Formed by Leigh Edmonds and Dave Langford in 1979, on an idea by Chris Priest, GUFF was modelled on DUFF (the Down Under Fan Fund) and TAFF (the Trans Atlantic Fan Fund).
Many administrators (and also some who have not been winners) continue to widely support the fan funds both before and after their period as administrator. For example, Leigh Edmonds (1979), David Langford (1979), and Rob Jackson (1981), have acted as administrator without ever winning the Fund, while Joseph Nicholas (1995-99) has acted as administrator in addition to the time called upon as a winner.