Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund: SIRF

The Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund supports sustainability projects and campus engagement opportunities.

These grants are intended for peer-to-peer sustainability engagement during Campus Sustainability Month, Earth Day Every Day in April, Sun Devil Athletics Green Games or similar activities and for implementing approved sustainability projects on campus. We seek to support innovative projects or programs that advance sustainability education and push positive behavior change centered around using less, reuse, conservation of resources and equitable practices. 

Examples include:

• Ditch the Dumpster signage for mattress pad collection for student housing.
• Eco Cinema Café event: Film rental and speaker gifts.
• K-Cup® and Fair Trade coffee project for University Business Services.

Note: Interested applicants must submit an idea summary for prequalification before submitting a final application. With this preapproval, we can ensure that your proposed event or project aligns with the goals and objectives of SIRF and supports ASU's sustainability goals. Please be aware of the 8.5% service fee which must be allocated withing your proposed budget submittal. SIRF funds must be managed through an ASU department or unit.

Submit your prequalification

Tier One grants are for projects or events designed to highlight sustainability culture and promote student and employee engagement. Examples include:

• ASU California Center's new water refill stations provided an opportunity to message ASU's Zero Waste goal through new reusable water bottles for incoming students.
• ASU Supply Chain Management provided reusable K-Cups® to all employees to reduce and remove single-use coffee pods.
• Cool roofing project with community partners at the ASU Polytechnic campus.
• Fashion Forward event focused on fast fashion and the opportunities for sustainable and equitable practices.
• Sun Devil Athletics football Green Game provided 400 Earth Day Every Day T-shirts to all band members.

Complete the following steps to submit a Tier One grant application:

1. Submit your idea summary for prequalification.
2. USP will review your prequalification submission and determine if the proposed idea or program aligns with SIRF. You will receive the final application materials via email for submission from the SIRF committee if approved. 

Consider the following when developing Mini and Tier One Grant proposals:

• Is there an ongoing need for your project on an ASU campus- does it have longevity?
• What is the goal of your project and how does it support our existing sustainability goals?
• Who is your audience and who will benefit from this project or event?
• What are the key objectives of your project?
• Do you have a department or unit to support and accept/manage the funding?

Grants must support one or more of ASU’s sustainability goals and must be implemented on an ASU campus. Grants cannot be used for the following:

• Funding for compostable utensils, plates or cups for zero-waste events.
• Catering or sustainable food options for events as a sole submission.
• Reusable bottle giveaways as a sole submission.
• Anything made of plastic material for food service or general swag.

Changemaker Sustainability Grant recipients cannot apply for a Tier One grant as SIRF funds both, and the maximum submission request for a single event or project is $5000.

The SIRF committee is composed of ASU senior management who review, discuss and then deny or approve the grant submissions.