The Strategic Equity & Anti-Racism (StEAR) Enhancement Fund – Student Stream provides funding for student-led initiatives that seek to advance UBC’s equity and anti-racism priorities.
At a glance
Who can apply?
Current full-time students in good standing at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan
How much is available?
$500 – $10,000 per project
When is the application cycle?
October 13 – November 9, 2025
Funding overview
The StEAR Enhancement Fund – Student Stream is designed to support student-led initiatives that advance broad campus equity and anti-racism goals and priorities aligned with UBC’s StEAR Framework and Roadmap for Change. This year, a total of $100,000 is available for student-led projects. Applicants can apply for funds from $500 and up to $10,000 per initiative.
Funding is available for initiatives (for example events, programs and activities) at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan that align with one or more of the following themes:
- Racial equity: Initiatives that seek to address forms of racism and to advance racial equity.
- Disability equity: Initiatives that seek to address forms of ableism and to advance disability equity.
- Gender and 2SLGBTQIA+ equity: Initiatives that seek to address forms of sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia and to advance equity in relation to sexual and gender identity.
- Other Human Rights: Initiatives that seek to address another human rights ground(s) (religion, family status, etc.) protected by the BC Human Rights Code and as defined by UBC’s policy SC7: Discrimination.
When considering requests to fund UBC student-led initiatives applicants must affirm their project will follow Equity & Inclusion Office’s Principles Guiding Sponsorship of Community-led Events.
Please note that the Equity & Inclusion Office provides funding to recipients for the limited purposes set out in the funding agreement. The provision of the funding does not imply the EIO’s agreement with or support for the recipient’s positions nor does the funding represent an endorsement, approval, or certification by the EIO of any of the recipient’s beliefs, messages, opinions, or activities.
Eligibility
To apply, you must:
- Be a current full-time student.
- Students can apply regardless of their fee status (domestic, international, exchange), the program they are enrolled in, or their degree (undergraduate or graduate).
- Students currently on co-op are eligible to apply
Applications are accepted from:
- Student-led groups affiliated with the Alma Mater Society (AMS), the Graduate Student Society (GSS), or the Students’ Union Okanagan (SUO)
- Student-led groups not affiliated with the AMS, GSS, or SUO, provided they have a faculty, department, or individual faculty/staff member serving as their project sponsor
Not Eligible
Proposals will not be accepted for:
- Academic research projects conducted as part of regular coursework, thesis, or paid research positions
2025 Application timeline
| Date | Description |
| Mon, October 13 | Applications are open. |
| Sun, November 9 | Deadline to submit an application. |
| Early December | Funding decisions are announced. |
Funding considerations
For 2025, a total of $100,000 is available to support student-led equity and inclusion initiatives across UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan.
Individual projects may receive up to $10,000 in funding. Grants will range between $500 and $10,000, depending on the project’s scope and impact.
Funds are provided up front and will be transferred to a UBC faculty, school, department, or student society account through the provision of a Program Code by its finance department or relevant finance contact. Unfortunately, funds cannot be transferred to personal student, staff, or faculty accounts.
Projects must be completed within one year of receiving funding. A short project report is due one month after completion. Future funding eligibility depends on submitting this report.
If your project or event is cancelled, or you have unspent funds, the remaining money must be returned to the StEAR Enhancement Fund.
What cannot be funded
The StEAR Enhancement Fund does not cover:
- Recurring salaries or ongoing operational costs
- However, project specific, student staffing costs to support the execution of an initiative will be considered.
- Personal professional development (e.g., training, certification, or coaching)
- However, if the training is part of an ongoing process to advance systems change it may be considered for funding.
- Conference or workshop attendance
- Research project
Adjudication process and criteria
The StEAR Enhancement Fund Committee – Student Stream will review the proposals based on eligibility and awarding criteria. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision within four weeks of the application deadline, and approved proposals will be announced at that time.
The Committee will ensure fair consideration of applications on both campuses. Any remaining funds will be carried over and into the general funding pool for redistribution the following year.
Criteria
- Clarity of alignment of the initiative with the purpose of the fund and any aspect of the StEAR Framework;
- The feasibility of the proposal – realistic timeline and budget;
- The availability of funds within any given funding cycle;
- Benefit to, and engagement of historically, persistently or systemically marginalized (HPSM) groups at UBC;
- Proposals demonstrating collaborative partnerships across units, departments, Faculties/schools, VP portfolios or campuses are encouraged.
StEAR Enhancement Fund Adjudication Committee
The Vice-President, Students and the Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion are co-executive sponsors of the StEAR Enhancement Fund. The Office of the Vice-President, Students (OVPS) and the Equity & Inclusion Office (EIO) will jointly administer the fund and constitute the StEAR Enhancement Fund Committee that represents both UBC Vancouver (UBCV) and UBC Okanagan The committee will forward a report of its activities annually to the President’s Executive.
Frequently asked questions
If my application is successful, how will I receive the funds?
Funds will only to be transferred to a UBC Faculty, school, department or a student society (AMS, SUO or GSS) account through the provision of a Program Code by its finance department or relevant finance contact.
Have you designated a set amount of funds – out of the total funding pool – to each of the eligible groups: student, staff and faculty?
We have not allocated funds to each group. However, the adjudication committee will weigh its final recommendations to ensure a fair distribution of funds across all three groups as much as it is able to.
Have you designated a set amount of funds specifically for UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan?
We have not allocated funds specific to a campus. The committee will review all applications and, as with the applicant groups, will strive to ensure equity in granting between the two campuses.
Is there a portion of the funds that are held back until the project is completed?
The full amount approved will be awarded. We request and expect a brief final report upon completion of the project.
Does this fund support academic research projects?
This fund is designed for initiatives that can promote broad community-based projects. It is not designed to support research projects.
Is it a requirement that Faculty, unit, department, student societies or other partners or groups also provide a financial contribution?
There is no requirement for other financial contributions to a project. However, collaborative projects that draw from different sources of funding or expertise are welcomed.
Can this fund be used to purchase training/workshops?
The fund aims to support initiatives that have a broad community impact. If the training is part of an ongoing process to advance system change it may be considered for funding.
Is there funding for faculty and staff to apply to?
Yes. Faculty and staff have a separate StEAR funding stream with its own dates and application form. Learn more and apply on the StEAR Enhancement Fund — Faculty & Staff Stream page.
Still have questions? Contact us at stear.fund@ubc.ca for support or further information.