named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Club Sponsorship Program
Sponsors graduate student clubs by providing funding, administrative support, and event resources to facilitate social, cultural, and academic activities outside the classroom.
Mark Diamond Research Fund (MDRF)
Provides grants of up to $5,000 to PhD students and up to $3,000 to Master’s and MFA students for research expenses related to their thesis or dissertation, with priority given to students in the latter stages of research.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Administration of graduate student conference fundingProvides funding for graduate students to attend academic conferences, with awards of up to $825 for PhD students, $625 for Master’s students, and $275 for non-presenting attendees. Offers need-based reimbursement for actual expenses and covers registration for local and virtual conferences only.
-
-
Psychoanalytic and Therapeutic Training Support 1 activity
- Administration of graduate student research grantsProvides research funding to graduate students through the MDRF grant program, awarding up to $5,000 for PhD students and up to $3,000 for Master’s and MFA students to support thesis, dissertation, or final project work. Funds cover fieldwork, materials, equipment, software, human subjects, and other research-related expenses, with requirements for orientation, reporting, and use during active enrollment periods.
-
-
Student Government Representation 1 activity
- Advocacy and representation in university governanceRepresents graduate student interests through direct engagement with university administration, including the Dean of the Graduate School, Provost, and President, and by serving on institutional committees such as Sub Board I, Inc. Board of Directors. Conducts regular advocacy meetings with the Graduate School and acts as the official voice for graduate students across campus.
-
-
Internal Organizational Elections 1 activity
- Conducting internal governance electionsConducts officer elections and referendum votes for organizational leadership, such as the 2026–2027 term, to ensure democratic representation and governance within the association.
-
-
Student Organization Funding and Support 1 activity
- Management of fiscal operations and funding allocationsManages the transparent and equitable allocation of financial resources derived from mandatory student activity fees, administers requisition requests and funding applications, enforces fiscal deadlines (e.g., November 10 deadline for Winter 2024), and restricts fund usage between July 15–31 annually for budget reconciliation.
-
-
Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Organization of social, cultural, and educational eventsOrganizes monthly events and cultural activities such as free VIP tickets with hors d'oeuvres to Shakespeare in Delaware Park, and sponsors the Distinguished Speakers Series. Provides recreational, social, and educational programming to enhance student life outside the classroom.
-
-
Student Club and Organization Support 1 activity
- Sponsorship and support of graduate student clubsSponsors departmental, international, and special interest graduate student clubs, providing funding and resources for events, interdepartmental collaboration, community outreach, and scholarly activities. Supports leadership development and organizational capacity for student-led groups.
-
-
Uncategorized 4 activities
- Facilitation of student communication and resource accessConnects graduate students to campus resources through a direct communication channel for advocacy and support requests, and maintains physical spaces like the student lounge in Norton Hall to foster community and accessibility.
- Funding co-sponsorship with external organizationsFunds external organizations through co-sponsorship agreements, enabling collaborative programming and events that benefit graduate students.
- Provision of academic and professional development servicesOffers writing coaching, copy-editing with Track Changes feedback, statistical consulting for PhD students, and multiple writing workshops each semester to support graduate students in completing academic work and publications.
- Provision of fee waivers for graduate studentsOffers semester-based fee waivers of $85 per term for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, and summer session waivers of $5 per session up to $10 total for Summer 2027, funded through student activity fees.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.59M
Contributions & grants$13K1%
Program service revenue$1.49M94%
Investment income$86K5%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$977K
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead46%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$403K
Grants paid out$47K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.64M
Cash$1.87M
Investments$2.74M
Liabilities$106K
Net assets$4.53M
Liquid reserves56.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -2.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE GEORGE | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 38 | $115K |
| ISAAC KOLDING | TREASURER | 15 | $20K |
| SARAH MACDOUGALL | PRESIDENT | 15 | $20K |
| TAMARA GROSSO | TREASURER (FORMER) | 15 | $11K |
| MELANIE MARCH | TREASURER (FORMER) | 15 | $9K |
board members · 1
- SEVDA ABDAVINEJAD MIRKOOH — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Campus Dining and Shops Partner — Collaborates with GSA for event planning, particularly for alcohol service and catering.
- Departmental Clubs Partner — Supported by the GSA to serve graduate students within academic departments
- Franco’s Pizza Partner — Approved vendor for food services that can directly bill GSA.
- Graduate School Government — Co-represents on the MDRF Review Council through a non-voting member.
- Graduate School Government — Collaborates with the Graduate School to verify Acceptance to Candidacy letters for grant eligibility.
- Graduate School Partner — Meets monthly to advocate for graduate student needs
- Graduate Student Employee Union Partner — Collaborates to represent the interests of graduate student employees.
- International Clubs Partner — Supported by the GSA to serve international graduate students
- La Rosa Pizzeria Partner — Approved vendor for food services that can directly bill GSA.
- National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity Partner — Provides online career development and mentoring resources for graduate students through an institutional membership.
- ProfTech Partner — Approved vendor for office supplies; GSA places orders on behalf of clubs.
- SUNY Student Assembly Network — GSA is a member of the SUNY Student Assembly, a statewide organization representing the needs of graduate and professional students across New York.
- Shakespeare in Delaware Park Partner — Collaborates to provide free VIP tickets for graduate students to attend performances.
- Special Interest Clubs Partner — Supported by the GSA to serve graduate students with shared personal or professional interests
- State University of New York at Buffalo Government — Represents graduate students in relation to the university administration and staff.
- Sub Board I, Inc. Partner — GSA serves on the Sub Board I, Inc. Board of Directors, a student corporation comprising the seven student governments at the University at Buffalo.
- The UPS Store Partner — Approved vendor located in UB Commons that can directly bill GSA.
- Three Pillars Catering Partner — Approved campus vendor for food services; GSA funds events using this catering provider.
- University Bookstore Partner — Approved vendor that can directly bill GSA for goods and services.
- University at Buffalo Government — Administers GSA conference funding through university-affiliated systems including UBLinked.
- University at Buffalo Government — GSA operates as a student organization within the University at Buffalo, advocating to upper-level administration on behalf of graduate students.
- WB Mason Partner — Approved vendor for office supplies; GSA places orders on behalf of clubs.
- Wegman’s Partner — Approved vendor that GSA authorizes for direct billing of goods and services.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Need-Based and Equitable Access to Academic Fundingmethodology: equity_first_fundingBy distributing conference and research funding based on demonstrated need and through batch review cycles, the organization promotes equitable access to academic opportunities because structured, transparent processes reduce bias and prioritize students with the greatest financial barriers.
- Student-Centered Advocacy with Social Work-Informed Supportmethodology: social_work_informed_advocacyBy combining direct advocacy with principles from social work, the organization identifies and addresses systemic gaps in graduate student support, improving resource access and long-term success because interventions are both relational and structurally informed.
- Student-Controlled Funding Modelmethodology: student_autonomy_modelBy allowing graduate students to govern the allocation of their mandatory fees, the organization ensures that programming and resources reflect student-identified needs, increasing relevance, engagement, and democratic ownership because funding decisions are made by those directly impacted.