Applying for funding

The Political Action Committee is  responsible for adjudicating applications to and distributing CUPE 3906’s donations budget.  Here are some pointers if you are interested in making a donations request:

• Applications for funding should be directed to politicalaction@cupe3906.org
• Normal funding applications can be made for funds up to $500.  Larger donation requests can be sent but must be debated at a General Membership Meeting.  On average, we fund events at McMaster and in Hamilton at between $100-250 and events and groups further afield at between $50-150.
• Turnaround time between the receipt of an application and the cheque being sent off is typically 4-6 weeks.
• Applications, which should be about 1-2 pages, should include:
  • complete contact information; a description of the group applying for funding including its membership and/or base of support and/or community, goals and short-term agenda;
  • a description of the campaign or purposes to which the funding being applied for will be put; an estimated budget;
  • a list of other confirmed and potential funding sources;
  • and a rationale for how the donation fulfills the PAC’s donations priorities listed below.
• PLEASE NOTE: We at the PAC realize that many worthy groups and causes desperately in need of funding cannot afford the time and organizational capacity to prepare such a funding application.  If this is your state of affairs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the PAC and we can work with you on putting this together over the phone or in person.  The PAC also occasionally and in extenuating circumstances makes donations to groups in need even without the detailed information require above.
• We appreciate if you send us a note indicating that you have received the funding for our files.
• Principles that guide our consideration:
  • The Political Action Committee’s donations agenda focus on supporting local and grassroots intiatives and stresses solidarity rather than charity.
  • Local means generally within in the Hamilton and surrounding areas although we also sometimes fund international initiatives.
  • Grassroots means we want to fund member-driven and generally smaller initiatives aimed at direct action to improve people’s lives and fight systems of oppression.  As a result, we rarely make donations to large Non-Governmental Organizations or political parties.
  • Finally, the principle of solidarity means that we acknowledge that we are all together in the fight against oppression and exploitation, that all our oppression and exploitation is interconnected and that none of us are free from oppression and exploitation until we all are.
  • We reject the principles behind most forms of charity which places the “giver” above the receiver and intends to transform social and political problems which can only be solved by collective action into personal issues which can be solved by individual acts of generosity.
  • We also do not give to organizations which violate the basic principles of the union and which are patriarchal, heterosexist, racist, pro-capitalist, anti-union, pro-imperialist, colonialist or otherwise oppressive.  This includes numerous political and religious organizations.  We do not fund proselytic organizations.
  • We strive to fund groups and initiatives where our donation will have a large impact and thus enrich the field of struggle against oppression and exploitation.