With a grant received last spring, the Campus Y’s decision to allocate the $10,000 based on economic viability promotes strong business plans and demonstrates a funding process that prioritizes goal-oriented projects. This should be emulated by other financially strapped institutions.
The money will now go toward helping groups looking to make a positive impact on campus with equality and social justice.
This YFund, which was previously only available to committees within the Campus Y, will now give prospective social justice groups outside of the Campus Y an opportunity to become a reality, as they would receive half the funding to start the project and the other half when they finish.
This is important because it ensures that groups are not just emotionally connected to a cause but also have the leadership, organization and detailed business proposals to use the money efficiently and look towards long-term sustainability as recipients of the YFund.
This fund will spark creativity among groups because it will not be used to fund projects that will happen on an annual basis, but rather focus on initiatives that are happening for the first time. As a result, it essentially gives groups an incentive to find new ways to spread their message around campus.
The Campus Y is now more than the center for promoting social justice at UNC; it also promotes economic responsibility, smart planning and the efficient use of resources.
As institutions and organizations around the country continue to fail because of economic problems, the Campus Y’s focus on smart spending and a strong business plan should serve as the standard among campus organizations.
