The Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) is a student centre at the University of Regina that works on social and environmental justice issues. RPIRG gives out up to $35,000 in funding each year to students for events, projects, or training opportunities.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply, if you are:
RPIRG student members – University of Regina student(s) who has not opted-out of RPIRG membership including students at Campion College, Luther College, and First Nations University of Canada; or
RPIRG community/associate members – community member(s) or groups who have opted-in to RPIRG membership by paying a $20/year membership fee; or
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour) – Regina residents who self-identify as being part of communities targeted by racial discrimination. The application must be related to Racial justice i.e organizing/advocacy/research/legal action being done individually or as part of groups, collectives, and organizations based in Regina (or led by UofR students in Saskatchewan more broadly)
Additionally, all projects, events, research, conferences or training opportunities:
must be aligned with RPIRG's values; and
must demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing social and/or environmental justice. Eligible initiatives should aim to create positive and lasting change by addressing one or more issues, such as equity, accessibility, sustainability, decolonization, anti-oppression, anti-racism, active citizenship or community engagement. Each application must describe how their initiative or participation contributes to systemic change, education, or community well-being, and how it builds knowledge, skills, or networks that strengthen their capacity to take meaningful action and become more active citizens on campus and beyond.
To learn more about all of our grant programs, who is eligible to apply, and compare them, please visit our funding page.
NOTE: RPIRG also has a separate Racial Justice microgrant fund for self-identified BIPOC/racialized RPIRG student members and Regina residents, to specifically support racial justice and community safety/wellbeing initiatives. The latter has a separate budget. For more information about our BIPOC fund, visit www.rpirg.org/BIPOC-fund, and to fill out the application form for it, please go back to our funding page.
Applications for microgrants are have no deadline, and are accepted on a rolling basis until our funds run out.
Please note: Applications can take up to 2 weeks to process and approve, but are typically processed within 2 business days.
Microgrant maximum budget: $200 once per RPIRG fiscal year (May 1-Apr 30) and you cannot apply for large grant and another microgrant for the same initiative during the same year.
Eligible initiatives
Please remember to double check the eligibility criteria at: https://rpirg.org/microgrants/ to make sure your application is eligible for this grant, including the RPIRG values at: https://rpirg.org/who-we-are/.
1) Projects and events including advocacy and legal actions, campaigns, workshops, community surveys or similar feedback tools
Event is defined as a one-time activity with a particular goal. For example, hosting a workshop, rally, or speaker.
Project is defined as a series of activities or events coordinated to reach a particular goal with specific start and end dates. For example, organizing a campaign with multiple aspects over a number of days or weeks, organizing a community survey, a workshop series or other community programming, starting a community garden, a campaign or advocacy work, etc.
2) Training and conferences including gatherings and other professional development
Training and Research Funding provides one-time funding to help individuals and groups attend a conference, training opportunity, or grad research that is focused on social or environmental justice issues.
3) Grad research
Grad research funding prioritizes research taking place in Regina and Saskatchewan, or benefitting groups or communities living there. Applicants can only receive funding once per project, and cannot pair it with conference/training funding.
Please note: we are a non-partisan organization and as such do not provide funding to political parties or their candidates/electoral campaigns. However, non-partisan educational events such as election town halls which will include all political parties may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to discuss.
Please also note: Fundraisers are generally not eligible for funding. If your fundraiser fits RPIRG’s funding requirements and you believe it should be eligible for funding, you can bring your rationale to the RPIRG Board of Directors and we will make a decision on a case-by-case basis.