Fall Mini-Grants

These projects were part of our mini-grant program, which involves a shorter application, shorter project timelines, and a total funding limit of $5,000 per project. 

Fight the Flow, Phase II

Project Description

Grant funding is requested to supply low flow, UZLow shower heads to residence halls as well as to family housing in University Village. Of the 974 families living in University Village, 50 will be participating in a pilot project in introducing these showerheads.This will be a continuation of the TGIF Fight the Flow project from 2011, and this new grant will cover showerhead and marketing costs for both Unit 2 and University Village.

Project Links

Project Application

...

The Wildlife Society at UC Berkeley

Project Description

The Wildlife Society at Berkeley is a student organization created to provide students at UC Berkeley with a community of wildlife enthusiasts.

Project Links

Project Application

Project...

Building Equitable and Inclusive Food Systems at UC Berkeley: Foodscape Mapping Project

Project Description

This project builds upon a past 2015 TGIF funded project by the BFI that created a foodscape map. The BFI used the data from this map to create a Sustainable and Just Catering Guide (SJCG). With this project, the BFI hopes to help campus departments and student groups adopt the SJCG, which will help reduce plastic use and food waste, and will emphasize small, diverse businesses. The money will go towards a graduate student fellow, with a small amount going towards outreach material.

Project Links

...

SCEC Retention Events

Project Description

The SCEC Retention Events will provide direct resources related to self-care and professional development for our members through student-led workshops and guest presentations. Examples of potential projects include BIPOC Environmental Mixers where BIPOC students and faculty have space to form a community with people of shared interests, while also focusing on intersectionality and resource sharing. Other potential retention events include professional development workshops on graduate school applications, networking events, and professional...

Bring Back the Insects to UVA Community Garden

Project Description

Grad and Family Living seeks funds to cultivate the UVA Community garden with native CA plants in order to attract beneficial insects, and support gardeners/the environment. They hope to teach and engage the community about native plants and insects through field and planting days.

Project Links

Project Application

...

Bear Share

Project Description

The Bear Share Project is a one of a kind initiative aimed at setting up a shared facilities system, potentially saving thousands of dollars per semester and reducing the cost of living on campus especially for newly incoming students and students with less resources. It will promote a circular economy and get people on board who may not normally think about sustainability and community wellness as it will create a chance to reduce on buying unnecessary items and add to the university’s goal of going fully sustainable too.

...

Supporting and Expanding the Green Labs Certification Program

Project Description

This Green Labs project is seeking funds to support campus labs in obtaining Green Lab certification, piloting the use of alternative lab materials that are not dependent on single-use plastics, and the creation of software to track lab energy consumption and waste production

Project Links

Project Application

Project Poster (coming soon!)

Vertical Farming at Berkeley Prototype 1 Upscaling

Project Description

VFB is a non-profit, research-oriented organization with the ambition to establish the first and only vertical farm at UC Berkeley. With sustainability in mind, we aim to increase yield and resource efficiency by investigating symbiotic microbe interactions in a hydroponic environment and developing mechanical automation technology, from ECU-controlled water maintenance to labor-free planting/harvesting. Vertical Farming is the general idea of growing produce in a controlled environment with space, resource efficiency, and produce quality in mind....

BSFC Culinary Cultures Education Project

Project Description

This project aims to bridge the cultural disconnect in the BSFC's food prep service by hiring a Culinary Cultures Education Associate to do outreach work. The food prep system diverts food that would otherwise be wasted into cooked meals that are offered on a sliding scale of $1-5. Through this project, the BSFC hopes to help students understand the cultural history of their food and avoid perpetuating the white capitalist nature of our food system. Money will go towards the student salary, with a small amount going towards outreach material....

PlateUp: Reducing Single-Use Plastic Takeout Waste

Project Description

The proposed project consists of surveying, identifying, and assisting (10) pilot restaurants in their transition from single-use plastic takeout boxes to compostables and/or reusables.

Project Links

Project Application

Project Poster (coming soon!)