organizations.

According to SGA funding guidelines, AFB considers the cost of on-campus programs and activities, whether the group will impact students outside the organization, and whether the organization and its events will bring positive recognition to itself or the university.

Other factors, such as serious financial need and the amount of money obtained from dues, are taken into consideration in the AFB process, Belpedio said. 

Belpedio also said organizations often request more money later in the year for new event ideas or guest speaker fees.

SGA will evaluate the success of the changes to the allocation process at the end of the spring semester, Belpedio said.

The TCU Catholic Community and the BNSF Next Generation Leadership Program declined to discuss the finances of their organizations.