Sustainability Fund

Students, staff, faculty and registered student organizations can apply for grants. Staff and faculty applications must display the project’s impact on students and opportunities for student involvement. Please note that applications for FastTrack Grants must be completed by students and/or registered student organizations.

The Sustainability Fund is specifically looking for projects that help advance university sustainability goals and result in high-impact experiences for students, faculty and staff. The global Sustainable Development Goals highlight the various areas that Sustainability Fund Grant Projects might address.

Applications can be a maximum of six pages. An attached document section is not counted toward this maximum.

Yes, students, staff and faculty can submit as many proposals as they wish.

The start date of July 1 is the beginning of the new fiscal year. Projects are not required to start over the summer, though they are encouraged to start as soon as possible to ensure the project follows its timeline and is successful.

Typically, planning should occur as soon as funding is announced so once monies are disbursed in August, projects can quickly begin.

There is no limit to the number of people on a project, though there should be one or two project leads. Students are encouraged to have a staff/faculty mentor for projects as well.

All projects must submit both a mid-year report and a final report to the Sustainability Fund Advisory Board. This provides the Board an opportunity to learn about the impact of the project. In addition, teams must present their project, science-fair style, in April at the annual Celebration of Sustainability.

NC State students began contributing a sustainability fee each semester in the fall 2013 following a student-led campaign. The fee is currently assessed at $2.50 per semester and generates approximately $155,000 per year for the Sustainability Fund.

Review previously funded projects here. To get more information on any project please contact the Board Chair.

• Project Grant <$10,000: Med Safe
• Project Grant $10,000-$20,000: Solar Pack
• Project Grant >$20,000: Solar Scoreboards
• Project Grant receiving with other funding sources: Make-a-thon 2018

The Board is looking to fund projects that will make an impact in terms of sustainability. The Board prefers projects that can impact as many students as possible, but a project that deeply impacts 10 students can be just as important and beneficial as a project that briefly impacts 2,000 students.

Successful applications typically have their project broken into phases. This allows the Board the ability to provide some funding if they are unable to fund the entire project.

Each year the total amount of project funding grows based on the revenue earned from the Sustainability Fee. Historically, the Board has distributed around $155,000 each year and divided that up among projects based on needs and scope. Each project receives a different amount based on what they requested in their proposal. In the history of the Fund, project grants have ranged from $1,000 to $50,000. The Advisory Board does not have a requirement that multiple projects have to be funded; all of the funds could be granted for a single project. When available, FastTrack Grants are limited to a maximum award of $1,000 per project request.

Partially funded projects occur on a per-case basis. The Board does not require matching funds, though matching funds or an outside monetary commitment can strengthen an application.

es, the Sustainability Fund can award funds for student interns. However, funds will not be allocated for staff/faculty salary.

Funds for Project Grants will typically be available in late August following a disbursement meeting. The project will have the length of the academic year to spend their funds with the goal of finishing the project by the end of the academic year. In special circumstances, funds can be made available earlier (in July) and/or extensions given the spending deadline (into May). Any unspent funds remaining after June 15 will be forfeited.

Please note, FastTrack grants will have their funds accessible after their disbursement meeting in early January. The same deadline applies.

If you have a project that has optional components, please include all components in one application and note in the application which components of the project are necessary and which are optional. Please also set up the budget accordingly so the price of each components, necessary or optional, are included. This gives the Board the most flexibility in potentially funding projects in whole or in part depending on each component. Please do not submit each component as a separate application, or separate applications with components added or subtracted. That being said, groups and individuals can still submit multiple applications as long as they are for different projects.

• The Upcycled Swag Initiative, coordinated by the Sustainability Stewards, will showcase how repurposed materials can be utilized in campus outreach efforts, ultimately raising awareness about the possibilities for upcycling materials.
• The Eco+Pack student organization will host several large sustainability-themed events for students during Welcome Week, Earth Month and the fall semester.
• NC State Athletics will add composting bins in the Towne Bank Center of Carter-Finley Stadium, which will enable a significant amount of organic waste to be composted during each home football game. 
• The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources will create an app to enable self-guided tours of campus trees. Learn more
• The Environmental Justice Symposium, coordinated by the Sustainability Stewards, will host a series of campus events to raise awareness about equity and the environment. Learn more
• NC State Landscape Services will expand its new greenhouse to enable more integration of organic growing practices while also growing more campus landscaping plants on-site. Learn more
• NC State Energy Management will launch a Sustainable Labs Program to identify ways to reduce the energy, emissions, water and waste footprint of campus research labs. Learn more
• The Student Energy Club will receive funding for an NC State Energy Week series of events that engage the campus community in opportunities to advance a clean energy future. Learn more
• The Student Association for Fire Ecology and Management will equip students to participate in the planning of prescribed burns on NC State’s experimental forests and respond to wildfires in collaboration with state agencies and other partners.
• The KIETS Climate Leaders Program will host its second Climate Leaders symposium planned for September 2023.
• The Biotechnology Program will continue the Engineering Sustainable Composting and Outreach Program, which involves undergraduate students in microbiological research at the NC State Compost Facility and Research Cooperative. Learn more
• Health and Exercise Studies will continue construction of mountain biking trails at Lake Raleigh Woods. Learn more
• A student-led project in the College of Natural Resources will equip several campus bus shelters with a glass film designed to prevent future bird collisions. Learn more 

Spring 2024 FastTrack Grants

 Spring 2024 FastTrack projects included:

• Waste reduction art contest for students to redesign a campus waste sorting guide
• TEDxNCState Talks to promote the global sustainable development goals
• Art display in Talley Student Union to raise awareness about waste reduction 
• Raised garden beds to showcase regenerative agricultural practices
• Re-wilding a patch of turf grass on campus into a native prairie garden
• Community bike, scooter and skate ride between Centennial and Main Campus to celebrate alternative forms of transportation
• Gambian Girl Power mini library for a sister-school in Gambia
• Food for Thought cooking class aimed a reducing food waste and promoting food equity on campus

• An outdoor terrace garden at Talley Student Union that educate students about pollinator-friendly plants. Read more
• Development of an inaugural climate leaders symposium on campus that will engage students and others in sustainable climate change solutions. Learn more
• Installation of two water bottle refilling stations in the Wilson College of Textiles Building that will encourage use of reusable water bottles
• Creation and distribution of education magnets about campus recycling and composting guidelines to students. Read more
• Addition of edible plants and other infrastructure at the student-led SOL Garden, which is located in Parents Park on West Campus. 
• Student internships at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm to facilitate events, workshops and other student engagement activities
• A project to grow perennial plants for use in campus landscapes.
• A research and engagement project at the campus Compost Facility and Research Cooperative to monitor microbial composition of compost and create educational and engagement activities for students to learn more about campus composting. Learn more
• A hydroponics system at Interfaith Food Shuttle, which donates produce to the Feed the Pack Food Pantry and other community organizations. Learn more
• Transition of gameday scripts and information from print to a new digital-only process for NC State Athletics. Read more
• Enhancement of the existing educational orchard at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm. Read more
• Development of a landscape plan to preserve a campus habitat for ground-nesting bees
• Construction of three hiking trails at Lake Raleigh Woods that will add additional outdoor academic and recreational opportunities on campus. Learn more

• A new campus greenhouse to provide campus plants for curriculum and research-based projects. Read more
• Rocky Branch Trail Learning Garden, which will include the addition of various edible and pollinator vegetation to sites along this campus trail. Read more
• Campus as a Classroom Internship pilot program, which is designed to create sustainability-related student learning opportunities on campus. Read more
• Support for the NC State student chapter of Engineers Without Borders to complete a clean water project in Guatemala. Read more
• Installation of a rooftop solar array at Fitts-Woolard Hall
• Equipment needed to create compost tea, which will be tested by Grounds Services on campus landscapes
• Construction for new hiking and biking trails in Lake Raleigh Woods. Read more
• Student project known as “SolarPack” that aims to create an affordable solar-powered vehicle 
• Support for development of an Ocean Advocacy Workshop for students. Read more

• NC State’s inaugural Energy Week of events that increase the visibility of the university’s energy use, research and opportunity to shape a clean energy future. Read more
• Cooking kitchen at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm that will host classes and workshops about fruits, vegetables and healthy cooking. 
• Expansion of paper towel composting into more NC State residence halls. Read more
• Development of low-cost, high-resolution air quality monitoring on NC State’s campus.
• Infrastructure for increasing compost collection at Wilson College of Textiles.
• Expansion of NC State’s Compost Facility and Research Cooperative to increase capacity for processing compostable material from campus. Read more
• Additional installation of shower timers or water flow meters in West Campus residence halls. Already timers are in Bragaw Residence Hall, where a pilot program resulted in a 20% decrease in water consumption.
• A new outdoor amenity called SolarSpace where students can charge electronics and learn about renewable energy. Read more
• A sustainability-themed event for new students during NC State’s Welcome Week.
• Installation of new water bottle refilling stations in the NC State University Libraries. Read more
• Outreach and education about sustainable laundry practices in NC State residence halls.
• Development of a campus waste station kiosk that helps users more accurately sort waste into composting, recycling or landfill containers.
• Increased education about and use of reusable cups and bottles at Wilson College of Textiles, which will install two water bottle refilling stations and promote use of fewer disposable options.
• These grants are in addition to $1,000 FastTrack grants that were awarded in December. 

• The establishment of an orchard on the Agroecology Education Farm. The orchard will grow diverse fruits for the NC State community and serve as a novel teaching tool for classes and workshops. Read more
• Installation of a rainwater catchment system with water storage and a solar-powered irrigation system for the Agroecology Education Farm.
• Advancements of the aquaponics systems with a goal to ensure food safety and setting-up mobile table-top-sized aquaponics systems in high-trafficked areas for increase awareness and educational potential.
• Creation of new connections to the energy industry across the state and learning at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center through engaging field trips across the state, student internships and more.
• Technical and material support for Engineers Without Borders. The group plans to design and develop 18 water catchment systems that will provide a Guatemalan community with clean water.
• The establishment of monitoring protocols for multi-year studies across campus to ensure our infrastructure is green and to highlight potential areas for improvement. Read more
• The implementation of a study to convert cars to hybrids on some of NC State’s fleet vehicles. This will reduce the school’s maintenance and fuel costs, as well as campus carbon footprint.
• A pilot program to reduce single-use plastic straws on campus by providing reusable metal straws.
• A concert by the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Chamber Orchestra highlighting social sustainability.
• The establishment of a club focused on an exciting fitness trend to pick up litter while jogging, otherwise known as plogging.
• Technical and material support for the solar-powered car development team on campus as the team finalizes its vehicle.
• The relocation of the NC State’s SOUL Garden to Parents Park to improve student accessibility.
• The establishment of the Student Energy Club, which will engage students in seminars with top leaders in the energy industry and connect undergraduates with research.
• The construction of sustainably-managed mini vertical ecosystems that will beautify campus and serve as a unique educational experience for students, particularly those in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department.

Spring 2019 FastTrack Grants

 Grants in the amount of $1,000 are awarded to:

• A group of NC State students in a senior design course developing an innovative tool kit to convert a vehicle from gas-powered to hybrid
• Period @ NC State, which advocates for increased use of sustainable feminine hygiene products across campus
• College of Veterinary Medicine students, who will promote sustainable dining options with reusable utensils
• Zero Waste Wolves student organization, which will introduce a pilot paper towel compost system in Bragaw and Metcalf Residence Hall bathrooms.

Additionally, the Fund’s board awarded a $150 grant to SOUL Garden and the student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, which have partnered to develop a bike-powered irrigation system.

• Design assessment for a solar-powered heating system at Bragaw Residence Hall.
• Implementation of an aerated static pile composting system that allows for closed-loop, on-campus processing of compostable materials.
• Installation at the Student Health Center of a window film designed to reduce bird collisions with the building while also providing an undergraduate research opportunity to assess the film’s effectiveness.
• Installation of water bottle refilling stations at the College of Textiles.
• Expansion of the Food Recovery Network, a student organization that addresses hunger by working with NC State Dining to recover leftover food from campus dining locations and distribute to local nonprofit organizations.
• A pilot project that installs timers on Bragaw Residence Hall showers in order to raise student awareness of water use and reduce the building’s water consumption. Read more
• Improvement of trails and signage at Lake Raleigh to encourage running, biking and other outdoor activities on Centennial Campus. Read more
• Development of an Energy and Justice Service Trip to educate students about social environmental implications while participating in service projects such as clean up of waterways and after hurricanes. Read more
• Restoration of the longleaf pine woodland on NC State’s Lake Wheeler Road Biological Field Laboratory involving prescribed burns with assistance from Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources students. Read more
• Two concerts by NC State and Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra to create interdisciplinary conversation about environmental issues and sustainability initiatives. Read more
• Interactive class assignment that teaches students in Environmental Sciences and other related courses about urban trees. By helping identify and measure campus trees, students will provide vital data to ensuring sustainable tree landscaping on campus. Read more

• The completion of a roof-top garden on Talley Student Union, which will expand research, education and production of local food in an urban campus environment. Story
• Installation of solar-powered scoreboards in University Recreation’s Method Road Field Complex. Story
• Creation of a composting program in Wolf Village Apartments that will reduce waste while also educating residents about composting. Story
• Support for the student-led development of a solar-powered vehicle prototype that would seat four people and weigh under 900 pounds. Story
• Campus installation of “bee hotels,” a series of solitary bee nesting habitats, along with signs to educate the public about the importance of these pollinators Story and Video
• Improvements and expansion of the student-built aquaponics system that is in On the Oval restaurant on Centennial Campus
• Research on healthy urban trees, which will maximize campus tree health while educating the public about best practices in tree care
• Make-a-thon, a four-day challenge during which student teams research, design, prototype and build a new solution that addresses a sustainability challenge. Story
• Installation of a campus bin for safe, responsible disposal of prescription medications at Student Health Services pharmacy. Story
• New vegetables and infrastructure to deter deer at the student-led SOUL Garden on Centennial Campus. Story
• Installation of a water-efficient drip irrigation system for garden beds at SOUL Garden
• Educational campaign in NC State dining halls about food sustainability

• Support bringing the Nile Project to NC State in March 2017 in partnership with NC State LIVE. Story
• Pilot project for “floating islands” in water basins on Main and Centennial Campuses that will aid in passive water treatment and stormwater management. Story
• Composting of cotton and fabric waste from the College of Textiles. Story | Photos
• Sustainability graduate student position to strengthen relationships and build sustainability programs that engage the campus community at NC State Athletics events
• Installation of a solar bus stop outside Witherspoon Student Center that will allow students to charge electronics while waiting for alternative transportation. Story | Photos
• Pilot study using electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) in the Biotechnology program to reduce paper usage by 70 percent while also increasing student collaboration. Story
• Pollinator-friendly landscaping beds at JC Raulston Arboretum. Story/Video
• Pollinator-friendly meadow on Centennial Campus. Story | Photos
• Collaboration with the second annual NC State Make-a-Thon, a design and innovation challenge focused on addressing campus sustainability issues. Photos | Story
• Product development and testing of a student-created sensor that will be placed in campus waste and recycling dumpsters to monitor capacity and alert staff when emptying is needed. Story
• A new Alternative Service Break (ASB) trip that involves student participants installing solar photovoltaic panels in underserved communities. Story
• Collection and redistribution of unwanted furniture to students in the Pack Promise program. Story
• Two performances by the Raleigh Civic Symphony and associated educational events focused on the celebration of nature and the National Parks Service.
• Installation of water bottle refilling stations in Jordan Hall and D.H. Hill Library and a corresponding educational poster competition.
• Purchase of food storage pans to support the new student-led Food Recovery Network on campus. Story

• Two projects to install additional solar trash compactors on campus
• Performance of the Great Animal Orchestra Symphony during NC State’s Earth Month 2016. Photos
• Reconstruction of a garden bed and installation of signage at the student-led SOUL Garden
• Implementation of a “BioBlitz” project that will survey the diversity of campus wildlife. Story
• Installation of an aquaponics system that will provide food for University Dining and local food banks. Story | Video
• Marketing materials for the Campus Farmers Market
• Installation of an outdoor solar charging station near Tucker Hall. Story
• Student internship and workshop supplies for NC State’s Compost Training Facility
• Student internship and supplies for NC State’s Agroecology Education Farm

• Development of a community garden and apiary near the College of Veterinary Medicine.  Story | Photos
• Purchase of six bikes, bike maintenance items and two smart locks to support the existing residential bike sharing program at the Quad.
• Installation of a sculptural solar energy system on Centennial Campus. Story | Video
• Installation of a solar trash compactor, which has five times the capacity of a conventional waste bin. Story

The Board’s responsibilities include:

• Review Project Grant proposals and identify recipients in line with available funding and the university’s sustainability priorities.
• Assist potential project teams and student organizations with the development of their idea into a solid proposal by offering help sessions and connecting potential projects with past projects that have demonstrated success.
• Administer the finances of the sustainability student fee assessed as a part of tuition each semester.
• Set the dates, guidelines and requirements for the funding programs.
• Monitor the progress of projects and assess the long-term impact of projects.
• Document the impact of the Fund and communicate the effectiveness of the Sustainability Fund on an annual basis.
• Participate in marketing and outreach activities for the Sustainability Fund.
• Promote Sustainability Fund projects through social media and university communications.
• Participate in an annual review the student fee used to support the Fund with the University Budget Office.