Host an event
Your student organization can host a Thursday at the IMU this fall. Application deadline is July 5, 2026.
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We'd love to hear about your experience at Thursdays at the IMU! Take a quick survey to help us plan even better events.
Thursdays at the IMU is an experience you do not want to miss! Join us every Thursday Aug. 27 through Oct. 8 for food trucks, music, live entertainment, giveaways and more.
Follow @uiowaimu on Instagram for the most updated information.
Apply to have your student organization host a Thursday at the IMU. Application deadline is July 5, 2026.
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Thursdays at the IMU Application Guidelines
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Who is eligible for this grant? Grant is only open to registered and active student organizations. If I am selected to receive a grant award, what happens next? Depending on the category of your student group and finance account, funding is processed differently. For Campus Life and Supported Student Organizations, you will be granted permission to use the award amount and you must work with Student Organizations and Business Office (SOBO) for funds usage. While for Affiliated and Supported Student Organizations, the funds will be transferred to your group’s external bank account only after your account is fully set up with the university and event Engage form is approved. What is considered as a strong application? Submitted on time; has a detailed event proposal with itemized event budget worksheet; and the proposed event must be free, welcoming to all students, and in alignment with university guidelines and policies and Iowa Challenge.
Student organizations must be registered to apply.
Student organizations must be currently registered by their specific governing body or UI Department (USG or GPSG, ARH, PHC, IFC, NPHC, MGC, or UI Department) at the time of the applications and at the time of the event or program. Additionally, other organizations, which include but are not limited to, university-wide collaborations and organizations are eligible to apply (e.g., CAB Events, Family Weekend, On Iowa!, IMU, University Departments).
UI Policy
Funding support and requests must be consistent with UI policy (e.g. risk management, purchasing).
Funding Amounts
Organizations may receive (but are not guaranteed) a maximum of $1,500 per semester. Organizations funded one semester may apply for the following semester but priority will be given to new applications.
Attendance Tracking
Events require Engage to track attendance and demographics of attendees. QR code will be included in the Event Package. Please make sure to submit your event to Engage to have a code generated specifically to your event.
Post-Event Evaluation Form
Events require post-event evaluations and summaries for attendees and hosts.
Alcohol
Events must be alcohol free.
Location
Events can be held at the IMU.
Promotion and Accessibility
Events must be open as well as promoted and advertised to all University of Iowa students
Collaborations are encouraged.
Priority will be given to organizations that solicit other support and collaborative partnerships.
Student organizations must have a SOBO or external account and be an approved vendor to apply.
Student organizations must have a SOBO or external bank account for your student organization at the time of the applications and at the time of the event or program. Additionally, organizations must be approved vendors with the university at the time of applications.
Prohibited expenses for campus events funds
Travel
Conferences
Regular Organization Meetings
Hotels
Purchase of equipment or assets
Events that generate revenue for charities will not be considered for funding.
Free-will donations for charities may be accepted at the event, but generated revenue from admission fees may not be donated to charity. The revenue from admission fees must go toward the cost of the event. Thursday at the IMU funding should not be used for events for profit.
Thursday at the IMU funding should not be used for the purchase of t-shirts.
Events that have already received partial funding from Thursday at the IMU funding.
Applications should focus on these concepts
How does this event appeal to a variety of students?
How is the event open to all UI students and communities?
Who are possible partners for this event?
How is this new and different from existing events?