Sustainability Proposal Development Grant
This grant award program, offered by the Sustainability Institute, will support teams of scholars from two or more distinct disciplines in the development of external funding proposals relating to one or more of the Sustainability Institute research program areas. The target funding opportunity must have a submission date on or before December 31, 2025, and preference will be given to teams pursuing funding to address climate change mitigation and adaptation, human health and/or environmental justice.
Eligibility: Faculty
Award Amount: $5,000 - $35,000
Application Deadline: Rolling through June 1, 2024 (or until annual funding is exhausted)
More Information: Application Materials
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, Sustainability Institute
SI Core Faculty Funding for Scholarly Activity
The Sustainability Institute has set aside funds in FY24 to support scholarly activities of the SI Core Faculty. These funds are available to any SI Core Faculty and are intended to help bolster scholarly activities related to sustainability research, teaching, or outreach. SI Core Faculty includes faculty who were hired under the Sustainable and Resilient Economy (SRE) Discovery Theme. Requested funds can be used to support scholarly activities such as, but not limited to: conference travel, workshop participation, hosting a guest speaker, or to offset research expenses, including data collection, lab equipment, or GRA costs.
Funding requests for FY24 will be considered on a rolling basis and will be reviewed to ensure overall fit with advancing sustainability research, teaching, or outreach activities. Awards will be granted until funds run out or through June 1st, 2024, whichever comes first.
Eligibility: Sustainability Institute Core Faculty members (faculty hired under the Sustainable and Resilient Economy Discovery Theme)
Award Amount: Open
Application Deadline: Rolling through June 1, 2024 (or until annual funding is exhausted)
More Information: Funding Request Form
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, Sustainability Institute
Exploratory Research Group Funding for Scholarly Activity
The Sustainability Institute has funds set aside to support Exploratory Research Group (ERG) activities in FY24. These funds are available to all active ERGs. Please note these funds cannot be used for the purchase of equipment or general software (Microsoft Windows Suite, etc.). Funding requests for FY24 will be considered until funds run out or through June 1st, 2024, whichever comes first.
Eligibility: Sustainability Institute Exploratory Research Groups
Award Amount: Open
Application Deadline: Rolling through June 1, 2024 (or until annual funding is exhausted)
More Information: Application Materials
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, Sustainability Institute
Red Team Review Honorarium Funding
The Sustainability Institute has funds set aside for FY24 to provide a modest honorarium to external (non-Ohio State) reviewers participating on Ohio State Red Team Review panels for interdisciplinary sustainability research proposals. To be eligible for these funds, the proposal must be clearly focused on a sustainability topic. In addition, a SI Affiliate must serve as PI or Co-PI on the proposal, and the proposal team must include representation from at least two distinct disciplines. If approved, SI will provide up to a $500 honorarium per red team reviewer and no more than $750 per red team review panel. Funding requests for FY24 will be reviewed on a rolling basis and considered until funds run out or through June 1st, 2024, whichever comes first.
Eligibility: Sustainability Institute Affiliated Faculty members
Award Amount: $500 - $750
Application Deadline: Rolling through June 1, 2024 (or until annual funding is exhausted)
More Information: Application Materials
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, Sustainability Institute
Ohio State Sustainability Fund
The Ohio State Sustainability Fund (OSSF) was established to support improvement of the sustainability profile of the university through efforts that improve campus operations and lead to increased learning and innovation or more sustainable practices in the university community. All project proposals must advance Ohio State’s sustainability goals and be conducted on Ohio State properties. The Sustainability Institute will evaluate all project proposals for eligibility and impact. Following a favorable evaluation, project proposals are then presented to the President and Provost’s Council on Sustainability for advice prior to final funding decisions.
Eligibility: Faculty, staff, students
Award Amount: Open
Application Deadline: Rolling through June 30, 2024 (or until annual funding is exhausted)
More Information: Application Materials
Contact: Mike Shelton, Associate Director, Sustainability Institute
Previous Ohio State Sustainability Fund Annual Reports: FY22, FY21, FY20, FY19, FY18, FY17, FY16, FY15
Sustainability Research Seed Grant
To build capacity in sustainability and resilience research at Ohio State, the Sustainability Institute offers this grant award program for new interdisciplinary research teams to lay a foundation for convergence research. This funding will support teams of scholars from at least two distinct disciplines relating to one or more of the Sustainability Institute research program areas.
Eligibility: Faculty
Award Amount: $25,000 (average amount)
Letter of Intent Deadline: N/A
Application Deadline: The 2024 grant cycle closed on January 29
More Information: Application Materials will be made available when the 2025 cycle opens
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, Sustainability Institute
Student Sustainability Grant
To advance education, research, innovation and partnerships related to sustainability, the Sustainability Institute offers this grant funding opportunity to support student research or projects in sustainability and resilience. Priority is given to student research or projects that directly impact university operations; incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion themes; and/or connect communities and allow opportunities to use Ohio State campuses as living laboratories.
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate, graduate and professional students
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Application Deadline: The 2024 grant cycle closed on March 1
More Information: Application Materials will be made available when the 2025 cycle opens
Contact: Gina Jaquet, Sustainability Education and Learning Director, Sustainability Institute
OSEP Academic Collaboration Awards
In 2017, The Ohio State University and Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP) entered into a comprehensive energy management partnership, launching an unprecedented energy efficiency program and establishing the university as an international leader in sustainability. As part of its commitment to academic collaboration, OSEP will contribute $810,000 annually to the university or affiliated philanthropic causes. Working with OSEP, the Office of Academic Affairs will offer a request for proposals to advance university priorities and promote interdisciplinary and community collaboration.
During the 2024 grant cycle, this grant award program will support proposals aligned with Ohio State’s sustainability goals.
Eligibility: Faculty, staff, students
Award Amount: $10,000 - $50,000
Application Deadline: The 2024 grant cycle closed on March 18
More Information: Application Materials will be made available when the 2025 cycle opens
Contact: Jody Poth, Program Director, Office of Outreach and Engagement