Ready to Find Your People?

FYP Grant Application Portal

Link to FYP Application Form on WIN

Please contact the FYP Coordinator, Jay King, with any questions: jay.king@wisc.edu

FYP Purpose & Eligibility

The Find Your People (FYP) Grant supports events that:

• Support the intentional design of events to promote connection, belonging and friendship making
• Normalize connecting with others without the presence of alcohol or other substances
• Provide opportunities for students to have fun and meet others

The FYP application process is competitive, and not all RSOs that apply will receive funding for their events. As of August 2026, FYP is NOT able to reimburse RSOs for expenses.

Funding can be applied to:

• Any expenses paid directly to the Wisconsin Union or any UW campus unit
• Space/room rental
• Equipment rental
• Food
  • No more than 35% of the grant amount requested is for the cost of food
• External expenses for equipment critical to the execution of the event
• As of August 2026, FYP does NOT provide reimbursements

Preference is given to events that:

• Occur in the Wisconsin Union
• Are submitted at least two weeks before the event to give enough time for promotion
• Are seeking direct payment(s) to a campus unit or department
• That are new programs/initiatives OR significant additions to ongoing programs/initiatives

FYP Criteria

FYP Funding Criteria:

• Funding maximums per event:
  • $400 for non-accredited RSOs
  • $500 for Accredited RSOs – Link to RSO Accreditation Criteria
  • RSOs may apply multiple times, but may only receive a maximum of $2000 in FYP funding per academic year
• Applicants must apply to (an) ASM Grant(s) before applying to FYP or provide justification why they have not applied (an) ASM Grant(s). Link to ASM Grant Application Portal
• The person who submits the FYP Grant application must be both a member of the Registered Student Organization and a currently registered UW-Madison student.
• Funds must be used for free, student-oriented, alcohol-free activities

FYP Event Criteria:

• Events must include an interactive element so that students can meet one another
• Events must be held in an accessible on-campus location. Requests for off-campus facility will only be considered if:
  • There is a compelling reason why no on-campus venue is suitable or available for the event; and
  • The selected off-campus facility is accessible, and transportation is provided to students if the location is not within walking distance.
• Events must be open, promoted to, and potentially of interest to all members of the UW community
  • Marketing materials for the event, including the WIN event page, must include the following text: "This event is free and open to all UW-Madison students."
• Events must be listed on the UW Madison calendar and tagged as a “Find Your People” event. You can submit an event here: Link to UW Event Calendar
  • If this event is at the Wisconsin Union, adding the event to the Union Event Calendar and tagging it with “Find Your People” will fulfill this requirement.
• Events must include the FYP tagline, hashtag, and logo in all promotional material: Link to FYP Assets
• Attendance data must be collected and submitted via the WIN mobile app as part of the post-event documentation process. If attendees cannot access the WIN mobile app, attendance must be recorded with an Excel spreadsheet including attendees' First Name, Last Name, and Student Email

FYP Timeline

• Applications are accepted and reviewed during the academic year beginning in September.
• Applications must be submitted at LEAST 4 school weeks before the date of the event. It is strongly encouraged to apply even earlier. See below:
  • Please build in extra weeks to account for university breaks. The application for the Find Your People Grant is closed during the summer, UW-Madison academic breaks (Winter Break, Spring Break), and closes during the year once there is no more funding available to be rewarded.
  • For funding requests to bring honorarium speakers, performers, or trainers to the campus, RSOs should apply as early as possible, even months in advance, with one month in advance as the bare minimum due to the time needed for university contracts.
• Within 2 weeks of your application submission date: the grant coordinator reviews your application and will reach out with next steps 
  • If your application is approved, the grant coordinator will set a meeting with you to go over FYP policies and next steps. This meeting is normally less than 30min.
  • If your application is denied, you will receive a notification on WIN and either a denial letter or request for revisions.
• Within 2 weeks AFTER your event: Post-event documentation must be sent via WIN within two weeks of your event ending. It will ask for attendance data, event agenda, invoices, and other supporting documentation. Failure to submit post-event documentation may result in a reduction in future FYP funding.

You are expected to communicate and meet regularly with the FYP Coordinator and respond to requests in a timely manner. You are also required to communicate any updates to your event or application with the FYP Coordinator after submission.

Please visit The Well in Room 233 Union South to study and connect with others seeking an alcohol-free environment focused on wellbeing.

Learn more about The Well

Concept

• Promote friendship making
• Normalize the uncertainty around making connections
• Provide opportunities to have fun and meet others
• Intentionally designed events and messaging

Why this is needed

• Almost 40% of college students reported feeling loneliness the previous day
• More than half of the students (51.5%) in the 2023 National College Health Assessment by the American College Health Association, reported feeling lonely
• Rising social anxiety rates contribute to and result from loneliness and can lead to a spiral of isolation. Loneliness is associated with both mental and physical health risks

What is Being Created

• Calendar of “Find Your People” branded events and experiences
• Messaging to students
• An invitation to students emphasizing it is okay to attend alone

How You Can Support

• Submit events and experiences to the “Find Your People” Calendar (by sending event details to heidi.lang@wisc.edu)
• Assist with monthly message creation to students
• Develop talking points for your events
• Use the provided flyer template and/or “Find Your People” circle mark on your promotions