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 13 Days of Green, ideas from student groups such as Students for Environmental Action, 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.

Examples of Sustainability Fund Projects

The Sustainability Fund provides financial support for projects that advance sustainability, reduce environmental impacts, enhance campus life, and promote a culture of environmental stewardship at Colgate. Over the years, the fund has helped transform innovative ideas into tangible improvements across campus.

Examples of projects fully funded or supported by the Sustainability Fund include:

Custom Colgate-Branded Recycling Stations: Expanded and improved recycling infrastructure across campus, making waste diversion easier and more visible for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Reusable To-Go Container Program: Helped launch and expand Dining Services' reusable container initiative, reducing reliance on single-use disposable food containers and supporting waste reduction efforts.

Green Bikes Program: Funded the purchase of bicycles for Colgate’s Green Bikes Program, providing students with a free, low-carbon transportation option and reducing vehicle dependence on campus.

Oak Awards Ceremony: Supported Colgate’s annual sustainability recognition program, celebrating students, faculty, staff, and community members who demonstrate exceptional leadership in sustainability.

Broad Street Composting Project: Funded compost bins and related infrastructure to support community composting efforts and divert food scraps from the landfill.

Sustainability Passport Program: Helped provide educational programming, events, and engagement opportunities that encourage faculty and staff to explore sustainability topics and adopt more sustainable behaviors.

Campus LED Lighting Upgrades: Supported the purchase and installation of energy-efficient LED light bulbs, reducing energy consumption, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and generating long-term cost savings.

These projects demonstrate how relatively small investments can create meaningful environmental, educational, and community benefits while helping advance Colgate University’s sustainability and climate goals.

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, including the annual 13 Days of Green.

• Discretionary Initiatives: Up to $1,000 of the fund is allocated annually for smaller initiatives generated by the Sustainability Council, the Sustainability Office, 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 or more 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 or staff in the Office of Sustainability.

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 13 Days of Green.

• 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.