The GPC Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) provides emergency support for graduate and professional students who encounter significant financial hardship. This award supports graduate and professional students with financial needs not covered by other awards such as travel grants, fellowships, department funding, or scholarships can apply for one-time funding to help them address their needs while continuing their education.
If you are interested in supporting the Financial Assistance Fund, tax-deductible contributions are now being accepted online.
If you are facing financial difficulties and would like to request support from the FAF, here is a step-by-step guide:
- Review the Disbursement Policy.
- Draft your typed letter of request.
- Describe in detail the financial need for which you are requesting a disbursement from the GPC FAF. Include why and how this need has created a financial crisis.
- It benefits you to be as thorough and specific as you can when describing your situation and your needs. Applications are sometimes rejected due to a lack of context. You can always resubmit with more details if you are not funded, but providing more information increases the likelihood that you will be funded on your first try.
- Compile all required supportive documentation into one paper Documentation Packet (Note: Black out your account and SSN numbers on all supportive documents.):
- Printed and signed copy of your typed letter of request.
- Documentation of the requested amount (receipt, invoice, bill, etc.)
- Copy of most recent Federal income tax return or other proof of annual income for the prior year.
- Copies of checking, savings, and credit card account statements for the past three months. Please black out your account numbers.
- Submit your Documentation Packet to the GPC mailbox in a sealed envelope addressed to the Assistant Director of Fundraising.
- The GPC mailbox is in the Center for Student Involvement (MU Student Center, 2nd Floor).
- Address:
GPC Assistant Director of Fundraising
Center for Student Involvement
2500 MU Student Center
- Address:
- The GPC mailbox is in the Center for Student Involvement (MU Student Center, 2nd Floor).
- After submitting your Documentation Packet, complete the online application form in full and attach your typed request letter as a Word Document or PDF.
- This electronic application form notifies the Assistant Director of Fundraising that your Documentation Packet is in the mailbox. The AD of Fundraising and the GPC Treasurer are the only students with access to this form, so you can rest assured that your situation remains confidential.
- Monitor your email inbox for a response sometime in the next two weeks.
- Funding requests are reviewed on a rolling basis, and decisions are conveyed to applicants within 10 normal business days while school is in session from the date the AD of Fundraising confirms receipt of the application (Note: When school is not in session, it may take longer).
- Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Assistant Director of Fundraising via email: gpcfundraising@missouri.edu. A face-to-face meeting can be scheduled to discuss your individual situation if needed.
Graduate and professional students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply.
- Full time student as defined by the Office of Graduate Studies.
- In good standing with the University, the student’s department or professional school, and the Office of Student Conduct.
- Has not received funding from the GPC Financial Assistance Fund within the past 5 years.
GPC recognizes that emergent needs arise occasionally that create a financial crisis for graduate and professional students. Each person’s needs and definition of financial crisis is different. Approval of a grant from the Fund will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the GPC Financial Assistance Fund Committee.
The Financial Assistance Fund cannot be used to cover university tuition or fee balances. Qualified expenses include, but are not limited to, housing instability (i.e., rent), food insecurity, and unexpected medical bills.
The Disbursement Request Application is available on the GPC website and must be completed in full with appropriate documentation as described in the form instructions.
Applications, accepted on a rolling basis, must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to the Assistant Director of Fundraising and placed in the GPC mailbox in the Center for Student Involvement (MU Student Center, 2nd floor).
Disbursement decisions are made by the GPC Financial Assistance Committee as described below.
- Completed application received on MU Engage, and a Financial Assistance Packets provided either to the:
- GPC Mailbox (located in the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), 2500 MU student Center, Columbia, MO 65211; GPC mailboxes are on the second floor of CSI)Financial Assistance Packets can be emailed to the GPC Treasurer or GPC Assistant Director of Fundraising upon request, in place of physical documents.
- While the information you submit will be kept confidential, GPC cannot guarantee that either method of submission is completely secure. Please ensure that any submitted documents do not contain personal or sensitive information. You are encouraged to redact or obscure such information prior to submission. Examples of sensitive information include Social Security numbers (SSNs), Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), Medical Record Numbers (MRNs), bank account routing or account numbers, and specific medical diagnoses or billing details.
- Once the completed application and packet are received, the GPC Financial Assistance Fund Committee will meet to discuss.
- The decision of the GPC Financial Assistance Committee will be conveyed to the applicant, via email, within 10-14 normal business days (while school is in session) from the date the Assistant Director of Fundraising confirms receipt of the application.
- Decision emails may include additional resources or recommendations for applicants, as provided by the GPC Financial Assistance Committee.
Requests are reviewed by the GPC Financial Assistance Committee which includes the GPC Advisor, GPC President, GPC Treasurer, and GPC Assistant Director of Fundraising.