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Funding

As part of the university-wide focus on sustainability, funding is available to use our campus as a "living-learning lab" with mechanisms to fund both large-scale and small-scale project ideas. Funding is also available to pursue applied sustainability projects beyond the U-M campus.

Funding and Campus Projects

  • Student Food Empowerment Fund

    UM Sustainable Food Program (UMSFP) offers grants of up to $1,000 for student organizations to bring to life innovative visions for food justice. This grant is open to any registered student org at U-M Ann Arbor. UMSFP will assist in the accomplishment of the grant project in any way that is possible and desired, and they welcome any opportunities for collaboration beyond the scope of the project. Learn more and apply.

  • Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund (PBSIF) grants

    The Student Sustainability Coalition provides up to $50,000 annually for ambitious, student-initiated projects that reduce the university’s environmental footprint and promote a culture of sustainability on campus. Priority is given to projects that are innovative, visible, and transformative. Many successful campus sustainability initiatives received initial funding from PBSIF, including the U-M Campus Farm and the Maize and Blue Cupboard.

  • Social and Environmental Sustainability (SES) grants

    The Student Sustainability Coalition provides up to $2,500 in support of projects that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEI&J) focused sustainability on campus, including special events. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.

  • Dow Distinguished Awards

    Dow Distinguished Awards provide competitive funding of $25,000-$50,000 for interdisciplinary, applied research projects led by graduate student teams that focus on compelling challenges external to the university.

  • Campus Projects

    Alongside funding, guidance on navigating institutional processes is often equally valuable. Learn how to get started on a campus project involving infrastructure installation or operational adjustments.