Fall 2024 Grant Deadline: October 16th
The Boise State Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) is an internal grant program dedicated to supporting sustainability projects on campus. All current Boise State students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to apply. The SSF provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in sustainability efforts while gaining valuable experience in grant writing and project management. The fund is supported by an annual $7,500 contribution from Chartwells, our food service provider.
How to submit a Student Sustainability Fund Grant Proposal
Students, faculty and staff interested in sustainability-related projects can submit a brief grant proposal. These proposals are reviewed by a committee of students, faculty, and staff who decide which projects will receive funding.
Interested in Applying for an SSF Grant?
Follow these steps:
- Contact the Office of Sustainability: Share your project idea via email. We will connect you with a faculty or staff advisor who will help refine your concept and assist with the grant proposal. This step must be completed at least two weeks before the grant proposal deadline.
- Submit the Grant Proposal Application: Complete and submit the application before the submission deadline.
- Await Committee Decision: The committee will review all proposals and select those that will be funded.
Eligibility
Current Boise State students are eligible to apply and will receive priority funding. If no suitable student proposals are received, applications from faculty and staff may be considered. Any unused funds from a term will roll over to the next term, increasing the available amount.
Project Categories
Projects must fall into one of the following categories. Please note that the maximum grant amount is $5,000, so projects should be small in scale. For example, a rooftop solar installation costing over $100,000 would exceed the grant’s capacity. However, smaller solar projects could be eligible for funding. Be creative!
- Energy Savings: Projects that reduce energy consumption on campus.
- Resource Conservation: Projects that minimize resource use, such as water or materials, or reduce waste sent to landfills.
- Resiliency: Projects that enhance Boise State’s resilience to climate change impacts, including extreme weather events.
- Behavior Change: Projects that encourage sustainable behaviors or use education and communication strategies to promote campus sustainability.
- Grant Matching for Required Local Funds: To match grants from external sources such as public grants, non-profits, or government entities.
Additional Information
- Award Amounts: There is no minimum funding amount; however, the maximum is $5,000.
- Number of Projects Funded Each Year: The number of projects funded depends on the number and quality of proposals received and selected by the committee.
- Project Duration: Approved projects must utilize their funds within one year from the award date. Students must remain enrolled at Boise State for the project’s duration. Unused funds will not be available after this period. Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Selection Criteria
The Committee will evaluate proposals based on several criteria, including but not limited to:
- Submission date (in accordance with the annual project timeline)
- Completeness and quality of the application
- Demonstrated student involvement in proposal development and project execution
- Evidence of energy savings and/or resource conservation
- Documented environmental benefits and impacts
- Creativity and innovation
- Potential to raise awareness about energy efficiency or resource conservation on campus
- Ongoing maintenance needs (lower maintenance projects will receive priority)
- Feasibility of completing the project within one year
- Longevity and sustainability of the project after implementation