Alumni Impact Fund: student applications

Monday 28 September: Applications open

Tuesday 6 and Thursday 8 October 13:00-14:30pm: In person Alumni Impact Fund drop-ins (UK campus) at Guild Reception.

At these sessions you can:

• Ask questions you have about the fund.
• Discuss your ideas and get personalised feedback.
• Get tips on how to fill out your application effectively.

Midnight Sunday 25 October: Applications close.

Week commencing 2 November: Successful applicants will be invited to an in-person pitching panel. You will have a 20 minute slot on either Wednesday or Thursday. 

Week commencing 16 November: Application outcomes announced.

Terms and conditions:

• All projects must aim to make a positive impact on the student community.
• All projects should be new ideas. We will not award funding to activities which are already up and running, unless you're proposing significant changes to that activity. 
• Only one application per group/team/individual.
• If you were awarded funding through Alumni Impact Fund in 2025/26 and did not complete your project, or did not provide appropriate progress updates, you are not eligible to apply in 2026/27.
• This money was charitably donated to the University by alumni, and all funded projects must reflect the spirit of this generosity and the ethos of the University.
• We reserve the right to consider the expectations of charitable donors about the use of their donation and will not fund projects that could negatively impact on our future fundraising.

What can’t be funded?

• Funding cannot cover the cost of food and drink, alcohol, organise a ball or a religious event.
• Funding cannot be used with the sole aim of directly supporting another charitable cause, for instance as a direct donation to another charity or paying another charity for a voluntary experience.
• Funding cannot be used to start up a business or app development.
• Funding cannot be used for promotional materials/ marketing.

Extra hints and tips:

• Projects that are innovative, creative and exciting are more likely to be successful.
• Projects that benefit students for years to come will be favoured. How long will the impact of your project last? Will this funding enable you to do the activity again in future?
• If your project only benefits a few people, it is less likely to be awarded funding. Try to demonstrate the broader impact of your project.
• Please avoid using Chat GPT or any other AI assistance when writing your application or generating ideas. If identified, this reduces the credibility of your application.
• If your project revolves around careers and employability, we recommend talking to the Careers Network about your idea before you apply.
• If you are applying to fund a speaker for an event, speak to us first to identify whether there are alumni volunteers who could support instead. 

All applicants must secure a 'staff advocate' who needs to email Lydia Buffery or Adele Matthews (Dubai) with their approval of the project and willingness to oversee student spending.

If you are applying as an individual, this should be someone from your department who is a budget holder e.g. a programme lead, tutor or Student Experience Officer. If you are a Guild society or UB Sport club, yours should be your allocated coordinator/ development officer.

You should share the information below with your staff advocate.

As a staff advocate you will:

• Email Lydia Buffery or Adele Matthews (Dubai) to approve that the project can take place, if successful, and that you have read the terms and conditions.
• Be responsible for ensuring the project meets University health and safety requirements and risk regulations, and University financial regulations.

(Not relevant to Guild/UBSport advocates):

• Be a University budget holder and signatory.
• Hold any successful grants in your budget element 2 code.
• Oversee and authorise expenditure through Core requisitions.

Ethan Sumner: The Casting Project

PGR student Ethan used his funding to get the skills and training required to deliver student workshops in hands-on metal casting. Participants were able to create 3D-print blanks, create sand moulds and cast aluminium in the University foundry.

Debating Society: The Birmingham Pro-Am

The society hosted the Birmingham Pro-Am, a 100-person, 36-team, two-day debating competition, its first major debating competition in over four years.

Archery: Increasing accessibility 

Archery purchased entry-level accessible equipment to increase access to the sport for those with different levels of ability. This included lightweight bows and compounds, release aids and sit stools.

Dylan Sanghera: UoB Campus Air Quality Network

PGR student Dylan purchased six solar-powered and two wired monitors to monitor air pollution across campus, creating the UoB Campus Air Quality Network. In the long term, the network will promote environmental health awareness by providing quality data, engaging both the university community and the wider public.

Tennis: The 'Tennis 2000 project'

The society purchased new equipment in order to offer free tennis coaching to local schools.

Watch This: 'Plot Twist'

A week-long festival of performing arts including over 40 UoB students for an audience of 219 people from across the community.

For more examples of Alumni Impact Fund supported projects, take a look at the main website.

If you want to discuss your idea or have any questions about the application process then please, contact Lydia Buffery. Alternatively, you can attend one of our drop-in sessions, listed in the 'key dates' section above.

For UoB Dubai projects, please contact Adele Matthews.