Apply for Funding

STEP 1: Develop Your Idea*- Review the TGIF Mission, selection process, application criteria, and TGIF-funded projects to assist your development.
STEP 2: Decide When to Apply- Is your idea better suited for a Fall Mini-grant or a Spring Grant?
STEP 3: Consider whether your project has an environmental justice component to it and whether or not you need to answer the supplemental environmental justice prompts.
STEP 4: Begin Your Application Process- Contact TGIF with any questions about your application. Consider attending an application grant-writing workshop held by TGIF.
STEP 5: Review Your Application- Did you fill out all the required forms (application, project approvals, metrics sheet)? Did you follow the application directions? Did you answer all application questions? Did you answer the environmental justice prompts, if you're applying for EJ funding? Have you assessed your project with the TGIF Scoresheet Rubric?
STEP 6: Submit Your Application
STEP 7: Attend Mandatory Project Leader Training- If selected for a TGIF Grant, you will be required to attend a mandatory Project Leader Training prior to accessing your funds. At the training, we will review the reporting requirements of all funded projects.
*Want to apply for a project but don't have any ideas? Contact tgif_info@berkeley.edu for more information or with other suggestions you may have for potential projects!

What are the requirements for a TGIF grant application?

• Projects must directly address environmental sustainability on the UC Berkeley campus, or in the capacity that on-campus activities influence sustainability off campus. All proposed projects must have a clearly defined, measurable outcome.
• Project proposals may be submitted by UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty. Individuals and organizations outside of UC Berkeley may not submit proposals.
• Projects must have received written confirmation of support by appropriate campus officials prior to consideration. TGIF funding will not support projects already mandated by law or UC Berkeley policy directive. TGIF will fund projects that go above and beyond minimum requirements and that are unable to gain funding from other sources. (Consult the UC Policy Guidelines for Sustainable Practices for more information)
• All projects shall have a mechanism for evaluation and follow-up after funding has been disbursed. At minimum, a project plan must include a report made to the TGIF Committee after implementation. If a project is expected to have on-going benefits such as annual cost savings, the project plan must include a mechanism for tracking, recording, and reporting these benefits back to TGIF's Committee & Staff.
• Projects must have publicity, education, and outreach considerations.
• Fall mini-grant requests must be up to $5,000. Spring grant requests must be greater than $5,000.
• Applicants must submit all required documents for each grant cycle. These include the application submission form, any project approvals, and the TGIF Metrics Spreadsheet.
• Applicants must answer all questions within the submission forms and follow the directions for submitting application materials.

Preference is given to:

• Projects that demonstrate the greatest reduction in UC Berkeley’s environmental impact for the least cost.
• Projects with high visibility.
• Projects with strong student involvement. A minimum of 20% of funds disbursed will be set aside for projects with direct student involvement.
• Projects centered on reducing harmful environmental impacts and/or improving sustainable living for underserved, marginalized, or underrepresented communities.
• Proposals coming from student organizations and campus departments with a focus on social equity and/or environmental justice; or those proposals that support underrepresented or marginalized students.

Applicants can review the TGIF Bylaws for more information regarding the mission and vision of The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) and its grant processes. Applicants are encouraged to review previously funded projects by year, theme, or status, under the "Funded Projects" tab on TGIF's website. There's a search bar in the bottom right of this website, where you can search for projects by name.

In 2009, UC Berkeley created a Campus Sustainability Plan, which lays out its campus sustainability goals. TGIF's mission is to assist UC Berkeley with achieving its sustainability goals. When developing a TGIF project for the grant application process, use these goals for inspiration and creativity. Applicants' grant metrics must contribute to one or more of these goals in order to be selected for a TGIF grant. You should also visit the Cal Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP) website. CalCAP is a collaboration of faculty, administration, staff, and students working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at UC Berkeley. CalCAP's work includes:

• Conducting and third-party verifying an annual ten-source greenhouse gas emissions inventory to track our progress.
• Engaging the community and guiding action through climate planning and reporting.
• Developing and implementing infrastructure and behavioral strategies to reduce the climate impacts of buildings and transportation.

A helpful resource for environmental justice-related projects is SERC's Environmental Justice Resource Folder. Other helpful environmental justice resources include Principles of EJ, the EPA's environmental justice screening tool, and the EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.

Check out other funding sources on campus, like the Student Technology Fund (STF), Wellness Fund, Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Student Services and Fees (CACSSF), and SERC's funding resource page.

CalCAP description credited to CalCAP.