The CSF Committee members hold weekly Virtual Office Hours dedicated for drop-ins throughout the semester! Please utilize them for anything CSF-related. Learn more on our webpage!
About Mini Grants
Mini Grants fund time-sensitive, smaller-scale projects in the fall semesters. Awards range from $500 - $10,000. Most approved projects will begin in late November to mid-December, but is dependent on when the application is submitted. All projects must be completed by mid-May.
To apply for a Mini Grant, applicants must submit both a Preliminary Application and a Final Application, which include written responses, project contacts, and a budget template that details funding requests and proposed project expenditures. The responses to the questions in the written application must be thorough, thoughtful, and accurate. Only project applications that have made the effort to obtain all necessary preliminary information, research, and contacts will be considered. All budgets must be reviewed by your Fiscal Officer prior to submission.
Please ensure you have reviewed our Grant Application Info page fully in addition to what is detailed below.
All proposals must include a project budget using our Mini Grant Budget Template. Please download this template as an Excel file and complete it in Excel. To begin your application, please head to our "Application Form."
Seed Funding
The CSF believes their role on campus is to help kick-start projects, programs, and initiatives that otherwise do not have funding. In this way, awards from the CSF act as seed-funding, rather than long-term funding. For Mini Grants, Project Managers and partnering departments must wait one year after their third award to be eligible again. In other words, if a project applies for three Mini Grants consecutively that have a similar goal and project plan, the team must wait one year to be eligible to apply again.
Projects seeking an additional award after receiving two must complete our supplemental narrative form as part of their application process.
Fall 2026 Mini Grant Timeline Overview
- Preliminary Application: September 14 – October 4, 2026
- Review and feedback: Rolling basis
- Final Application: October 5 – November 1, 2026
- Review and funding decisions will be made in mid-November
- Projects should expect funding no sooner than late November to early December; Please plan accordingly.
All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Mini Grant Process Overview
- Complete preliminary work and drafting
- Submit Preliminary Application
- Await feedback from the committee
- Integrate feedback into Final Application
- Submit Final Application
- Applicant will be notified if their application has been approved or not approved
Additional detail on each step of this process is provided below. Please do not hesitate to contact Louli Ziels, CSF Coordinator, at louliziels@arizona.edu with any questions.
Virtual Office Hours
The CSF Committee members hold Virtual Office Hours dedicated to prospective applicants! Please utilize them for anything CSF-related. Come by Virtual Office Hours on Zoom when you have questions on your proposal idea and whether or not it fits within the scope of the Fund, how to strengthen your proposal’s application or impact, and anything else!
The CSF Committee strongly encourages applicants to connect with a member of the CSF Committee through Virtual Office Hours as soon as possible to increase the likelihood that each team will be able to secure the approvals, letters, documentation, or quotes that might be necessary to procure prior to the submission of the Final Application.
Preliminary Mini Grant Application
The Preliminary Application period opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 14, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The Preliminary Application process allows the applicants to receive feedback on the proposal prior to the submission of the Final Application. The Preliminary Application should still demonstrate a strong, well-thought-out proposal with a solidified plan.
The Committee will provide feedback on Preliminary Applications on a rolling basis, meaning Project Managers can expect to hear back from the Committee on the Preliminary Application within two to three weeks. All Preliminary Applications will be reviewed, but not all Preliminary Applications will be provided the approval to submit a Final Application.
Final Application
The Final Application period opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Once applicants have received and integrated feedback on their Preliminary Application, applicants may submit their Final Application.
Following the Final Application submission, Project Managers can expect to receive a funding decision via email within two to three weeks.
Final Applications must include:
- A completed written application, submitted through the application portal
- An official quote from any relevant party, including but not limited to University Facility Services and/or or other vendors/businesses
- Letters of commitment, partnership, or ongoing collaboration if any such relationship is noted in the proposal
- A complete and detailed budget sheet that matches the budget narrative portion of the application
Please consider what application requirements and details need to be identified in advance. Any project proposal that alters or makes modifications to campus requires University Facility Services consent and coordination as well as a quote through their online Estimate Request service portal. Please review our Estimate Request Guide for University Facility Services to get started. The timeline to receive authorization and a quote for the modification can take several weeks to several months from start to finish. Applicants should plan accordingly. The process and management of the quote or service request is the responsibility of the applicant. Projects that require a quote must have one at the time of submitting the Final Application and must be attached as a Supporting Document.
Applications must be completed and submitted to the Campus Sustainability Fund by the designated dates above to be considered for funding. Once the window for completing applications closes, materials will not be accepted or considered. Applicants should budget enough time to deal with any potential technological challenges that may arise as it will not be considered as a valid excuse if a proposal cannot be submitted before the deadline.
Funds may never be used for reimbursement for items that have already been purchased, for projects that have already begun, or for projects that are already completed. This includes requesting funding for items (including capital equipment) or for labor already purchased or completed. Funding also cannot be requested to pay for any expenses (labor or otherwise) that were going to be purchased regardless of the Committee’s funding decision.
A realistic amount of lead time should be given in order for proposals to be eligible for review. Tight timelines are potential grounds for disapproval, as the proposal could lack logistics and feasibility.
Indigenous-Centered Mini Grants
With the generous support of the Agnese Nelms Haury Program, the CSF is offering Indigenous-Centered Mini Grant opportunities for the 2026 – 2027 school year. Applicants can apply for either a $5,000 Mini Grant, or a $10,000 Mini Grant. Funding is reserved for funding Indigenous-focused projects that are oriented toward environmental and/or social sustainability.
Applicants should follow the deadlines and guidance provided on this page, as well as review our grant application information webpage to learn about proposal restrictions, requirements, and funding eligibility.
Please read more about previously funded projects, head to our Indigenous-Centered Mini Grants page.