University of California, Irvine
IN-40: Sustainability Projects Fund

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) shall aim to empower students with active roles in reducing the environmental footprint of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) through funding and promoting sustainable and educational projects on campus.

Funded by a $3.50 per quarter “sustainability fee,” The Green Initiative Fund is a student-run funding board, housed under the Internal VP Office of ASUCI, for sustainable projects at UC Irvine. It is composed of 5 board members with voting power, and several interns. About $120,000 per academic year is available in grants for undergraduate students, organizations, or collaborative between organizations to apply for in the form of project proposals. The principle goal of the Green Initiative Fund is to provide funding for projects that reduce the University’s overall impact on the environment and create a more sustainable atmosphere on campus.

The student-run funding board consists of the following voting members, ASUCI Sustainability Commissioner, Administrative Commissioner, Marketing Commissioner, External Affairs Commissioner, Accounting Commissioner, and Student Retention Commissioner. Additionally, ex-officio members serve to consult the TGIF Grant-Making Committee based on their field of expertise: TGIF Grant Manager, Administrative and Business Services Representative, Facilities Management Representative, Graduate Student, Faculty Member, ASUCI Internal Vice President.

The TGIF Grant-Making Committee shall decide to allocate funds to submitted projects by the execution of a majority vote. The TGIF Grant-Making Committee may elect to fund only a portion of a proposal. In the case that TGIF funds cannot be awarded entirely because the project is mandated by any non-student entity of UCI, TGIF funds may be used to fund a portion of the project in order to upgrade its sustainability value. Preference is to be given to projects that are primarily research-based or that make infrastructural improvements. A maximum of (1) one funding award per organization/group/department per academic year may be given to projects that primarily focus on material substitution, with a minimum award amount of $100, for the purpose of minimizing the accounting burden.

All projects to be considered for TGIF funding must meet the following criteria:

1. Projects must fall within the TGIF definition of sustainability of reducing the environmental impact of the UCI campus now or in the future.

2. Projects must promote sustainability on UCI’s campus, or in the capacity that on-campus activities influence sustainability off campus now or in the future.

3. Projects must have a clearly defined, measurable outcome and specific student learning outcome.

4. Projects must educate, train, and/or provide the skills or experience necessary for students to become future sustainable leaders or industry professionals.

5. All projects shall have a mechanism for evaluation and follow-up after funding has been dispersed. 7. Project proposals can only be submitted by undergraduate student(s). Faculty and/or staff may not submit or be included on the project at-large but can submit a letter of endorsement if they are supporting the project.

8. TGIF funding will not support projects already mandated by law or UCI policy directive, since UCI is already obliged to allocate funds for such projects. TGIF will fund projects, which go above and beyond minimum requirements. This provision does not discourage projects that seek to improve existing infrastructure, which would help achieve the purpose of this fund.

9. Projects must have publicity, educational, and outreach considerations.

10. Project audience or participants must aim to include a majority of undergraduate students.

11. Project must clearly state why the items on the budget are necessary and sufficient for the project to succeed.

12. Project goals and potential to educate the student-body and make an impact on campus should be proportional to the total budget requested.

See the TGIF By Laws here for additional details https://tgif.asuci.uci.edu/documents/