Green Grants Program- Green Grant Application

Applications for the January 2026 Green Grants cycle must be submitted by January 4th, 11:59pm ET.
Green Grants Program- Green Grant Application

The Green Grants Program awards up to $20,000 for the most feasible, impactful, and innovative projects that have potential for institutionalization or are self-sustaining. Applicants must submit an EOI and undergo a project consultation before applying for funding. Applications are reviewed by the Green Grants Committee and are accepted on a semesterly basis.
Before proceeding with the application, please confirm that you have taken all steps below. You may not submit a Green Grant application without confirming that you have:*

Reviewed the Green Grants Guidelines on our website.Submitted and received feedback on an Expression of Interest (EOI) form.Attended a consultation to discuss your project with the Office of Sustainability.Collected all necessary letters of support from internal and external partners.

Green Grants Program- Green Grant Application

The Green Grants Program awards up to $20,000 for the most feasible, impactful, and innovative projects that have potential for institutionalization or are self-sustaining. Applicants must submit an EOI and undergo a project consultation before applying for funding. Applications are reviewed by the Green Grants Committee and are accepted on a semesterly basis.
Overview
Project Name*
Project Lead Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
netID*
Affiliation*
Affiliation Details- Student *
Enter school, major, and expected graduation term/year.
Affiliation Details- Faculty*
Enter your school and department.
Affiliation Details- Staff*
Enter your unit or department.
Is there a second project lead?

YesNo
Name*

First NameLast Name
netID*
Affiliation*
Affiliation Details- Student*
Enter school, major, and expected graduation term/year.
Affiliation Details- Faculty*
Enter your school and department.
Affiliation Details- Staff*
Enter your unit or department.
Project Team Members*

List the name(s), netID(s), and affiliation(s) of all project team members. For students on the team, also list their school(s), major(s), and expected graduation date(s). For faculty on the team, also list their school(s) and department(s). For staff members on the team, also list their unit or department.0/200
Executive Summary (200 words)*

Please provide an overview and highlight any key aspects of your project. What are the measurable goals of your project and what metrics will you use to measure your success?0/200
Project Classification

Green Grants must fall under at least one of the following categories:
- Operations- Projects that pilot innovative ways to improve material, physical, or infrastructural elements at NYU, from food services to energy reduction. Please note that proposed projects that alter the physical structure of any NYU building (i.e. roofs, windows...etc.) fall outside the scope of the Green Grants program and are not eligible for funding.
- Engagement- Activities that foster a campus culture of sustainability, such as efforts to improve environmental literacy, advance environmental justice, and stimulate behavior change and activism.
- Research and/or Design- Research or design projects that create new sustainability opportunities. These projects must be integrated with the university campus or community through use of NYU as a test-bed for data collection, or by producing deliverables with potential to catalyze operational, academic, or cultural change at NYU. “Living Lab” projects are encouraged as they cyclically engage both data collection and application. Entrepreneurial ideas typically fall under this category, and both for-profit and non-profit ventures are eligible.
- Academic- Projects which improve the university’s capacity for educating around sustainability, including curricular initiatives. We highly recommend that faculty are involved in these projects.
Project classification (check all that apply)*

OperationsEngagementAcademicResearch/design
Have you previously submitted a proposal to the Microgrant or Green Grants Program?*

YesNo
Please provide the Project Name, Date of Submission, whether the grant was awarded, and whether/how this current proposal is related to your previous submission.*
Project Concept and Plan
Background & Rationale (200 words)*

Articulate your reasons for undertaking this project. Explain why the issue(s) or problem(s) you are addressing is important, and how your project uniquely contributes to tackling it at NYU. Have there been other similar projects to yours within NYU or elsewhere?0/200
Mission & Objectives (200 words)*

What are the measurable goals you want to accomplish and the changes you aim to make with this project?0/200
Methodology (300 words)*

Describe your process. How will you conduct your project from start to finish?0/300
Challenges and Assumptions (200 words)*

What challenges do you anticipate running into during your project? Are there any risks involved? Are you making any assumptions in your project or research? How will you address them?0/200
Partners

List all internal (academic departments, administrative offices, etc.) and external (government agencies, partner institutions, businesses, NGOs, etc.) individuals and organizations that you intend on collaborating with. If you are working on a project that takes place on an NYU Campus, you must obtain and attach statements of approval or support from collaborators. For example, if your project is to install sensors on recycling bins in residence halls, you will need a statement of approval from the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services. Supplemental letters of approval from external partners are highly encouraged, but not necessary.
List all internal and external partners*
Upload relevant letters of support. This is required if your project takes place on an NYU campus.

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Measurement of Sustainability Outcomes
Methodology (300 words)*

What data is available to explain the relevance of your project to these sustainability problem(s)? Is there any data available pertaining specifically to NYU that can serve as a baseline for measuring your project’s performance? If not, please provide a measurement plan for gauging a baseline as part of your project.0/300
What specific problem(s) or issue(s) pertaining to sustainability does your project address? Please choose a maximum of 3 issues:*

Air QualityBiodiversity/Habitat ConservationClimate ChangeCommunity DevelopmentCost-SavingsEconomic DevelopmentEnergyEnvironmental Health and WellnessEnvironmental JusticeHazardous and Toxic SubstancesLand Degradation/ContaminationNatural Resource DepletionPublic EducationSocial ImpactWasteWater
Metrics (200 words)*

What metrics will you use to measure the performance, impact and success of your project? How will you collect these metrics? Please provide a detailed breakdown. 0/200
Impact and Institutionalization
Impact (300 words)*

What is the impact of your project for the NYU community? How might successful completion of this project present new opportunities for sustainability at New York University? If your project does not benefit New York University, please further explain its ongoing impact. Who will the project be benefitting? Does it address any social, economic, or equity issues? 0/300
Institutionalization (200 words)*

What future project phases can you envision after the Green Grant term? How would the project be able to sustain itself (in terms of funds, staff time, etc.) beyond the Green Grant term? Are you currently applying for or have you secured any additional funding?0/200
Additional Documentation
Project Timeline
Set forth a timeline for your project. Green Grant projects must finish within one year of launch. Students must be matriculated for the duration of their grant. Faculty, staff, and administrators must be employed by NYU for the duration of their grant. Be as specific as possible with dates. Include both the project start and end dates.*
Environmental Impact Statement
The Office of Sustainability aims to remain socially and environmentally responsible in the funding of Green Grants projects. Grantees are expected to mindfully plan their projects to minimize their projects’ environmental impacts by:
- Consolidating purchases of materials and choosing eco-friendly options wherever possible (read more on Green Procurement)
- Minimizing trips taken by cars and planes and opting for public transportation (read more on transportation)
- Minimizing the creation of waste and properly disposing of all recyclables, landfill-bound waste, and hazardous materials (read more on Green Events, waste management, and NYU's policy on disposable water bottles)
- Monitoring their usage of utilities, including gas, electricity and water and reducing consumption where possible.
Please use this space to roughly assess your project’s environmental impact and what measures you’ll be taking to minimize it. You must include a waste plan and the product life-cycle of anything created under the grant. A sample environmental impact statement can be found here.
Environmental Impact Statement (200 words)*

0/200
Budget
Please attach a line-item budget for your project using this template.
Upload budget*

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Total Amount Requested*
Enter the amount in USD ($)
Should be Empty:

Applications for the January 2026 Green Grants cycle must be submitted by January 4th, 11:59pm ET.

Green Grants Program- Green Grant Application

Green Grants Program- Green Grant Application

Overview

Project Lead Information

Project Concept and Plan

Measurement of Sustainability Outcomes

Impact and Institutionalization

Additional Documentation

Project Timeline

Environmental Impact Statement

Budget