SUSTAINABILITY FUND

• The Colgate Sustainability Fund was established by the Class Gift of 2008 and continues to be supported by donors who are interested in encouraging Colgate to adopt a more sustainable profile as an institution. The Fund may support the following categories of initiatives:

• Initiatives emerging from Colgate's annual Green Summit, the Campus Ecology Group, or the Sustainability Council.

• Competitive grant proposals that will support sustainability at Colgate.

• Summer internships involving sustainability for current students.

• Improvements to Colgate's open and forested lands to encourage their health, community access to them, and their educational role.

• Guest speakers or conferences held on campus to explore sustainability and environmental issues.

Requests for support from the Sustainability Fund typically fall under one of the following categories:

• Student Initiatives: Up to $1,000 of the fund is allocated annually to be used for student-led initiatives. Of this amount, $300 is allocated toward the annual Green Summit meeting, to fund the meeting and initiatives arising from the meeting.

• Discretionary Initiatives: Up to $1,000 of the fund is allocated annually for smaller initiatives generated by the Sustainability Council, the Sustainability Coordinator, and other faculty and staff at Colgate.

• Major Initiatives: On an ongoing basis, the Fund will be used to support initiatives that promote new programs or infrastructure to improve the sustainability of Colgate. These awards range from $1,000-$10,000 and, due to their cost, are only awarded when the Fund can support requests of this size. Major initiatives must include a more detailed proposal, and requests should be developed in consultation with the Council. Major initiatives should involve substantial collaborations between students, faculty, and staff, and serve the educational mission of the university.

The Sustainability Fund does not typically support the following types of requests:

• Requests for campus speakers and associated events, unless the speaker’s topic is directly relevant to the cause of sustainability at Colgate.

• Requests for food, decorations, and prizes for events, except for the annual Green Summit.

• Requests for printing (eg, flyers, posters, etc) when alternatives exist.

Because the Sustainability Fund has limited resources available, not all requests can be granted, and proposals should be carefully crafted to address the following points:

• A description of the request and details about how the initiative will further the cause of sustainability at Colgate.

• A detailed description of desired outcomes, including a timeline for completion of these goals.

• A description of attempts to secure funds from other sources in addition to the Sustainability Fund.

• A detailed budget with itemized costs.

A few examples of projects fully funded or supported by the Sustainability Fund include:

• Colgate’s 8-acre willow field. In May 2009, Colgate planted 60,000 8-inch willow shoots one mile from the main campus. The plot will yield about 900 dry tons of biomass over a 20-year period. The harvested willow chips may be used in our central heating plant while also providing research and educational opportunities.

• Investments include recycling stations, compost bins, advanced power strips, the Green Videos Contest, prompts, reusable tote bags for the class of 2013, and other investments that promote sustainable practices on campus.

• The Green Bikes program, which allows a limited number of students an easy and affordable way to have a bike while attending Colgate.