Budget and Finance
Watch the conversation on our YouTube SCRA Budget Overview
You can access the physical presentation at SCRA Finances Overview
The Budgeting Process
SCRA yearly budgets are determined at the Executive Committee’s Midwinter Meeting. In December all EC members, councils, committees, and interest groups are asked to prepare a report for the Midwinter Meeting Briefing Book, which forms the basis for the discussion at the Midwinter Meeting. Those reports contain a description of the activities of the group/individual over the past year, plans for the coming year, and any budget requests. Budget requests are discussed at the Midwinter Meeting and at the end of that meeting a final budget for the coming year is approved. The primary criterion for determining whether or not a request gets funded is the extent to which the activity supports the mission and goals of SCRA. While there are no specific categories of requests that we refuse to fund, we do closely examine requests for food, travel and honoria to determine if they advance the mission. SCRA does have specific funds set aside for student and international initiatives and these can include travel.
The total number and amount of the requests funded depends upon the overall anticipated revenue and expenses for the year. We have never been in a position of being able to fund all requests. Out-of-budget requests (i.e. those that are not included in the budget requests considered at the Midwinter Meeting) are generally not funded, unless the president, president-elect, past-president and treasurer agree that the request is necessary and could not have been foreseen when the yearly budget requests were submitted.
Policy for Approving Out of Cycle Budget Requests
Committees, councils, interest groups and EC members may occasionally identify a need for funds that were not allocated in the annual budgeting process. To address these needs, committees and/or councils can submit to the president one emergency funding request of up to $1,500 per fiscal year. The funding request must include an explanation of the purpose of the funds, a budget, and a rationale that includes how the funding will enhance the expression of SCRA’s Vision, Mission, Principles or Goals (pg. 41). The request should also include an explanation regarding why the item was not included in the regular budget submission and why the request cannot wait until the next budget cycle.
Approval of a request requires the consensus of the president, past-president, president-elect and treasurer. After a decision is made, the president will submit a brief report to the Executive Committee, including a copy of the request for emergency funding.
Reimbursement Process
Please go to the Reimbursement Form page for complete information on receiving reimbursements or grant payments from SCRA.