Georgia Southern Cares
Georgia Southern University Cares Grants are designed to assist Georgia Southern University full-time benefited faculty and staff members, and retired benefited Georgia Southern University faculty and staff members when they experience a severe, temporary, and unforeseen financial hardship. The fund provides one-time assistance in any amount up to a maximum of $500. The Review Committee will award a maximum of $5,000 in grants each calendar year. Approval of an application is subject to the availability of funds.
Policy and Criteria
Thanks to a generous donation from the University Club, Georgia Southern University is able to offer small grants to faculty members, staff members and retirees.
Georgia Southern University Cares Grants are designed to assist Georgia Southern University faculty members, staff members, and retired full-time benefited Georgia Southern University faculty members or staff members who live in a geographic area close to the University and/or are an active member of the Georgia Southern University community when they experience a severe, temporary, and unforeseen financial hardship. The fund provides one-time assistance in any amount up to a maximum of $500. The Review Committee will award a maximum of $5,000 in grants each calendar year. Approval of an application is subject to the availability of funds.
A temporary financial hardship is one caused by a defined, time-limited, specific event, such as the death of a family member, a fire, or serious illness or injury. Long-standing financial problems (such as ongoing credit card debt) do not meet the temporary hardship requirement.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be an active full-time benefited Georgia Southern University faculty member or staff member or a retired full-time benefited Georgia Southern University faculty member or staff member who lives in a geographic area close to the University and/or is an active member of the Georgia Southern Community when he/she experiences the financial hardship.
- The applicant must have a hardship situation as described in paragraph two above.
This is a one-time assistance fund; an employee or retiree who receives assistance may not apply again. Anyone wishing to repay part or all of his or her award may donate it to the University Club Grants fund.
Application Process
The applicant may submit the application in person or by campus mail to Georgia Southern University Cares Grants Application, Department of Human Resources. The Statesboro campus office is in the Human Resources building and the Armstrong campus office is in Burnett Hall. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8104, Statesboro, Georgia 30460.
The application is reviewed by members of a committee consisting of representatives from Georgia Southern University’s faculty, staff, and retirees. If multiple requests are pending at one time, the committee will respond to them according to severity of need. Human Resources will send the applicant an email notification of the committee’s decision; a hard-copy letter will follow. The decision is final; there is no appeal process. If the application is approved, the Committee will authorize payment to the vendor(s) specified in the application that was submitted.
Decisions will be made within 10 business days. In case of dire emergencies, the committee will attempt to expedite a decision, but at least five business days are required to dispense funds.
How to Donate to GS Cares
Employees and retirees may donate to the Georgia Southern University (GS) Cares Grants account by check or online through the Georgia Southern Foundation’s homepage.
Donate by Check
Employees and retirees may donate to the Georgia Southern University Cares Grant account by sending a check, payable to GS Cares Grant (Account #0293), to Georgia Southern University Foundation, Box 8053, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460. Donations are tax deductible.
Questions?
Please e-mail gsucares@georgiasouthern.edu
How to Apply for GS Cares
Eligibility Criteria
Each applicant must be:
- An active full-time benefited Georgia Southern University faculty member or staff
member or a retired full-time benefited Georgia Southern University faculty member or
staff member who lives in a geographic region close to the University and/or is an active
member of the Georgia Southern University community. - In good standing with the university.
- Able to prove the severe, temporary, and unforeseen nature of the financial hardship.
This is a one-time assistance fund; an employee or retiree who receives assistance may not apply again. Anyone wishing to repay part or all of his or her award may donate it to the GS Cares Grant fund.
Application Process
The applicant must submit the application below in person or by campus mail to GS Cares, Department of Human Resources. The Statesboro campus office is in the Human Resources building and the Armstrong campus office is in Burnett Hall. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8104, Statesboro, Georgia 30460.
Staff members in the Department of Human Resources will remove all identifying data to ensure confidentiality during the review process, verify financial documentation, and notify the employee or retiree if additional documentation is required.
The application is reviewed by members of a committee consisting of one faculty member designated by the Faculty Senate, one staff member designated by the Staff Council, one retiree designated by the GSU representative to the USG Retirement Association, and the Director of Benefits in Human Resources (nonvoting). If multiple requests are pending at one time, the committee will respond to them according to severity of need. Human Resources will send the applicant an email notification of the committee’s decision; a hard-copy letter will follow. The decision is final; there is no appeal process. If the application is approved, the Committee will authorize payment to the vendor(s) specified in the application that was
submitted.
Decisions will be made within 10 business days. In case of dire emergencies, the committee will attempt to expedite a decision, but at least five business days are required to dispense funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may make a donation to Georgia Southern University Cares Grants?
Anyone. Make your check payable to Georgia Southern University Cares Grants (#2093), and mail it to the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Box 8053, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460.
Must an applicant donate to apply for assistance?
No.
May I deduct my donation on my income tax return?
Your donation to Georgia Southern University Cares Grants is processed through the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) organization. As a result, your donation is likely to be tax-deductible.
Consult with your tax advisor for information specific to your personal situation.
May donations from faculty members be used to assist staff members or retirees and vice versa?
Yes.
Is the grant that an applicant receives taxable?
Yes, it will be. The amount will be taxed through your payroll check.
When someone applies for a grant, who knows?
Only some staff members of the Department of Human Resources know. If an applicant secures the signature of his or her supervisor, the supervisor will know.
Who serves on the Georgia Southern University Cares Grants application review committee?
The 4-member committee consists of one faculty member designated by the Faculty Senate, one staff member designated by the Staff Council, one retiree designated by the GSU representative to the USG Retirement Association and the Director of Benefits in Human Resources (nonvoting). Each member serves for two or three years. The identities of the committee members will be held confidential to the extent permitted by law.
May a committee member apply for a grant?
No.
Must recipients repay their grant?
No.
May an employee or a retiree apply for a grant on behalf of another employee or retiree?
No.
May someone reapply for a grant if an earlier application was not approved?
Yes.
May a past recipient apply again?
No. GS Cares is a one-time assistance grant. Previous recipients are not eligible to reapply.
Last updated: 8/8/2024