Apply for Funding

Selection Process

Interested in applying for a TGIF Mini-grant (Fall Semester) or TGIF Grant (Spring Semester)?

Fall Semester
TGIF Fall Mini-grant Application Due: Friday, November 1st, 2019 by 5pm

Spring Semester
TGIF Early Abstract Submission Due:  Friday, February 12th, 2021 by 5pm
TGIF Final Abstract Submission or Early Abstract Resubmission Due: Friday, March 12th, 2021 by 5pm
TGIF Grant Application Due (Invitees from the Abstract Stage): Friday, April 9th, 2021 by 5pm

All students, staff, or faculty at UC Berkeley are eligible to apply to The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF).

The fall mini-grant application is for small, one-time projects that must be completed within the same academic year in which they receive funding. There is only one stage, and applicants must apply by November 1st, 2019 by 5pm. Requests must be up to $5,000.

The spring grant program will give preference to larger and longer-timeline projects. Applicants must first submit an abstract form by one of two possible deadlines, Monday, February 17th, 2020 by 5pm OR Friday, March 20th, 2020 by 5pm, before they are invited by TGIF's Committee to submit a final application by Monday, April 20th, 2020 at 5pm. Not all applicants will be invited to submit in April. Requests must be greater than $5,000.


If you'd like to be considered for environmental justice funding, please answer the 2 supplemental questions at the bottom of the application (for mini-grants), and please indicate this in your abstract, then answer the 2 supplemental questions if invited back to Stage 2 (for spring grants).

  • Projects must directly address environmental sustainability and/or environmental justice 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 which 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 final report and poster made to TGIF's 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 the TGIF Committee.
  • 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.

Who selects the grant winners?
Projects are selected by the student-majority TGIF Committee, which is composed of UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty.
When selecting abstracts in Stage I, the Committee uses the grant requirements and preferences listed in the TGIF Bylaws to structure their votes and abstract feedback. These requirements and preferences can also be found on the Develop Your Grant page.
The Committee uses a scoresheet rubric to vote in Stage II on the final grant applications and select recipients for grant awards. The Committee also uses this scoresheet rubric when selecting which mini-grants to award. Scoresheet Rubric can be found here.

Projects are selected by the student-majority TGIF Committee, which is composed of UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty. The Committee uses the grant requirements and preferences listed in the TGIF Bylaws to structure their votes and abstract feedback. These requirements and preferences can also be found on the Develop Your Grant page. The Committee uses a scoresheet rubric to vote on the grant applications and select recipients for grant awards. Scoresheet Rubric can be found here.