Sustainability Grant Program
Apply for the Grant!
Northeastern Sustainability provides funding to faculty and staff for programs, events, initiatives, and learning across the global network that support the Hub’s goals. Applicants may request funding up to $5,000 per project.
The applicant must demonstrate how their proposal will help achieve one or more of the following goals:
- Uphold campuses as models of sustainable, resilient, healthy, and interconnected communities
- Contribute to building regenerative economies, both locally and globally
- Foster strong, collaborative relationships with our neighboring communities
- Leverage research and academics to advance systemic climate solutions
Application Timeline
The Spring Grant Cycle is open from Wednesday, February 26th until Friday, March 14th.
Grant Application Guidelines
Eligibility
- All staff and faculty across the global network are eligible to submit a proposal. Student funding is available through SGA’s Green Initiatives Board.
Funding Details
Applicants may request funding up to $5,000. Projects will be required to have a departmental sponsor who can receive funds transferred from Northeastern Sustainability.
Sustainability staff will review all applications to determine which projects will receive funding based on the following criteria:
- Alignment with our goals
- Feasibility & Logistics
- Environmental and Social Impact
- Regenerative and collaborative process
Funding Types
- Hosting Events, Speakers, Conferences
- Campus programs, projects and initiatives
- Sustainability event or competition
- Department educational or outreach event
- Resources (materials, student workers, speakers, training) to advance sustainability in department operations
- Outreach and educational materials
The funding will not be used for:
- Research
- Incentives for developing sustainability courses
- Individual professional development, unless it is directly tied to advancing goals across the university (i.e. Attending a conference would not be covered, but hosting a speaker to discuss with a group of faculty how to incorporate sustainability into courses could be covered)
Frequently Asked Questions
How will funding be determined?
Sustainability staff will review all applications to determine which projects will receive funding based on the following criteria:
- Alignment with our goals
- Feasibility and logistics
- Environmental and social impact
- Regenerative and collaborative process
Can I receive grant funds more than once?
Yes! The grant program is intended as a seed grant for new projects and programs. Though it is possible for someone to receive funds for the same project, they must show how the funds will be applied to a new initiative that builds on the initial project. The grant funds are not intended to be for ongoing operational or staff expenses.
What are eligible expenses?
Please note that all expenses must comply with existing Northeastern University policies and procedures. Eligible expenses must be related to the project that is an approved funding type (see above list).
Ineligible expenses include:
- Ongoing operational costs (i.e. staffing/wages for a pre-existing or ongoing position)
- Alcohol
- Donations
- Gift Cards
- Hospitality for project staff and volunteers (i.e. food, drink, gifts other than for event expenses)
- Any project costs that would normally be covered by other Northeastern departmental budgets
When will the next grant cycle begin?
There are two grant cycles annually; one early in the fall semester and one early in the spring semester.
How do I stay engaged on the grant program and other Hub events and resources?
To learn more about the grant program and stay up to date on other resources, please join the Faculty/Staff Sustainability Series which meets quarterly. You can also sign up for the Hub’s newsletter here.
Grant Recipients
Grant Cycle |
Location |
Title |
Department |
Description |
Spring 2025 |
Boston |
Starting a More Sustainable Biology Department |
College of Science |
Seeking to reduce office and catering waste within the Biology Department, as well as encouraging students, faculty, and staff to engage in more sustainable choices. |
Spring 2025 |
Miami |
Hiring a Student Sustainability Ambassador |
Miami Regional Campus |
Establishing a student Sustainability Ambassador position at the Miami campus to lead outreach, organize clean-ups, and engage the community in environmental action and education. |
Spring 2025 |
Boston |
Develop Sustainable Procurement Training Modules for Small Local Suppliers |
College of Professional Studies |
Developing sustainable procurement-related training modules tailored to the needs of small and local businesses, enhancing suppliers’ awareness of and attitude toward sustainability. |
Spring 2025 |
Boston |
Support for CSSH Sustainability Committee and Champions Initiatives |
College of Social Sciences and Humanities |
Supporting 2025 sustainability projects led by CSSH Sustainability Champions, focused on reducing waste, conserving energy, and fostering sustainable practices among faculty and staff. |
Spring 2025 |
Portland |
Alternative Transportation Week at the Roux Institute |
Roux Institute |
Hosting “Alternative Transportation Week” to broaden awareness of the diverse modes of transportation throughout the Portland area, as well as encourage students and staff to explore these options as part of their regular commute. |
Spring 2025 |
Global |
Reduction of Single-use Plastic Water Bottles at University Commencements |
Academic Ceremonies |
Replacing the usage of single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable aluminum bottles on Commencement stages throughout the Global Network. |
Spring 2025 |
Seattle |
Sustainability Workshops for Seattle Campus |
Seattle Regional Campus |
Offering hands-on sustainability workshops for students on zero waste living, ethical fashion, urban gardening, food waste reduction, climate advocacy, and green careers to inspire practical action and develop environmental leaders |
Spring 2025 |
Boston |
Foodways, Roots, and Climate Series |
LGBTQA Resource Center |
Engaging students through local community initiatives designed to explore climate series through land and food systems, building skills for impactful community-rooted action. |
Fall 2024 |
Oakland |
Revitalize the Oakland Campus Trail Network |
Northeastern Oakland |
Revitalizing the Pinetop Fitness Trail on the Oakland campus through maintenance and educational signage to enhance recreation, showcase local ecology, and foster campus-community connection. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Reusable Utensils |
Office of Academic Advising, College of Professional Studies |
Promoting sustainability in the office by replacing single-use plastics with reusable utensils and dishes to support long-term waste reduction. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Orchard Gardens School Food Forest |
Northeastern Arboretum |
Establishing a food forest at Orchard Gardens K-8 School to support ecological education and provide native and heritage plantings that enrich the Roxbury community. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Launch of the CSSH Sustainability Champions |
College of Social Sciences and Humanities |
Launching the CSSH Sustainability Champions initiative to recruit community members as sustainability leaders in office spaces, with a kickoff event and resources to inspire long-term change. |
Fall 2024 |
Vancouver |
Hydrate like a Husky Pledge |
Vancouver Regional Campus |
Promoting reusable drink containers through the Hydrate like a Husky Pledge to reduce single-use plastics and support campus waste diversion goals. |
Fall 2024 |
Portland |
Hiring a Roux Housing Sustainability Ambassador |
Roux Institute |
Creating a Roux Housing Ambassador role to lead student-driven sustainability efforts in campus housing, fostering a culture of environmental justice and resilient, sustainable living. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Developing a Culture of Sustainability in First-Year Engineering |
College of Engineering |
Enhancing sustainability in the first-year engineering program by promoting mindful design, reducing material waste, and embedding environmental awareness through projects, messaging, and makerspace initiatives. |
Fall 2024 |
London |
Community Partnerships and Collaboration at Northeastern London |
Northeastern London |
Building a community-engaged Sustainability Leadership Program at NU London through co-created, experiential projects aligned with the university’s sustainability and engagement strategies. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Community in Motion: The Means to Engage Sustainably |
Community Service and Civic Engagement |
Expanding access to transportation for service-oriented students and AmeriCorps members by providing pre-paid Charlie Cards and BlueBikes memberships to reduce barriers and support volunteer engagement. |
Fall 2024 |
Boston |
Canny CANIE Spending |
Global Experience Office |
Supporting CANIE Accord goals by reducing single-use plastics, promoting composting, and launching a “stay local” photo contest to spotlight student climate action while studying abroad. |
Spring 2024 |
Boston |
Art and Community Organizing for Transformative Justice – Conference Support |
Center for the Arts |
Hosting a series of workshops and events highlighting the power of the arts to bridge communities and advance social justice, as part of the Publicly Engaged Scholar-in-Residence program. |
Spring 2024 |
Vancouver |
Talking Trees Nature Walk with Talaysay Tours |
Vancouver Regional Campus |
Guiding nature walk exploring Indigenous ecological knowledge and sustainable land practices shared through the stories of the Shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh peoples. |
Spring 2024 |
Boston |
Promoting Sustainable Procurement in Higher Education Institutions – Conference Support |
College of Professional Studies |
Hosting a sustainable procurement forum within Northeastern’s annual supplier diversity symposium to promote best practices and ESG principles across higher education and global communities. |
Spring 2024 |
Boston |
Supporting Autonomous Sensing Technologies to Improve Community and Environmental Health |
College of Professional Studies |
Developing low-cost sensing systems (utilizing an open-source platform so that it is flexible and easy to modify) to measure the impact of green spaces in urban resilience across Northeastern’s campus. |
Spring 2024 |
Toronto |
Launching a Reusable Cup Initiative |
Toronto Regional Campus |
Campus-wide initiative promoting sustainable actions, including using reusable cups, through awareness campaigns, educational programs, and practical efforts to reduce Northeastern’s environmental footprint. |
Spring 2024 |
Seattle |
Hiring a Student Sustainability Ambassador |
Seattle Regional Campus |
Creating a student ambassador role promoting sustainability through peer education, advocacy, research, and event support at the Seattle campus. |