How to Apply for Grants

• Go to ookslife.ca.
• Select your club.
• Click Organization Tools > Finance > Create Request > Create Budget Request.

“Create Budget Request” is the ookslife.ca term for submitting a grant application. We can’t change this wording—but it means the same thing!

On the Create Budget Request page, you’ll see a list of all available intakes (application deadlines) for the 2026–27 school year.

Choose the intake that matches your project timeline. Your event or initiative must take place at least three weeks after the intake deadline.

Select one header that best matches your request type:

• Branded Merchandise: For swag like clothing, mugs, or pens—items with your club’s logo given away or sold.
• Up to 50% coverage. 
• Posters, brochures, and business cards go under Event Funding or General Operations instead. 
• Grant Funding will only cover club-branded swag and will not cover NAIT program or general apparel.
• Conference/Competition Attendance: For attending events relevant to your club’s purpose. 
• Up to $100 per student. 
• Event Funding: For hosting any club event or activity. 
• Submit a separate application for each event you want to fund. 
• General Operations: For general promotional or operational needs (e.g., business cards, equipment, supplies). 

Take your time here! A clear, thoughtful title and description helps reviewers understand the importance of your project.

This section is where you will explain your idea in detail, providing insight into your planning, budget, and logistics. 

You will be asked the following questions:

1. Sell your grant idea!
   
   • Tell us about each element involved in your idea and everything in your budget area. What makes your grant idea unique and worth funding? Make sure to include details explaining what your idea is, why it matters to your club, how it will be planned and executed successfully, and what you will use grant funding for?  Tip: Write a sentence answering each question above!
2. In what way does this idea align with the goals of your club? 
   
   • Think back to the by-laws your club created. How does this idea help achieve those goals?
3. What advantages or positive impacts will this idea have on students at NAIT?
   • Link back to community-building, student leadership, or skill development.
4. How many students do you estimate will benefit from this idea?
   • Estimate the number of club members you think you will reach with this idea.  
5. Select the response that applies to your idea.
   • This idea will move forward without grant funding
   • This idea will move forward with partial grant funding
   • This idea will not move forward without grant funding
   • Unsure
6. What is your marketing/promotional plan to ensure your idea is successful? When do you want students and club members to hear about your idea? Select all that apply from the list below.
   • Post on the Ooks Life App and/or create a group-chat 
   • Posters around campus 
   • Post on the club’s specific Instagram, Discord, and/or teams channel
   • Sandwich Boards from CHEQROOM
   • Pop-Up Table / Promo Table
   • Other
7. Describe how you will provide recognition to NAITSA should funding be provided? The club may only use the official “Funded by NAITSA” logo, not the NAITSA logo on all promotional materials.
   • Small shout outs during a speech? Using the “Funded by NAITSA” logo on the poster. Thanking NAITSA in your communications to your club members?
8. Provide a rough timeline outlining how long it will take you to complete your idea once funding is received. What tasks need to be completed in order for your idea to happen? Your response should include:
   
   • Dates of important planning tasks
   • Estimated event date
   • Date Purchase Requests will be submitted by
   • Close Out Date

   Reminder: Grant funded ideas submitted in the Summer Grant intake must take place after July 20, 2026 to allow for application review and approval and NO FUNDS can be spent until your idea has been approved.
   

    

9. Select a close-out date by which all purchase requests and receipts must be submitted to Campus Clubs. This is the final deadline for completing all financial transactions related to your project. The close-out date must be 1 month after your idea has ended/concluded.
   • Add this date to your calendar to ensure you don’t miss the deadline, as late submissions may not be accepted, making the club responsible to cover all costs associated with your idea.
10. Is the club partnering or collaborating with another club, NAIT department, or external organization for this idea?
    • If yes, please provide the name of the collaborating organization, and what they are responsible for.
11. Is the club anticipating any monetary sponsorships or supplies-based support for this idea?
    • If yes, please provide the name of the sponsor organization and what they are donating to your idea.
12. Has your club hosted, offered, or put on this idea before?
    • If yes, describe what you learned last time your club executed/hosted this idea and how you plan to improve or build on it?
13. Is your club submitting more than one Grant Application in the same Grant Intake?
    • If you submitted more than one grant application, which application(s) are you most passionate about or would ideally like to receive funding for? Please include the title of the application(s) and, where relevant, rank them in order of priority.

The risks you identify should be directly connected to your specific idea, rather than general, generic, or unrelated concerns. Strong risk management demonstrates that your club has planned thoughtfully and is prepared to handle unexpected situations. Don’t just think physical harm, but confirming contracts, communicating to club members about the idea, or handling mis-printed merchandise.

• The risk (e.g., “Technical difficulties”).
• Severity (Low / Medium / High).
• Likelihood (Low / Medium / High).
• Your plan to manage it. Risk management is carefully reviewed, so don’t skip this step!

Break down your costs clearly. Upload quotes, screenshots, or spreadsheets to support your pricing. Only approved items will be eligible for reimbursement, so include everything you need!

Make sure to:

• Fill out each line item with a clear description and cost.
• Upload documents or links for each item.

Make sure the Requested Total accurately reflects the amount you’re applying for and includes everything you need to bring your idea to life.

Getting approved is just the start—following the rules of grant funding is key to keeping your club in good standing and eligible for future support.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Training Completion Required. Before each intake deadline, your club’s President, VP Operations, and VP Finance must complete:
  • Clubs Basic Training Path, and 
  • Clubs Advanced Training Path. 
• NAITSA will not fund ideas that:
  
  • Are offensive, discriminatory, or otherwise deemed inappropriate for the campus community (e.g., misogynistic, homophobic).
  • Advocate for genocide, incite hatred, or promote hatred against an identifiable group.
  • Seek to promote partisan political agendas or specific religious beliefs. This includes events or activities that are deemed to significantly alienate or polarize members of the campus community.
  • Feature candidates in municipal, provincial, or federal elections during the campaign period in a way that could provide an unfair advantage to one candidate.
  • Have the potential to damage or negatively affect the reputation of NAITSA or NAIT.

  Funding decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the Grant Review Committee and may be subject to additional review to ensure alignment with campus community standards

• All Purchase Requests relating to the grant will be submitted to Campus Clubs by the close out date you indicated in the application, or by an extension date that was communicated in writing to the Campus Clubs Team (askclubs@nait.ca) prior to the original close out date. Late submissions and missing receipts will not be accepted, making the club responsible to cover all costs associated with your idea.
  
  
• Unused grant funds will be automatically reclaimed by NAITSA following the close out date you indicated in the application or approved extensions. It is the responsibility of the club to request an extension by emailing the Campus Clubs Team (askclubs@nait.ca) for a close out date in advance.
  
• Track Attendance for Events. If your event is grant-funded, you must track attendance using the Check-In App. Failure to track attendance may affect your club’s future grant eligibility.
   
• Respect the Decision. The decision made by the Grant Review Committee is final. Once funding is approved or denied, the status will not be changed.
  

Double check, ensure everything you need is included, and that each question is answered correctly and fully. Then, submit your application!