Applying for Funding
Funds can be used for sustainability topics including renewable energy, energy and water efficiency, transportation, recycling and waste reduction, purchasing practices, food, agriculture, environmental justice and more. There are two separate application tracks depending on project type. Email the Sustainable Funds Coordinator, Caylin McCamp, for help determining which track is most appropriate for your idea.
Innovative Research Track
The SCF allocates funds to the Graduate College and the Office of Fellowships, Opportunities & Undergraduate Research (FOUR) which manage research project proposals and awards through a separate process. Each announces their call for proposals in the early spring and makes funding decisions in late spring. Research projects do not have to be specific to campus but must address sustainability. Past research project awards can be viewed here. Applicants seeking funding for research should visit the appropriate website linked above based on whether they're a graduate or undergraduate student.
Academic & Co-Curricular Education and Infrastructure Projects Track
Applicants for all other project types should use the application below. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year and the Socially Responsible Investing Advisory Council (SRIAC) evaluates proposals for funding.
- Infrastructure Projects are projects that include a physical change to campus, for example: upgrading lighting, adding bike racks, installing signage, redesigning landscaping or a feasibility study. Projects that include a physical change to campus undergo an additional review by the Infrastructure Committee to ensure the relevant campus departments have been consulted about the project's feasibility and are in support of the project.
- Academic & Co-Curricular Education Projects focus on education and outreach, for example: events, pilot projects, internships or communication initiatives.
These categories are not exclusive, some of the strongest proposals include elements of both infrastructural and educational elements. Projects in this track may include a research component but research should not be the primary outcome of the project.
The Sustainable Funds Coordinator, Caylin McCamp, provides support in proposal development for this track. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out early on for support in their proposal development and submission.
