GSA Compassionate Fund
The McMaster Graduate Student Association (GSA) recognizes that students facing a loss in their family may struggle during their time of grieving. To support graduate students facing loss, we have created the Compassion Fund to support the McMaster graduate community.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to receive up to $250 in support in the form of a care package. Care package may include but is not limited to:
Grocery store gift cards
Self-care items
Food stuffs
Prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for this grant where:
Must be a current McMaster graduate student
Must have experienced a loss in your family within the past year
Must be an immediate family member or within one (1) degree of separation (i.e. child, spouse, parent)
Must have filled out form below
GSA Parental Leave Grant
The GSA Parental Leave Grant is designed to provide financial support for full-time and part-time Masters and PhD students who require academic leave for parental leave or other family-related issues. To be considered for the grant, applicants must demonstrate financial need, not be receiving other forms of leave pay, and show proof of registration for two terms prior to the start of the leave.
The GSA Family Leave Grant is for a one-time amount of $1,000.
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for this grant where:
Must be a full-time or part-time Master’s or PhD student.
Must have been granted academic leave for parental/family-related issues.
Must demonstrate financial need.
Exclusion:
Students will be deemed ineligible for this grant where:
They are receiving Tri-Council paid parental leave.
They are receiving CUPE 3906 paid parental leave.
They are receiving Employment Insurance maternity or parental leave benefits.
They have previously received this grant or a GSA Emergency Grant for the same family-related purpose.
They cannot demonstrate financial need.
Please note:
On the application form, you will be asked to provide:
Academic and employment information for yourself.
Your gross yearly household income for the previous 12 months (for example, if you are applying in September 2024, please provide 12 months of income from September 2023 to August 2024)
Documentation of approved academic leave for parental/family-related issues
The names and ages of all your children.
Adjudication Rubric:
Applications from May to November will be reviewed in November.
Applications from December to April will be reviewed in April.
Funds are not guaranteed – they may be exhausted before the end of the academic year.
If funds remain at the end of the fiscal year, applications within the same timeframe will be reconsidered based on financial need.
GSA Compassionate Fund
The McMaster Graduate Student Association (GSA) recognizes that students facing a loss in their family may struggle during their time of grieving. To support graduate students facing loss, we have created the Compassion Fund to support the McMaster graduate community.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to receive up to $250 in support in the form of a care package. Care package may include but is not limited to:
Grocery store gift cards
Self-care items
Food stuffs
Prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for this grant where:
Must be a current McMaster graduate student
Must have experienced a loss in your family within the past year
Must be an immediate family member or within one (1) degree of separation (i.e. child, spouse, parent)
Must have filled out form below
GSA Compassionate Fund
The McMaster Graduate Student Association (GSA) recognizes that students facing a loss in their family may struggle during their time of grieving. To support graduate students facing loss, we have created the Compassion Fund to support the McMaster graduate community.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to receive up to $250 in support in the form of a care package. Care package may include but is not limited to:
Grocery store gift cards
Self-care items
Food stuffs
Prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for this grant where:
Must be a current McMaster graduate student
Must have experienced a loss in your family within the past year
Must be an immediate family member or within one (1) degree of separation (i.e. child, spouse, parent)
Must have filled out form below
GSA Compassionate Fund
The McMaster Graduate Student Association (GSA) recognizes that students facing a loss in their family may struggle during their time of grieving. To support graduate students facing loss, we have created the Compassion Fund to support the McMaster graduate community.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to receive up to $250 in support in the form of a care package. Care package may include but is not limited to:
Grocery store gift cards
Self-care items
Food stuffs
Prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards
Eligibility
Students will be eligible for this grant where:
Must be a current McMaster graduate student
Must have experienced a loss in your family within the past year
Must be an immediate family member or within one (1) degree of separation (i.e. child, spouse, parent)
Must have filled out form below