Fall Grant Application Process

Fall Mini-Grants

The Fall TGIF Mini-Grant program is designed to encourage short-term on-campus projects that address sustainability and/or environmental justice issues at UC Berkeley.

All UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty are able to apply. Granted projects should be able to be completed between January - April of the funded academic year, unless approved by the TGIF Team. Grant requests should not exceed $5,000. 

Learn more about applying below!

2024 Fall Mini-Grant Cycle *Open Now*

The Fall Mini-Grant program takes place during the fall semester and awards grants of up to $5,000 to small projects that must be completed within the 2024-2025 academic year.

Interested applicants must attend a TGIF Info Session or schedule a 1:1 with TGIF Staff before applying for funding. The Fall mini-grant is comprised of a Grant Cover Letter with attachments that should be shared with TGIF via Google Drive. Find more details below.

Fall 2024 Deadline

Applications must be submitted via email by Sunday, October 13, 2024, at 5 PM PST. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

2024 Fall Mini-Grant Info Sessions

Session 1 (Virtual):  Friday, September 20, 2024 at 3:00 PM (Zoom - Registration Required)

Session 2 (In-Person):  Monday, September 23, 2024 at 5:00 PM (SERC SpaceRSVP here)

Session 3 (In-Person):  Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 7:00 PM (SERC SpaceRSVP here)

In-Person Application Feedback & Office Hours  *NEW* 

Join TGIF in the SERC Space from 10/7- 10/10 for our first-ever drop-in office hours on:

  • Monday, October 7, 2024 from 4-5 PM 

  • Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from  3:30 5 PM 
  • Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from  3-5 PM 

  • Friday, October 11, 2024 from 4-5 PM

All drop-in office hours will be in the SERC Space at one of the small tables near the wall. Email tgif_grants@berkeley.edu for more information. Can't make our in-person office hours? Make an appointment for a 1:1 here

2024 Fall Mini-Grant Application 

Steps to Apply

Open the Mini-Grant Cover Page and make copies of the Cover Page and all attachments to complete your application. Submit the completed application via email by the application deadline - October 13, 2024, at 5 PM PST. Project leaders must (1) ensure that all Project Attachments are viewable, and (2) have attended a TGIF Info-Session, TGIF 1:1, or TGIF Office Hour to be considered for funding. 

Failure to meet with the TGIF Team, provide all application materials, or update document sharing settings may disqualify your application. 

Mini-Grant Application Materials

1.  Mini-Grant Cover Page: This file contains the basic information about your project and links to all the other required application materials. Please complete all sections, paying attention to the Sponsoring Organization/Fiscal Agent Information. Unsure about formatting? See our Example Fall 2024 Application. 

2.  Project Narrative: This required project attachment tells the story of your application, and provides information about your project's history, timeline, and how you plan to measure success. Please stay within the 3-page limit and follow our formatting guidelines. 

3.  Project BudgetThis required project attachment shows how you plan to spend your funds through the duration of your project. 

4.  Project Approval Form: A Project Approval Form is needed for each partner organization, department, or entity that will be a meaningful contributor to your project team, as well as for each entity that will need to provide approval for your project to be successful. Approximately 70% of TGIF Projects require at least one Project Approval Form. 

5.  Environmental Justice Supplement:  TGIF offers priority to projects that meaningfully integrate environmental justice into their project scope. If you would like to apply for Environmental Justice consideration, you must complete the Environmental Justice Supplement. Projects that submit an Environmental Justice Supplement may be designated as an 'EJ Project' and provide priority consideration after review by the TGIF Committee Environmental Justice At-Large Representative, in consultation with the SERC Environmental Justice Team and TGIF staff. 

Mini-Grant Application Example and Support

TGIF offers our Funded Project Archive, which can provide guidance and support for applicants as to what kind of projects TGIF has funded in the past, as well as archival project applications. Please note that the TGIF Application has changed through the years, as have the needs of our campus community around sustainability and environmental justice.

As an additional resource, TGIF has also created an EXAMPLE 2024 TGIF Fall Mini-Grant. Please be aware that this mini-grant is based off of a previously-funded TGIF project, and has not been reviewed nor voted on as a mini-grant by the TGIF Committee. This example is meant to guide formatting and grant structuring changes, as well as provide some guidance as to narrative answer length.