Funding Rules and Restrictions for Projects

General Project Funding Rules

1. Illinois students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to submit requests for funding sustainability projects. All student-led projects require a confirmed faculty or staff advisor and a staff financial contact in order to have funds awarded.
2. Funding can only be granted to university-affiliated projects from Illinois students, faculty, and staff.
3. As 100% of SSC funding is derived from student fees, all projects funded by these fees must provide substantial benefit to students.
4. All projects funded by SSC must clearly demonstrate how sustainability is advanced through the project.
5. SSC and SSC partners including iSEE (Institute for Sustainability, Energy, Environment), F&S (Facilities and Services), and the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs reserve the right to deny a project if it is deemed not feasible.
6. Student-led projects requesting $10,000 and less are eligible to submit a student-led application that will be voted on during SSC's bi-weekly voting meetings.
7. All student-led projects requesting $10,001 and more as well as all projects with a faculty or staff as the Project Lead regardless of amount of request must submit a Step 1 application.
8. All budgeted materials and supplies are expected to be of a sustainable nature (e.g., recycled, organic, plant-based, locally-made, regionally native and wild-type (for plants)) to the extent possible.
9. All university vendor procurement policies are applicable to SSC grants. Please be sure to take this into consideration when you are planning your budget and project activities.
10. University policy does not permit any SSC-funded items to be sold.
11. NOTE: We will not reimburse for items purchased prior to funding being issued. 

Project-Related Items SSC Can Fund, On A Case-By-Case Basis

1. SSC can fund feasibility studies and design work; however, such projects must work toward ultimately addressing a sustainability need on campus.
2. SSC can fund staff positions filled by Illinois students that are related to improving campus sustainability. Strong preference will be given to proposals receiving matching funding from departments and/or plans for maintaining the continuity of the position after the end of the initial grant.
3. SSC can fund outreach events with a central theme of sustainability, provided their primary audience is the campus community.
4. SSC discourages requests for non-travel-related food and prizes but will consider proposals on a case-by-case basis.
5. SSC can fund repairs and improvements to existing building systems as long as it works toward the goal of improving campus sustainability.

Project-Related Items SSC Will Not Fund

1. SSC will not fund projects with a primary end goal of generating revenue for university or non-University entities.
2. SSC will not fund travel expenses, including personal lodging, food and beverage, rental vehicles, and mileage reimbursement.
3. SSC will not fund tuition or other forms of personal financial assistance.
4. SSC will not fund pay/stipends for faculty.