Funding Resources for SAA Groups

COMPONENT GROUP FUNDING

OVERVIEW

All SAA component groups (committees, boards, working groups, task forces, and Sections) are eligible to apply to SAA for funding toward special projects. Projects should support component group needs, explore new and leading ideas, build on previous work, and/or demonstrate a measurable impact. Component group requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the SAA Council. Projects that involve collaboration across multiple component groups are strongly encouraged.

COMPONENT FUNDING PILOT (NEW)

For the 2026–2028 SAA fiscal years (FY26–FY28), the SAA Council approved a pilot program in which a dedicated pot of money ($5,000) is available for component group funding requests. Component groups may apply to receive those funds, and funding requests will be evaluated according to criteria (see below). Requests selected per the criteria will be funded until the annual allocation of $5,000 is exhausted.

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND DETAILS

Component Funding Pilot

For the SAA FY26 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) budget cycle, component groups must submit requests by January 15 for consideration for projects that will have funds spent by June 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified in February of Council’s decision, and selected groups will have until June 30, 2026 to spend funds.

DUE: January 15

Proposed Budget Request (Future)

For the SAA Proposed Budget request for FY27 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) budget cycle, component groups must submit requests by March 1 for consideration for projects that will have funds spent by June 30, 2027. 

Requests should be submitted to your Council liaison (contact information available here) and saagovernance@archivists.org. Please see the Component Group Funding Request Form (below) for more details.

PROGRAM SCOPE AND CRITERIA

This program is intended to fund the activities carried out by SAA component groups, with requests submitted by their leadership (e.g., steering committees, in the case of section requests). 

Funding requests will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Requests must be submitted or endorsed by component group leaders
• Requests should be aligned with the mission, vision, and values of SAA
• Priority will be given to requests that meet the following areas of focus:
  • Initiatives that aim to boost SAA member engagement
  • Projects that support sections that have not had a lot of speakers
  • Projects that allow sections that need expert speakers from outside the archival community to provide insight
  • Initiatives that span multiple component groups
  • Initiatives performed by component groups working to support disenfranchised and marginalized communities
  • Applications that include a sustainability/impact statement

Note: If an SAA component group wishes to seek resources (whether cash or in kind) from any source outside SAA, Executive Committee approval must be obtained in every instance before approaching the source. Proposals should be routed through the SAA CEO and Council liaison, with sufficient time for consideration by the Executive Committee, which will respond within 30 days.

POLICY 

This pilot component group funding program attempts to provide dedicated funding for component group initiatives. The program allocates $5,000 per fiscal year, through FY 2028, as a pot of funds that component group leaders can apply to receive.

This program is intended to fund the activities carried out by SAA component groups, with requests submitted by their leadership (e.g., steering committees, in the case of section requests). Examples of activities that might be funded through this program include:

• Speaker honoraria
• Swag or take-aways relevant to the component group’s work and SAA’s mission
• Translation fees (e.g., translating a pamphlet into another language)
• Video creation, editing, and transcription
• Outreach efforts for the section or component group
• Accessibility accommodations (which may also be requested by contacting membership@archivists.org)

This program cannot fund the following activities:

• SAA component group projects not supported by component group leaders
• Food and beverage at events
• Travel, lodging, and meals for speakers or group participants
• The creation of materials to be put up for sale (i.e., things created by funding through this program cannot be sold)
• Technical infrastructure to be used in the long term (e.g., web hosting, project management software)
• Activities otherwise funded by the Council-approved budget
• Donations to other organizations

Please note the following regarding honoraria requests:

• The amount for an honorarium can range from $100 (minimum) to $200 (maximum) per speaker
• Each SAA component group can fund up to 3 honoraria per year, and each speaker can receive 1 honorarium through this program per year
• Speakers receiving honoraria will need to submit a W-9 to SAA; they will be paid by check by mail
• Speakers receiving honoraria may not redirect the SAA honoraria they receive 

Please note: Component group leaders may not submit funding requests that would directly financially benefit any of their group members (e.g., apply for a speaker honorarium to be paid to a member of their steering committee). Elected SAA leaders and SAA staff also may not be compensated through this program.