While fundraising is a necessary activity for almost every Sigma Tu Delta chapter—and although attending convention may not be the only (or even primary) use of your fundraising energies—the opportunity to attend and present at the convention can generate renewed enthusiasm and creativity for fundraising. Attendees also return home with exciting new ideas and resources for projects and activities that will bring in money for your chapter next year.
Our Student Leaders and convention planners have the following suggestions for obtaining funding for convention travel.
Note: Chapters should decide ahead of time whether the funds should be used by the chapter’s student delegate for their expenses or whether the money should be returned to the chapter treasury.
Each Regent offers $100 for chapters in the region that host an activity connected to the Common Reader, Then the War: And Selected Poems, 2007-2020. The application for these funds (Regents’ Common Reader Awards) is quick and easy to complete.
Annual chapter reports and conversations with past Student Leaders have provided numerous suggestions for effective fundraising events and activities. Check out Chapter Life: Fundraising for ideas.
More than $11,000 will be given in convention awards for the best submitted works. These awards are highly competitive, so students enlist the help of your Chapter Advisors and faculty mentors to select and revise submissions, or take the time as a chapter to help each other revise and polish before submitting.
Sigma Tau Delta gives away thousands of dollars each year to chapters in service project grants and chapter awards for outstanding chapters and publications.
In addition to the chapter awards and the convention awards, Sigma Tau Delta gives away over $80,000 each year for individual awards and scholarships. Such awards may allow individual students to set aside money for attending the convention. Students should work with their Chapter Advisor and other faculty in revising their applications.
Many chapters earn funds for convention through the sales of T-shirts and other literary-themed merchandise they have designed and crafted. Chapters may plan to to sign-up for a table to sell merchandise at the convention on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5. Look for an email and sign-up form in February 2024.
Reserve your hotel rooms starting December 1, 2023, and no later than March 10, 2024, and be sure to ask for Sigma Tau Delta’s special convention rates. These rates will be available until our room block is full. Make your reservations early so you can make sure your group gets the rooms you need.
If you have an odd number of people, consider finding roommates from other Sigma Tau Delta chapters. Sharing hotel rooms, whether or not you room with your own chapter members, can cut down on expenses and create lasting friendships. Contact the Central Office if you are looking for a roommate(s).
Register before January 17, 2024, to take advantage of the early registration fee.
We encourage Chapter Advisors to plan early to 1) solicit travel funds, 2) take advantage of Society discounts and reimbursement opportunities, and 3) explore cost-saving strategies to minimize travel expenses.
Chapter Advisors can often solicit funds from their own English/related departments, but they might also consider approaching deans or provosts, student government associations, offices in Student Affairs, the Honors College or Program, university foundations, chapter alumni, or the provosts, vice-presidents, or president.
Chapter Advisors and members can find many fundraising tips on our website. Remember to: