Ways and Means Fund Pilot Project: 2025-2026
At the February 2026 General Membership Meeting, the CUPE 3903 membership voted to approve a Ways and Means Fund pilot project that will remain in effect until the end of the 2025–2026 funding year (September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026).
Under this pilot project, the Ways and Means Fund allocation for 2025–2026 is divided equally into two sub-funds.
Any CUPE 3903 member who is (or has been) a dues-paying member during the current funding year or the five months preceding it (April 2025– August 2026) is eligible to apply to either or both sub-funds. All awards are subject to the Ways and Means Fund per-member, annual maximum of $2000.
Emergencies Fund
The Emergencies Fund assists members who demonstrate an acute financial need or hardship caused by a recent (within the previous 12 months) emergency or other significant adverse event.
Applicants must explain and document the emergency, expenses incurred as a result of it, and their inability to afford the expenses on their current (household) income. The Emergencies Fund provides grants to cover eligible emergency-related expenses on a reimbursement basis only. Applications must include supporting documentation to verify the financial information submitted, including receipts for all claimed expenses.
The Emergencies Fund has no set deadline; members can apply at any time. The Ways and Means Committee adjudicates applications for the Emergencies Fund at its twice-monthly meetings, awarding up to the yearly maximum of $2000 for approved applications.
Hardship Fund
The Hardship Fund assists members who demonstrate acute or ongoing financial need or hardship unrelated to emergency circumstances.
To be eligible, members must demonstrate a general need for financial assistance based on their income and expenses. Although the Hardship Fund doesn’t reimburse members for specific, receipted expenses, applicants must include supporting documentation to verify the financial information submitted, especially any significant expenses and debts.
The Ways and Means Committee will adjudicate Hardship Fund applications once per term/semester. The total amount available per term (approximately $75,000 for winter and summer 2026) will be divided equally among approved applicants up to the maximum yearly limit of $2000. Applicants are limited to one Hardship Fund application per term.
| Adjudication Round | Application Deadline | Fund Disbursement Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | March 31, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
| Summer | July 31, 2026 | September 30, 2026 |
How to Apply
Submit your application to either fund using the online Jotform.
Applications to both funds require you to provide:
- A detailed explanation (approximately 1 page) of the financial hardship you are experiencing and any special circumstances contributing to it.
- A detailed budget, including all sources of personal and family income and expenses
- Supporting documentation that verifies the budget you’ve submitted, especially any outstanding or significant expenses contributing to your financial need. Emergencies Fund applications must include receipts for all expenses claimed.
- Proof of membership, i.e., a contract from the current funding year or the five months preceding it. (Proof of membership is optional, but submitting it may speed up processing of your application.)
How to Contact the Committee
If you have questions about a potential or existing application, email cupe3903waysandmeans@gmail.com. Please allow up to 2 weeks for a response.
If you haven’t received a timely response from the committee, feel free to contact the committee’s ex-officio member, currently Joseph Tohill, Vice-President Unit 2, at vpu2@cupe3903.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click here for a webpage with answers to all of the most frequently asked questions about how the Ways and Means Fund works as of March 2026. We hope this FAQ is useful for you in applying to the fund!