Annual Grants

About Annual Grants

The minimum allocation for an Annual Grant is $10,000 and the maximum allocation is $50,000. The Annual Grant application process begins in the fall semester and closes in the spring semester. Approved projects will be allocated funding after July 1 and must be completed by mid-May. 

To apply for an Annual Grant that will receive funding in July 2027, applicants must submit both a Preliminary Application and a Final Application which requires written responses, project contacts, and a budget template that details funding requests and 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.

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 Annual Grant budget sheet. Please download this template as an Excel file and complete it in Excel. To review the application questions for Annual Grants, please review our "Application Form" page or to work offline, download our Annual Grant questions for the 2025-2026 application.

To author your grant, please use these resources:

• Review the Annual Grant criteria
• Take a look at our evaluation rubric
• Use our Metrics and Draft Climate Action Plan worksheet

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.

Projects seeking an additional award after receiving two must complete our supplemental narrative form as part of their application process. 

Annual Grant Timeline Overview

• Preliminary Application: November 1, 2026 - January 24, 2027
  • Committee is available to support prospective applicants from September - late November
  • University will be closed from December 24 - January 3, 2027
  • Review and feedback: January 25 - February 19, 2027
• Final Application: February 1 - March 7, 2027
• Interviews: April 2027
• Funding decisions: May 2027
• Funding dispersed: July 2027

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Annual Grant Process Overview

1. Complete preliminary work and drafting
2. Submit Preliminary Application
3. Await feedback from the committee
4. Integrate feedback in Final Application
5. Submit Final Application
6. Attend interview with the CSF Committee
7. Await funding decision from the Committee

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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.

Recommended Virtual Office Hour

All prospective Annual Grant applicants are highly encouraged to attend a CSF Committee or CSF Coordinator Virtual Office Hour prior to submitting a Preliminary Application. Office Hours are held throughout the semester and are a casual way to get feedback, clarification on the process, and early assistance to ensure your application meets all requirements.

Please note that CSF Office Hours will not be available from December until February to account for winter break and the university’s closure. If you want to connect with a CSF Committee member, ensure you do so in October and November. 

Email Louli Ziels, CSF Coordinator, at louliziels@arizona.edu to set up a meeting outside of these time frames. 

Preliminary Application

The Preliminary Application period opens at 8:00am on Monday, November 2, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on January 24, 2027. The Committee will provide feedback to Preliminary Applications between January 25 - February 19, 2027.

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. However, the budget sheet and quotes from University Facility Services or other vendors do not need to be finalized, but should be in the works in order to meet the Final Application requirements and deadline.

Preliminary Applications will not be reviewed until January 2027, even if submitted earlier than this. While the Preliminary Application is open during Winter Break and the university's closure, the CSF Committee will not be in session and cannot provide feedback on applications until they return after Winter Break. The CSF Committee reconvenes the week of January 18, 2027 and will begin reviewing Preliminary Applications and providing feedback shortly after. Once they are reviewed, the Committee provides ample feedback for the applicant to incorporate into their Final Application.

All Preliminary Applications will be reviewed, but not all Preliminary Applications will be provided the approval to submit a Final Application.

Final Application

The Annual Grant Final Application opens at 8:00 a.m. on February 1, 2027 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2027.

Once applicants have received feedback on their Preliminary Application and the Final Application Period has opened, applicants may submit their Final Application. 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 and will not be considered as a valid excuse if a proposal cannot be submitted before the deadline.

Final Applications must include:

1. A completed written application, submitted through the application portal
2. An official quote from any relevant party, including but not limited to University Facilities Services and/or other vendors/businesses
3. Letters of commitment, partnership, or ongoing collaboration if any such relationship is noted in the proposal
4. 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.

Following review of the Final Applications, Project Managers will be invited to attend an informal interview with the CSF Committee which will allow the Committee to gain additional insight into the project and its plan and objectives. Interviews will be held at the beginning of April. Funding decisions will be released in May, and funding will be awarded in July. Please plan accordingly.