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 and transdisciplinary research teams to lay a foundation for convergence research in one or more of Ohio State’s eight impact areas that tackles pressing sustainability challenges and generates transformative solutions that will make a meaningful impact locally and globally, today and for future generations.
Eligibility: Faculty
Award Amount: $25,000 (average amount)
Letter of Intent Deadline: January 27th, 2025
Application Deadline: February 24, 2025
More Information: Request for Proposals (with LOI and application material templates)
Contact: Charlene Brenner, Research Development Specialist, 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: March 14, 2025
More Information: Application Materials
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: March 17, 2025
More Information: Application Materials will be made available when the 2025 cycle opens
Contact: Nicole Nieto, Assistant Vice Provost, Office of Academic Affairs
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: June 1, 2025
More Information: Request for Proposals (with application material templates)
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: Rolling basis through June 1, 2025
More Information: Application available via Qualtrics
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