Gsapp Emergency Fund

Columbia GSAPP has renewed a $250,000 Emergency Fund for the 2021-2022 academic year to assist students with unexpected financial needs. Established and funded by the Dean’s Office, the GSAPP Emergency Fund was initially created in 2020 to support the student community facing hardships resulting from the impact of COVID-19. The Emergency Fund also welcomes gifts from friends and alumni whose contributions help support student success.

The GSAPP Emergency Fund is for current GSAPP students who are enrolled full time and have urgent financial need that cannot be addressed by any other sources. These taxable stipends may vary in amount and will not exceed $1,000 per student in each application round. Students who have already received a stipend from the fund’s prior rounds and continue to experience financial hardship may re-apply for an additional stipend.

2021-2022 Application Cycle

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

The Emergency Fund is for current GSAPP students who are enrolled full-time in the Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 term.

Expenses must be directly related to the student and incurred during the current academic term.
The student’s need is exacerbated by unanticipated factors.

Selection: How Grantees Are Selected

The fund is intended to meet a variety of emergency needs. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis provided that they meet the “Eligibility” criteria above. Eligibility does not guarantee funding, and priority is given to those cases in which the applicant does not have access to additional means. Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria below.

Does the need arise from additional financial strain as a result new, unanticipated factors?
Does the need pertain directly to the student’s own circumstances (versus someone else’s such as a roommate or partner)?
Has the applicant exhausted all other possible resources, including personal assets, family and personal networks, and the various Columbia, government, or community resources? Links to additional resources can be found on the Office of University Life COVID-19 Resources page.

Application Form and Deadline

Applicants must submit the online application form for consideration. Supporting documentation such as receipts may be included to substantiate the request.

The final deadline for applications reviewed during the Spring 2022 semester is April 15, 2022.
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis to best address student needs throughout the semester.

Required Documentation

Please use the application form to include the following documentation:

Detailed description of how your circumstances have changed to created this emergency need.
Estimated expenses and requested amount of support. (Stipends do not exceed $1,000 per student in each application round.)
Other documentation as applicable to the specific nature of the application may need to be provided by request.

Application Form

Contact & Resources

Please contact financialaid@arch.columbia.edu with any questions.

For additional funding sources you may also reference the following webpages:

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GSAPP Emergency Fund