UMD Sustainability Fund: Timeline for Submitting a Proposal

Timeline for Submitting a Proposal

Oct - Dec

Review of priority proposals

Aug - Sep

Meet with the Office of Sustainability

Jan - May

Review of proposals, awards sent

Oct 15

Priority deadline for proposals!

May - Jul

Brainstorm future proposals

Jan 15

Final deadline for proposals

Submitting your Sustainability Fund proposal is easy! Follow this timeline to ensure you meet the October 15th or January 15th submission deadline!

May to July Throughout the early summer, work with your team to brainstorm potential proposals. The sky is the limit with your brainstorming, but at the end of your thought exercise, consider a few key criteria for Sustainability Fund proposals:

• How will your idea benefit campus sustainability?
• Will you need permission or should you partner with campus units (like Administration or Facilities Management)?
• Do you have opportunities for undergraduate student involvement?

Reach out to the Office of Sustainability with questions as needed! Contact: sustainabilityfund@umd.edu.

October 15th The first deadline to apply in the academic year is October 15th. The second and final deadline to apply is January 15th. Projects submitted by the October 15th deadline receive priority consideration. The student-run Sustainability Fund Review Committee reviews proposals with the support of two staff and administrative support. Proposers are expected to respond to follow-up questions as soon as possible. The students submit project recommendations to the University Sustainability Council for final consideration. The Sustainability Council awards funding based on the student recommendations. A first round of awards are usually issued a few months after the October 15th deadline.

January 15th Calling all proposers! This is it, the final deadline for the academic year. Final grant materials are required by January 15th at 11:59PM. Once received, these proposals will enter the review pipeline for consideration by the Sustainability Fund Review Committee and University Sustainability Fund Council. Missed the deadline? Consider working with the Office of Sustainability to make a proposal for the next academic cycle. Also around this time, the first round of award letters are issued to projects approved in the fall semester.

January to May You're done! Great job on submitting your proposal to the Sustainability Fund. Now, your proposal is being reviewed by the Sustainability Fund Review Committee and the University Sustainability Council. Proposers may receive follow-up questions from either or both entities. All grants are reviewed by the end of May. Award letters are issued and the cycle starts again!

October to December The priority deadline may have passed, but the January 15th deadline is just around the corner! Meet with the Office of Sustainability to prepare your proposal before the final deadline to apply in the academic year. With over $500,000 in grants, funds will still be available for spring grants. Contact sustainabilityfund@umd.edu to set up your appointment! For grants received by October 15th, these proposals are being reviewed by the Sustainability Fund Review Committee. If approved by this student-majority group, proposals are then reviewed by the University Sustainability Council.

August to September You have an idea, but you don't know what to do next — download the proposal outline and contact the Office of Sustainability! Meet with us to discuss your idea, get feedback on written proposal drafts, and generally discuss next steps. We can help you identify opportunities to improve your proposal, ensure you meet the minimum criteria, and help you get in contact with necessary partners before the priority submission deadline on October 15th. Contact sustainabilityfund@umd.edu to set up your appointment! During August to September, students are invited to join the Sustainability Fund Review Committee. This student-majority committee reviews all Sustainability Fund proposals in the academic year with the support of two staff people and a Fund administrator. The SFRC chair presents accepted proposals to the University Sustainability Council for final review. Contact sustainabilityfund@umd.edu to learn more.

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