Student Sustainability

SSC Funding Options

SSC offers two main types of funding: sustainability microgrants exclusively for Illinois student organizations and sustainability project-based grants that are available to Illinois students, staff, and faculty. 

Illinois student organizations that are in full compliance with University policies and procedures are eligible to apply for sustainability microgrants to support more sustainable operations. Sustainability microgrants will be piloted in Spring, 2026 and will be administered through OneIllinois. See our Microgrant Funding Rules and Microgrant Funding Catalogue for more information.

For project-based funding, the SSC uses a comprehensive evaluation process to ensure that every funded project is feasible, incorporates student involvement, positive environmental impact, and an ability to spark change. We receive more proposals than we can fund; thus, this award process is competitive.

Project teams must attend a Working Group meeting and present and receive feedback about their proposed project. See our on-line calendar for the Working Group schedule. To schedule a 1:1 consultation for a potential project or for general questions regarding the application process, please email sustainability-committee@illinois.edu.

  • SSC Funding Application for Student-Led Projects under $10,001 – These applications are accepted on a rolling basis each fall and spring semester. Please check our on-line calendar for Working Group meeting dates and our general voting meeting dates. The application opens the first day of classes.
  • SSC Step 1 Funding Application – The SSC will vote on Step 1 applications during their Step 1 Voting Meeting. Step 1 applications are due Monday, March 23, 2026 @ 11:59PM. Our Spring 2026 Step 1 Voting Meeting takes place on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The application opens the first day of classes.
  • SSC Step 2 Funding Application – Applicants must have an approved Step 1 application to be eligible to submit a Step 2 application. Step 2 applications open Monday, March 30, 2026 and are due Monday, April 13, 2026 @ 11:59PM. The SSC will vote on Step 2 applications during our Step 2 Voting Meeting. Our Spring 2026 Step 2 Voting Meeting takes place on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Funding Processes for Projects

Student-Led Projects Under $10,000.01

  1. Review our project funding standards to ensure the expenses for which you are requesting SSC funding are eligible for SSC funding.
  2. Attend a Working Group Meeting
    The SSC requires applicants to attend a working group meeting to receive feedback project proposals prior to submitting applications. These meetings occur regularly each semester and are posted on our on-line calendar.
  3. Review Student-Led Project Under $10K Application Questions
    Review application questions prior to starting application: Student-Led Under 10K Application Questions (pdf).
  4. Download and Complete the Project Budget and Timeline Spreadsheet
    Download and complete the SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) with your project’s budget and timeline information. You will upload the completed spreadsheet with your online application.
  5. Confirm the Project's Faculty/Staff Advisor and the Project's Departmental Financial Contact. 
    These roles are required for every student-led project. Applicants should discuss these roles with the individuals prior to listing their names on the application. NOTE: University policy requires that the Departmental Financial Contact be the unit's Business Manager or delegate, and an individual who has the authority to submit requests for CFOP creation and manage the financials of a project. The Faculty/Staff Advisor and the Departmental Financial Contact may not be the same individual.  
  6. Submit a Student-Led Under $10,001 Application
    Complete the SSC Funding Application for Student-Led Projects under $10,001 application form. At the end of the form, there will be a section for you to submit the completed SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) for your project. The application will automatically submit after completion. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during spring and fall academic semesters. See our calendar for our schedule of voting meetings.
  7. Sign the Award Letter
    If the SSC approves the project application, SSC staff will generate an Adobe Sign document that details the award’s terms and conditions. This award letter will be sent to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for authorization first, followed by iSEE’s representative. After both parties authorize the award letter, it is sent to the project leader and then the project advisor for final approval.
  8. Request a CFOP
    The project's financial manager from the sponsoring department will receive an email from SSC staff with a FPI (Fund, Program, Index) code form and instructions to request a new CFOP from UAFR (University Accounting and Financial Reporting). Once SSC is informed of the CFOP information, SSC staff will request a transfer of funds to the project’s CFOP. Project teams should note the deadline requirements in the award letter to request a CFOP. The funding will remain in the self-supporting CFOP for a maximum of two years or until the project is finished, whichever comes first.
  9. Submit a Semester Progress Report
    Each semester during which the project is active, project leaders are required to complete the SSC Budget and Timeline - Semester Project Report (xlsx) and submit it with the completed SSC Semester Progress Report no later than 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the semester. Please be prepared to submit financial transaction reports from Banner with your Semester Progress Report.
  10. Submit a Final Project Report
    Project leaders are required to complete the SSC Budget and Timeline - Final Project Report (xlsx) and submit it with the completed SSC Final Project Report no later than 11:59 p.m. on the expiration date of their award. Please be prepared to submit financial transaction reports from Banner with your Final Report.

Student-Led Project Over $10,000.99 OR Faculty/Staff Project of Any Amount

Students as the primary project lead requesting $10,001.00 or more in funding and faculty and staff requesting any amount of funding require the submission of two applications each with one deadline in a given semester. This application process is semester-long. Therefore, it is critical that those interested in this type of funding plan according to the application requirements at each point of the funding cycle. This application process follows the sequence below:

  1. Review our project funding standards to ensure the expenses for which you are requesting SSC funding are eligible for SSC funding.
  2. Attend a Working Group Meeting
    The SSC requires applicants to attend a working group meeting to receive feedback project proposals prior to submitting applications. These meetings occur regularly each semester and are posted on our calendar.
  3. Review Application Questions
    Review application questions prior to starting application: Step 1 - Step 2 Application Questions (pdf).
  4. Download and Complete the Project Budget and Timeline Spreadsheet
    Complete SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) with your project’s budget and timeline information. You will upload the completed spreadsheet with your on-line application.
  5. Download and Complete the Project Budget and Timeline Spreadsheet
    Complete SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) with your project’s budget and timeline information. You will upload the completed spreadsheet with your on-line application.
  6. Confirm the Project's Faculty/Staff Advisor and the Project's Departmental Financial Contact.
    A Faculty/Staff Advisor is required for Student-Led projects only and a Departmental Financial Contact is required for all applicant types. Applicants should discuss these roles with the individuals prior to listing their names on the application. NOTE: University policy requires that the Departmental Financial Contact be the unit's Business Manager or delegate, and an individual who has the authority to submit requests for CFOP creation and manage the financials of a project. The Faculty/Staff Advisor, Project Lead, and the Departmental Financial Contact may not be the same individual.
  7. Submit the Step 1 Funding Application
    Complete the SSC Step 1 Funding Application form. At the end of the form, there is a section for you to submit the completed SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) for your project. The application will automatically submit after completion. See our calendar for the Step 1 deadline.
  8. Receive a Step 1 Application Decision from SSC
    At the SSC Step 1 Voting Meeting, the SSC will vote to approve or deny the Step 1 Funding Application. If approved, the application will be moved on to the Step 2 application stage and the project team informed. If the committee denies an application, the project team will be informed and no further action can be taken that semester by the project team.
  9. Submit the Step 2 Application and Finalized Budget and Timeline Spreadsheet
    Project applicants whose Step 1 applications are approved complete or revise the previously submitted SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) with the project’s budget and timeline information. This version acts as the finalized version of the proposed budget and timeline. Applicants then complete the SSC Step 2 Funding Application and upload the completed SSC Budget and Timeline - New Application (xlsx) prior to submitting the application.
  10. Receive a Step 2 Decision from SSC
    At the SSC Step 2 Voting Meeting, the SSC will vote to approve in full, approve with revisions, or deny the Step 2 Funding Application. Project applicants will be informed of SSC decisions.
  11. Sign the Award Letter
    If approved in full or with revisions, SSC staff will generate an Adobe Sign document that details the award’s terms and conditions. This award letter will be sent to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for authorization first, followed by iSEE’s representative. After both parties authorize the award letter, it is sent to the project leader and project advisor (if student-led) for final authorization.
  12. Request a CFOP
    The project's financial manager from the sponsoring department will receive an email from SSC staff a FPI (Fund, Program, Index) code form and instructions to request a new CFOP from UAFR (University Accounting and Financial Reporting). Once SSC is informed of the CFOP information, SSC staff will request a transfer of funds to the project’s CFOP. Project teams should note the deadline requirements in the award letter to request a CFOP. The funding will remain in the self-supporting CFOP for a maximum of two years or until the project is finished, whichever comes first.
  13. Submit a Semester Progress Report
    Each semester during which the project is active, project leaders are required to submit a SSC Semester Progress Report no later than 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the semester. Please be prepared to submit financial transaction reports from Banner with your Semester Progress Report.
  14. Submit a Final Project Report
    Project leaders are required to submit a SSC Final Project Report no later than 11:59 p.m. on the expiration date of their award. Please be prepared to submit financial transaction reports from Banner with your Final Report.