Student Sustainability Research Grant
To advance education, research, innovation and partnerships related to sustainability, the Sustainability Institute offers this grant funding opportunity to support student research in sustainability and resilience. Priority will be given to student research that creates opportunities to use our campuses as living laboratories or connects Ohio State to our local communities.
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate, graduate and professional students
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Application Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026
More Information: Application materials
Contact: Gina Jaquet, Sustainability Education and Learning Director, Sustainability Institute
Sustainability Research Seed Grant
The FY26 Sustainability Research Seed Grant Program will fund interdisciplinary research teams exploring topics in one or more of the Sustainability Institute’s research priority areas.
Eligibility: Faculty
Award Amount: $25,000 (average amount)
Letter of Intent Deadline: December 5, 2025
Application Deadline: January 21, 2026
More Information: Application materials and information sessions available
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, 2025 (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 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 Ohio State’s eight impact areas. The target funding opportunity must have a submission date on or before December 31, 2025.
Eligibility: Faculty
Award Amount: $5,000 - $35,000
Application Deadline: Closed for 2025
More Information: Application materials will be made available when the 2026 cycle opens
Contact: Charlene Brenner, Research Development Specialist, Sustainability Institute
SI Core Faculty Funding for Scholarly Activity
The Sustainability Institute has set aside funds in FY25 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, offsetting research expenses, including data collection, lab equipment, or GRA costs.
Funding requests for FY25 will be considered on a rolling basis and will be reviewed to ensure overall fit with advancing sustainability research, teaching, and/or outreach/service activities. Awards will be granted until funds run out or through June 1, 2025, whichever comes first.
Eligibility: Sustainability Institute Core Faculty members (faculty hired under the Sustainable and Resilient Economy Discovery Theme)
Award Amount: Open
Application Deadline: Closed for 2025
More Information: Application materials will be made available when the 2026 cycle opens
Contact: Kathy Jackson, Program Assistant, 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 2025 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: Closed for 2025
More Information: Application materials will be made available when the 2026 cycle opens
Contact: Nicole Nieto, Assistant Vice Provost, Office of Academic Affairs