The rulebook.

The Supervisor/Treasurer serves as the primary financial custodian of the fund and:

Is the primary holder of the fund’s designated bank account; connects the bank account to approved payment platforms (e.g., Stripe, PayPal); executes fund disbursements only after formal committee approval; maintains accurate financial records, statements, and transaction documentation; does not make unilateral decisions regarding fund distribution.

The Co-Treasurer serves as a joint holder of the fund’s bank account (optional); provides continuity, oversight, and financial transparency; assists with review of financial records and reporting; acts as a backup authority if the Supervisor/Treasurer is unavailable.

The Fund Committee consists of five (5) members: two (2) representatives from IRSA; three (3) members selected from the Iranian student community at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Committee responsibilities include: reviewing applications for financial assistance; approving or denying fund disbursement requests; overseeing fundraising strategies and sustainability; ensuring ethical, fair, and consistent application of fund policies.

Committee members should, when possible, represent diverse perspectives within the Iranian student community.

All committee members must: be actively affiliated with UCF as students at the time of service; maintain active ICSF membership; disclose any conflicts of interest related to fund applicants or financial decisions.

Funds may be used for: emergency housing or temporary rent support; food insecurity and basic necessities; medical or mental health emergencies; immigration-related or legal consultation costs; travel associated with urgent family emergencies; replacement of essential documents lost or stolen.

Funds may not be used for: tuition payments or long-term educational expenses; salaries, stipends, or compensation of any kind; personal business or investment activities; political or religious activities.

Approval of an application does not necessarily guarantee immediate disbursement of funds.

Qualified applicants may be placed in a temporary assistance pool.

Funds may be distributed periodically (e.g., within a six-month cycle) based on: urgency of the situation; severity of financial hardship; available funds; and committee evaluation.

The committee reserves the right to prioritize cases involving immediate risk, including housing instability, medical emergencies, or immigration-related crises.

The Iranian Community Support Fund (ICSF) operates on the principle of mutual aid. Our ability to help students in times of need depends on the shared commitment of our community members.

By becoming a member, you help ensure that emergency support is available when students need it most; the fund remains sustainable and fair; assistance is distributed responsibly and transparently.

Even small, regular contributions make a meaningful difference.

Membership is open to: Iranian students affiliated with UCF; alumni and community members who wish to support Iranian students.

Membership is voluntary and open to anyone who supports the mission of ICSF.

You can join ICSF by contributing through one of the following options.

Choose a monthly contribution amount. Payments are processed automatically. Provides stable, predictable support for the community.

Membership Contribution Levels — ICSF offers voluntary monthly contribution levels to accommodate different financial capacities:

Student Member ($10/month): Intended for students who wish to participate in the fund through a modest, consistent contribution.

Supporting Member ($20/month): Intended for individuals who are able to contribute at a higher monthly level to strengthen the fund’s capacity.

Sustaining Member ($45/month): Intended for individuals who wish to provide sustained financial support to ensure long-term fund stability.

Contribution levels reflect voluntary support amounts only and do not confer additional rights, priority, voting authority, or eligibility for assistance.

You may cancel or change your subscription at any time.

Make a single contribution to support the fund.

One-time contributions may qualify for membership eligibility based on amount and timing, as defined by the committee.

Assistance from ICSF is primarily intended for active contributing members.

Members are generally expected to contribute for a minimum period (e.g., three months) before requesting assistance. This policy helps ensure fairness and sustainability.

Newly arrived Iranian students who have not yet had an opportunity to become contributing members may be eligible for a one-time exemption when facing urgent circumstances.

Exemptions: are limited to emergency situations; are evaluated on a case-by-case basis; require committee approval.

Contributions are voluntary and not tax-deductible.

Membership does not guarantee assistance.

All assistance decisions are made confidentially and based on need and available funds.

ICSF is a community-driven mutual aid initiative created to provide short-term emergency financial assistance to eligible members of the Iranian student community affiliated with UCF.

No. ICSF is not a registered nonprofit and does not have 501(c)(3) status. It operates as a community mutual aid initiative governed by an internal rulebook.

No. All contributions are voluntary and not tax-deductible.

Anyone who supports the mission of ICSF may contribute, including Iranian students at UCF, alumni, faculty members, and community members outside the university.

Financial assistance is primarily intended for members of the Iranian student community affiliated with UCF who demonstrate financial hardship or emergency circumstances consistent with the mission of ICSF.

Priority may be given to active contributing members and urgent situations involving housing instability, medical emergencies, immigration-related concerns, or food insecurity.

Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval or immediate funding.

No. All members are treated equally regardless of contribution level. Contribution amounts do not affect eligibility, priority, or the amount of assistance.

ICSF offers the following voluntary monthly contribution options: $10/month — Student Member; $20/month — Supporting Member; $45/month — Sustaining Member.

These levels reflect different financial capacities only.

No. Membership does not guarantee financial assistance or immediate access to funds.

Qualified applicants may be placed into an assistance pool, and support is distributed based on urgency, available funds, committee review, and overall fund sustainability.

Approved assistance is aid — recipients are not required to repay.

Requests are reviewed confidentially by a five-member committee using internal evaluation criteria that may include urgency, financial hardship, available resources, supporting documentation, and prior assistance history. Committee decisions are made by majority vote and are considered final.

Approved requests may be processed as quickly as reasonably possible; however, processing times depend on available funds, urgency, verification needs, and payment logistics.

Eligible expenses may include emergency housing or rent support; food insecurity; medical or mental-health emergencies; immigration or legal consultation costs; emergency travel related to family crises; replacement of essential documents.

ICSF does not cover tuition or long-term educational expenses; salaries or stipends; personal business or investments; political or religious activities.

No. Faculty members, alumni, and external supporters contribute as Community Allies and do not participate in fund governance or decision-making.

Active committee members are generally discouraged from requesting assistance while serving on the committee.

Any exception requires full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, recusal from all related discussions and voting, and approval by the remaining committee members.

ICSF makes reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of applicant information and limits access to submitted materials to authorized committee members.

ICSF may publish periodic financial summaries including total funds collected, total funds distributed, and remaining balances.

No personal applicant information or identifying details will be disclosed publicly.

Yes. Monthly contributions can be modified or canceled at any time through the payment platform.

Any remaining funds will be transferred to a university-approved student support fund or another aligned community initiative, as outlined in the rulebook.

Official links for membership signup and assistance applications are shared through ICSF communication channels.

Questions may be directed to the ICSF committee through the official contact channels.

No. Approved assistance is aid. Recipients are not required to repay any portion of what they receive.

The Iranian Community Support Fund (ICSF) provides short-term emergency financial assistance to eligible Iranian students affiliated with the University of Central Florida (UCF).

All applications are reviewed confidentially by the ICSF committee. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.

1. Full Name

2. Preferred Name (Optional)

3. Email Address

4. Phone Number (Optional)

5. UCF Affiliation — Undergraduate student; Graduate student; Recent graduate; Other (please specify).

6. Current Academic Status

7. Are you currently an active member of ICSF? Yes / No / Not sure.

8. If you are not an active member, do you qualify as a newly arrived student? Yes — newly arrived, not yet a member / No / Not applicable.

Note: Newly arrived students may be eligible for a one-time exemption in urgent cases, subject to committee approval.

9. Please describe the emergency or financial hardship. Briefly explain your situation and why you are requesting assistance. You do not need to share more information than you are comfortable with.

10. Type of Assistance Requested — Emergency housing or rent support; Food or basic necessities; Medical or mental health expenses; Immigration or legal consultation costs; Emergency travel related to family matters; Replacement of essential documents; Other (please specify).

11. Urgency of the Request — Immediate (within 48 hours); Urgent (within 1 week); Time-sensitive but not urgent.

12. Amount Requested (USD). Please provide an approximate amount. Requests are typically capped based on available funds.

13. Intended Use of Funds. Explain how the funds will be used (e.g., rent assistance, food, consultation fee).

14. Preferred Method of Disbursement — Direct payment to a service provider/vendor; Reimbursement (with receipt); Not sure / open to committee recommendation.

15. Supporting Documents (Optional). You may upload relevant documents (e.g., bill, notice, receipt). Submission of documents is optional and not required for consideration.

16. Confidentiality Acknowledgment (required). I understand that all information provided will be treated as confidential and reviewed only by the ICSF committee.

17. Accuracy Declaration (required). I confirm that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

18. Consent for Follow-Up. I consent to being contacted by the ICSF committee if additional clarification is needed.