Apply for sponsorship
Please click the button for all applicants including:
RAs, TPRAs, and external organizations (RSOs)
For any questions, please email rhafinancial@berkeley.edu
Sponsorship TIMELINE GUIDE
This spreadsheet provides deeper insight into the step-by-step timeline of the sponsorship process, while showcasing presentation availability weekly. Check out this document for live updates and to assist in planning your sponsorship application.
Application Specifics
All applications must include a presentation and an itemized budget. Below are templates for both and an exemplar application that received all 5s according to our grading rubric.
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Our General Assembly acts as stewards of the residents’ money and works to ensure that funds are spent responsibly. As such, we require a line-item budget with all expenses that will be incurred for your program. Additionally, applicants should include the following information:
Total Cost
Cost per resident
HA/RA Contribution
Sponsorship Amount Requested
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Our presentation template offers a structured outline of the essential information that should be included in your presentation. Please pay special attention to the Program Overview and Budget Breakdown slides as they are heavily considered during the review process.
This template ensures that crucial details are conveyed to the General Assembly and Finance Committee in a clear and concise manner, increasing the chances of a successful sponsorship request. However, it is a rudimentary template so feel free to get creative and make it your own!
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The attached application was submitted by the 2022-23 Unit 3 Hall Association. It is an exemplar application that received the highest rating on our five-factor grading rubric. The applicants went above and beyond in their presentation and budget. Applications CAN receive funding without a perfect score and we do NOT expect all applications to look like this. However, by reviewing this example, current applicants can gain insights into what makes a compelling proposal and may use it as a reference to enhance their own presentations.
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One of the requirements of the sponsorship process is to include RHA's logo on the flyers and advertising materials. More information can be found in the application.
Sponsorship Rubric
Sponsorships are graded on a 5-point basis using the following rubric. Criteria points are added up and then divided by 5 in order to produce the final sponsorship score.
WHY IS THIS RUBRIC IMPORTANT?
A score of 5 will:
Automatically be recommended the full amount asked (IF budget allows)
A score of 2 or less will:
Automatically not be recommended by the finance committee unless changes are made.
As of Fall 2024
Sustainability: How effectively the program planners minimized environmental impact by using sustainable and local methods.
Reach: How effective the advertising and outreach strategy to the target audience.
Equity: Whether everyone has equal access to the event regardless of disabilities OR the event will uplift and/or build community to marginalized communities OR provides services to at-risk populations.
Cost Efficiency: How effectively program planners minimized costs, while sustaining maximum impact to the best of their ability. Further, degree of financial contribution made (In proportion to remaining budget for RAs).
Impact: Completion of all the goals listed in the program description to benefit the residents livelihoods.
Other Scoring Considerations
Plastic Water Bottle Policy
RHA is not sponsored by the ASUC, but we do use their banking infrastructure. The ASUC enforces a strict no-exceptions policy against single-use water bottles. Please refrain from including plastic or single-use water bottles in any submitted budgets. Doing so will result in a low sustainability grade, which could negatively impact your application.
BDS Resolution
As a co-sponsor of ASUCSR 2024/2025-003§1.0.0, “Supporting ASUC’s Divestment from Weapons Manufacturers and Corporations Violating BDS,” the Residence Hall Assembly is committed to supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Purchasing from companies on the BDS list will result in lower sustainability scores for sponsorship requests, which may negatively affect your application.
You can find a list of the companies here.
High footprint Suppliers
The Residence Hall Assembly strongly encourages sponsorship applicants to prioritize purchasing event materials from small, local vendors whenever possible. We understand that bulk purchases can make this challenging, but we urge you to consider the broader impact of the events we sponsor each year. With thousands of attendees and significant annual supply needs, every event contributes to our overall footprint.
While it might feel like your event alone has a limited impact, collective choices matter. We actively discourage using high-footprint suppliers, especially when sustainable alternatives are available.
Here is a helpful tool to assist you in identifying sustainable options: [Better World Shopper].
Questions or inquiries?
Email rhafinancial@berkeley.edu