eCouncil Fund

The USC Greif Center eCouncil Fund supports Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) in organizing entrepreneurship activities, fostering the USC entrepreneurship community. The USC Greif Center eCouncil Fund is designed to provide Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) throughout campus with resources for student-run entrepreneurship activities that reflect and help build our USC entrepreneurship community. RSOs can apply for consideration once per semester for financial and/or in-kind support. Awards will be limited to $2,000 or less, but consideration is given to larger requests (fund balances do not carry over to the next semester). In all cases, the Greif Center reserves the right to request additional support materials and a brief interview as a part of the application review and decision process.

Applications for USC Greif Center eCouncil support are considered on a rolling basis until funds have been exhausted or until the end of the Academic Year, whichever comes first. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding Rules

  • For Events or Programming

    For Events or Programming ($) (*Greif Center personnel are available to answer questions about the below rules.)

    • Funds will be provided only for any items or activities that secure written or emailed pre-approval from the Greif Center Managing Director. Should an RSO need to deploy funds toward items not approved in the original application, a formal change request must be submitted in writing (and approved) at least two weeks prior to the event.
    • Greif Center does not pay for event space.
    • Greif Center does not pay for food.
    • Each eCouncil RSO must select only one point person for reimbursements (this includes fund requests and communication).
    • No substitutions are allowed. What is submitted and approved is final.
    • RSOs associated with a degree program are expected to seek funds from the program first.
    • Guest Speaker fees are not allowed. The Greif Center will not support events in which fees are paid. Guest speakers will not be reimbursed for parking.
    • RSOs must arrange for their own event/mixer/social accommodations (for example, event space reservations, permit requests, etc.).
    • USC-approved vendors are required, and RSOs must confirm that the vendors accept a purchase order.
    • Invoices need to be submitted at least four (4) weeks prior to the event for purchase or processing.
    • We strongly discourage credit card transactions. However, if the vendor is USC-approved and only accepts credit cards, the transaction may be approved.
    • RSOs must have all their work done prior to any meeting that entails financial processing. For example: RSOs must have all paperwork ready in advance if a credit card transaction is required.

  • For RSO-Led Competition Prizes(s)

    • The maximum award for a small- to mid-sized RSO Pitch Competition/Demo Day is $1,500 for 1st place and $500 for 1st runner up. No additional prizes can be awarded. A mid-sized event is here defined as involving 5-10 active teams (in the final round of the event).
    • The maximum award for large-sized Demo Day is $4,000 for 1st place and $2,000 for 2nd place. Any additional prizes must be approved by the Greif Center. A large-sized event is here defined as involving 50+ active startups on the day of the event.
    • For smaller hackathons or similar, the maximum award will be $500.
    • All awards under $500 will be secured from other (ie club) sources.
    • No gift cards as prizes will be considered.
    • Only one designated payee is allowed per award.
    • All awards will be issued to one individual, selected and agreed upon by teammates as the designated payee. The designated payee is responsible for distributing among teammates.
    • RSOs must distribute a survey link, provided by the Greif Center, to all finalists prior to the start of the competition round at which winners will be decided, cc:ing Jessica Silva (silvajes@marshall.usc.edu) and Amiah Sheppard (amiahshe@marshall.usc.edu) on the email in which the link is distributed. RSOs that fail to circulate this link and share it with us will not receive grant funds.
    • By Federal law, all financial awards are considered taxable income.
    • All awards will be paid as a scholarship, except in situations where vendor registration is assessed as necessary.

  • For Other Tangible Resources (non-monetary)

    • Any borrowed Greif Center equipment, furniture, merchandise or similar MUST be returned in its original condition, by the end of the business day after the funded activity.
    • If an item is damaged or lost, the RSO will have to purchase/replace it with RSO funds.

    Note: On/off-campus events shall be in accordance with USC's official Covid policies. All funding decisions will be made in accordance with USC's official COVID policies; it is the responsibility of the student clubs to know and comply with these policies.

Disclaimer: This program is open to all eligible individuals. The Greif Center operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Amiah Sheppard at amiahshe@marshall.usc.edu. We request that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.