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About the Grants

Overview Grant Timelines Project Implementation Questions and Answers

The 91��ý Sustainability Office is accepting requests for internal grants to support the campus community in advancing sustainability initiatives at 91��ý. This opportunity is intended to provide small “seed” grants for faculty, staff, or student-led projects that move the College forward in our sustainability goals and/or inspire a greater culture shift in recognition of climate change and the need to engage in action.

Grants will be provided for projects that may address a wide range of climate- and sustainability-related topics that impact our campus, such as better integrating sustainability in the academic curriculum, waste reduction and diversion, renewable energy and energy conservation, building standards, environmental justice, efficient technology, promotion of new sustainable practices, sustainable procurement, and sustainable food sourcing. For the first round of funding, preference will be given to projects that help improve our sustainability performance in one or more areas as measured by the .

Examples of projects include, but are not limited to:                                                                               

• Utilizing the campus as a “living laboratory” for sustainability. This could include working in cross-functional teams of faculty, staff, and students to utilize campus infrastructure as a testing ground for sustainable practices.
• Piloting solutions that help integrate sustainability practices into your workplace, office, and/or team operations, with a goal of eventually scaling them to the entire campus community. This could include waste reduction and diversion, energy efficiency, behavior change campaigns, etc.
• Creating and supporting engagement with a new idea or innovation in sustainability. This could include professional development workshops or speaking events, hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students, sustainability literacy assessments for the campus community etc. to help individuals integrate sustainability into everyday actions.
• Innovating ways to include sustainability in course(s) or pedagogy. This could include redesigning existing courses or proposing new courses for future years, or other ways to advance the implementation of sustainability across the curriculum.

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Overview

This grant program itself is a pilot program for Spring 2026. Any member of the campus community may apply for a grant. Employees must have permission from supervisors to allocate staff time towards a grant funded project.

Funding of $500 - $10,000 may be requested, but only expenses necessary for the project should be requested.  (login required).

Project timelines must be no longer than 14 weeks for a semester. Unspent funds will be returned to the Sustainability Office for future projects. Allowable expenses include:

• Faculty or staff applications may request support for undergraduate students. Hourly pay for part-time students is $15/hour. Students must be enrolled through Spring 2026 to be eligible.
• If the applicant is a student or student organization, a staff or faculty mentor is strongly encouraged. A mentorship stipend of up to $1,000 can be requested for the mentor, but this must follow all applicable campus policies, and with permission from supervisors and Human Resources. Please contact the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) or Human Resources with questions and confirm eligibility.
• Research or program-related travel
• Materials, supplies, and equipment
• Speaker honorarium and travel
• Food for campuswide or community events.

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Grant Timelines

Information Sessions

Information sessions will be held for the campus community to learn more about this grant. Attendance is optional but strongly encouraged! This is a good opportunity for anyone interested in learning more, brainstorming project ideas, or finding campus partners to work collaboratively with.

• Tuesday, September 23 – 12 pm – 1 pm in Dorothy Vernon Room, New Dorm
• Wednesday, October 1 – 9 am – 10 am in Campus Center 200
• Thursday, October 9 – 4:30 – 5:30 pm in Campus Center 200

Applicants are also encouraged to schedule private brainstorming sessions with the Sustainability Office outside of these times as needed.

Application Deadline – October 24^th, 2025

When you are ready, please apply at this or copy/paste this URL in your web browser:  

During the application phase, teams are required to submit a brief design concept or abstract of their project idea. This abstract should succinctly outline the following:

• Problem statement, or area of opportunity
• The proposed intervention or pilot program, and
• The intended outcomes.

The abstract serves as an initial screening tool and should be clear, compelling statement of no more than 500 words. Strong abstracts will demonstrate alignment with campus sustainability goals, feasibility within the semester, and potential for long-term impact or scalability.

Grant Recipients Announced – November 20^th, 2025

Awardees will be notified of the award status by November 20^th. Grants will be disbursed at the beginning of Spring 2026.  

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Project Implementation

If your proposal is accepted, you will be asked to proceed with project implementation:

Project Design

Applicants should provide a more thorough design for the project by the third week of the grant period. This includes describing in more detail, the “area of opportunity”—a challenge, gap, or inefficiency related to sustainability within the campus or broader community. The proposal should explain:

• Why is this area important to campus sustainability goals?
• What insights or data led your team to identify this opportunity?
• How your proposed project addresses this opportunity in a meaningful and innovative way.

The design should reflect a thoughtful understanding of sustainability principles and demonstrate potential for positive environmental, social, or economic impact.

Project Execution

Projects must be actively executed during the grant period. A small-scale pilot is acceptable and encouraged, especially if it allows for testing and refining the concept before broader rollout. Your proposal should include:

• A timeline of key milestones and activities.
• A description of resources and personnel involved.
• A plan for engaging relevant stakeholders, such as students, staff, faculty, or community members.
• Consideration of potential challenges and how they will be addressed.

The implementation should be feasible within the semester and demonstrate tangible progress toward sustainability goals.

Project Evaluation and Results Dissemination

All projects must include a plan for evaluating outcomes and sharing results with the campus community. Evaluation should be both qualitative and quantitative, and may include:

• Metrics of success (e.g., energy saved, waste diverted, participation rates).
• Lessons learned and feedback from project participants.
• Visuals or documentation of the project in action to be shared via social media or the campus websites and newsletters.

At the end of the semester, teams will be required to share their work at a Sustainability Summit, providing an opportunity to showcase impact, reflect on the process, celebrate successes, and inspire others. Proposals should also include:

• Ideas for scaling up or replicating the project in other areas of campus as applicable.
• A roadmap or recommendations for future development, including potential partnerships or funding sources.

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Questions and Answers

Why is this grant being offered?

As global challenges intensify—from biodiversity loss to rising temperatures—our campus must be a proactive force in shaping a sustainable future. The time to act is now, and this funding is a catalyst for that action. We invite every member of our campus community to become change makers. Whether through bold ideas, collaborative projects, or grassroots initiatives, your creativity and commitment can drive meaningful changes on campus and beyond.

The “seed” funding aims to leverage innovation and imagination at all levels of our community; this funding aims to kick-start projects that will eventually accelerate sustainability efforts across disciplines and departments. Beyond solving problems, this grant provides an opportunity to reimagine possibilities and build a culture of sustainability that grows and lasts.

Where is the funding coming from?

The funding is being provided by the President’s Office. Grants are disbursed through the Sustainability Office.

How is this grant different from the strategic planning and Bi-Co partnership grants?

The Bi-Co RFP offers 91��ý faculty the opportunity to explore new fields and collaborations or extend existing collaborations with Haverford College. The funding available for Strategic Innovation Grants is available to current faculty, staff, and students to design and pilot projects that advance one or more of the emerging strategic plan’s four core areas.

How many grants will be awarded?

The number of awardees will depend on how many compelling applications are received. It is difficult to determine at this time.

I have a project idea but need help fine-tuning it. What can I do?

You are encouraged to do any of the following:

• Attend an information session; the first 30 minutes will be focused on providing information about the grant funding opportunity, and the remaining time will be for ideating and brainstorming.
• Reach out to Neha Sood ad nsood@brynmawr.edu and set up a time to discuss your idea either individually or during a team meeting.
• Connect with other faculty, staff, or students to ideate and submit a joint proposal.

What is AASHE STARS?

The (STARS) is a framework for higher education institutions across the world to measure sustainability performance. The categories of sustainability performance are broad: . Total points in these categories are:

• Academics and Research
  • Curriculum – 41 points
  • Research – 23 points
• Engagement
  • Campus Engagement – 25 points
  • Public Engagement – 25 points
• Operations
  • Buildings and Grounds – 19 points
  • Energy and Climate – 26 points
  • Food and Dining – 10 points
  • Procurement and Waste – 19 points
  • Transportation – 10 points
• Planning and Administration
  • Coordination and Planning – 11 points
  • Investment – 7 points
  • Representation and Access – 14 points
  • Wellbeing and Work – 11 points

Additionally, 10 bonus “innovation and learning” credits may be earned by institutions going above and beyond in select categories. Five of these I&L credits are open-ended. There is a high probability that your projects will help improve 91��ý’s performance as identified on this platform.

Why should our projects align with STARS?

The most compelling applications will help increase our STARS ranking. STARS is a global standard created by and for higher education institutions to compare sustainability performance. It offers institutions to create a baseline for continuous improvement, integrate sustainability into all aspects of the institution, measure progress towards sustainability, and help gain international recognition for sustainability efforts. Additionally, this is a transparent process, and the information is widely accessible. It is used by organizations such as Princeton Review to evaluate “Green Schools” rankings.

During the last round of STARS reporting, 91��ý earned a silver ranking. We can do better! The goal is to achieve gold ranking during the next submission cycle, and platinum in the longer term. Many peer institutions and other local colleges have earned gold status already.

The STARS Technical Manual is overwhelming. How do I know if my project idea would fit into their requirements?

Yes, The STARS technical manual can be overwhelming – don’t panic! Please reach out to Neha at nsood@brynmawr.com to evaluate projects on a case-by-case basis. Remember, four “innovation” half-credits can be obtained for innovative ideas that do not fit into an existing category.

I don’t have a project idea, but I want to help advance sustainability. What can I do?

Please consider the following:

• Attending one of the information sessions where we will have dedicated time for brainstorming,
• Reviewing the STARS technical manual, or searching for sustainability initiatives at peer institutions to get ideas, or
• Reach out to Neha at nsood@brynmawr.edu to identify ways to contribute.

What does the application entail?

Please apply through this . Include the following information:

• Project Title
• Project Lead – Name, Title, Department, Email
• Project Collaborators – Names, Titles, Departments, Emails

• Project Abstract: A brief description of the project goals, in no more than 500 words. Please include
  • Problem statement, or area of opportunity
  • The proposed intervention or pilot program, and
  • The intended outcomes.
• Relevant References
• Budget estimate and justification – please use this .

Who will be evaluating the applications?

Proposals will be evaluated by an ad hoc review committee of faculty, staff and students appointed by the President’s Office. The review process will be overseen and moderated by the Director of Sustainability and Environmental Action.

What are the criteria for evaluation? How can I ensure my project makes a compelling case?

The internal criteria upon which the application will be selected:

• Does the project help improve our sustainability performance in one or more areas as measured by the AASHE ?
  • Does the project address a sustainability gap in campus processes, infrastructures or knowledge?            
• Significance and/or innovation of project
  • Does the project address an important problem or to sustainability on campus?
  • Does the project employ novel or creative approaches or methods?
• Feasibility of project design and timeline
  • Are the concepts, design, methods, and analyses adequate and appropriate?
  • Can the project be completed in one semester? Is all the necessary personnel and/or expertise represented?
  • Defined outcome and/or impact
  • Does the project include a plan for measuring engagement or impact?
• Clarity of the application
  • Well-defined goals, approach, and expected outcomes
• Reasonable and justified budget

Do I have to work as a team, or can I work independently?

While we encourage people to apply as part of cross-functional teams, it is not a requirement of this grant. Independent projects will be considered.

The project I want to implement would cost more than the grant allows. What should I do?

Please reach out to Neha at nsood@brynmawr.com to discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

How will project results be shared?

A Sustainability Summit will be hosted at the end of Spring 2026 (date TBA) . At this event, grant recipients will be recognized for their work and have an opportunity to share it with the campus community. While a traditional presentation is acceptable, participants are encouraged to think out of the box and share their work in other compelling (and fun!) ways. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to share their work through campus communication channels such as the website, social media, newsletters, etc.

What will the Sustainability Summit entail?

The goal of the summit is to recognize and celebrate sustainability efforts, and to share results from various projects. This gathering will include an award ceremony to recognize individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond to advance campus sustainability.

What if my project isn’t completed within the course of a semester?

This grant funding is intended for small-scale, timebound, and actionable pilot projects that can be completed or yield shareable results within the short timeframe of a semester or summer term. However, additional opportunities may be available for larger projects that offer a compelling case for implementation. Please reach out to Neha at nsood@brynmawr.edu to discuss your idea.

Will there be regular check-ins during the course of the projects?

Yes! Grant awardees will have the option to meet monthly with each other to discuss progress, address challenges, and share information and knowledge. This will be convened by the Sustainability Office.

I have additional questions!

Additional questions are welcome! Please reach out to Neha at nsood@brynmawr.edu