YuFund

YuFund offers grants to developmental and community projects run by student clubs, societies and student college groups.

The Fund is supported by donations from alumni and supporters of the University of York, aiming to strengthen the student experience and widen opportunities for as many as possible.

YuFund's aim is to bridge an urgent funding gap for a student group development project.

YuFund supports projects that:

make opportunities equally accessible for students;
contribute to the work of the University locally, nationally or internationally, supporting the University's strategy as a University for public good
contribute to student mental health or wellbeing;
help student enterprise or employability to succeed;
create an active creative community on campus and beyond;
create physical or digital spaces to enrich the life of our community.

YuFund does not support:

Operational, staff or casual worker costs
Event costs for guest speakers, gift bags, food or drink
Travel expenses which fall outside the scope of the group’s core business activity
Accommodation costs

Please also note:

The maximum amount a group can apply for is £5,000.
YuFund cannot support applications from University staff/departments. For co-created projects, please see Student Success Projects Fund (SSPF).
Successfully awarded student groups must wait one round before reapplying.
Student groups should not repeat an application of a project that has been granted by YuFund before.

Recent successful projects

Mountaineering Club received funding for their committee members to undergo trad climbing safety training, to be able to support their growing club membership. Through their teaching and shared knowledge, they have enhanced the experience of newer and novice members who have been able to try outdoor climbing for the first time.
With their YuFund award, York Rugby Club were able to purchase a new VEO camera, allowing the club to regularly review match footage, resulting in improved techniques and safety for all players. The grant has subsequently contributed to the club’s sustainability through small fee rental to college rugby teams, supporting safety for the wider rugby community at York.
YuFund supported the Norman Rea Gallery in their purchase of new mannequins and a projector to raise aesthetic quality, professionalism and a higher-standard of exhibitions.

Applications

Applications for YuFund Summer 2026 are currently open. The deadline for applications is 12pm on Friday 8 May 2026.

Apply now

Please consider whether YuFund is the right fit for your group. For smaller funding needs, we recommend using YuStart, the University’s crowdfunding platform, where you can receive up to £500 in match funding.

Information for your application

You can preview the questions you'll be asked in the application form to decide whether YuFund is the right platform for your funding needs. You can also use this overview to draft your responses before committing to the main form.
Groups will no longer need to provide an endorsement for their project. Instead, before the Disbursement Panel meets all submitted applications will be seen by SU staff and sabbatical officers for collective oversight, before feeding back to YuFund. As usual, they remain available for support or advice, prior to a submitted application.
If your application requires storage or the use of a dedicated space (eg for new equipment), you must secure permission in advance from the appropriate University department or York SU staff. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain these approvals, and YuFund may withdraw funding if the required space has not been properly authorised.
A financial budget or forecast is a required element of your application. For more detailed guidance and information on what needs to be included in your budget breakdown, please read and fill out the YuFund budget template.
All grants awarded at the 15 June 2026 disbursement meeting must be used by 1 December 2026, with your planned activity starting or taking place before then. Your group will be required to send an update report to yufund@york.ac.uk at the end of the funding period.
YuFund bridges an urgent funding gap and does not cover operational or staffing costs, costs for event speakers, gift bags, food or drink, accommodation or non-core travel activity costs.
To learn more about our data collection and privacy practices, please visit our privacy notice.

University of Opportunity

Supporting students is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to ensure that every student at York can succeed, as a University of Opportunity.

Find out more about the University of Opportunity