The President’s Sustainability Council has launched a new Sustainability Innovation Fund (SIF) to support projects on the York University campuses that advance the University’s Sustainability Strategy and build a culture of sustainability while tackling real-world challenges through innovative solutions. The fund will create opportunities for members of the York University community to actively engage in sustainability initiatives and utilize the campus as a living lab, empowering individuals to be agents of change and take meaningful steps to reduce our impact on the planet.
The call for applications is now open. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 31 by 4 p.m.
Funding
For the inaugural academic year (2019-20), the Sustainability Innovation Fund has $50,000, which has been sponsored by the Office of the President. A selection committee will evaluate the applications through the Proposal Assessment Rubric and allocate funding to projects.
Criteria & Eligibility
Advance York University's Sustainability Strategy
- Project must align with at least one of the goals from York University's Sustainability Strategy. The project must align with at least one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Impact
- It is recommended that teams define key performance indicators (KPIs) and/or other metrics of success in the project plan.
Innovation
- Creative projects that leverage new strategies and/or technologies are preferred.
Scalability
- The funds are meant to be seed funding for projects which have the ability to scale across the University, to other institutions, the surrounding community, or even globally following completion. The project should demonstrate how the project will continue once the funds have been used.
Connection to the campus and/or local community
- Successful projects will have a direct connection to the campus or surrounding community. Projects should be using the campus or local community as a test bed to pilot new strategies or technologies or to gain new insights.
Project team
- All members of the project team must be affiliated with York University. All team members should be integral to the project mission. In the project plan, teams must include a clear plan for how the team will work together throughout the project period and the key contributions of each team member.
Take note of the following of non-eligible projects:
- Projects requesting ongoing operating expenses;
- Projects that solely benefit an individual and not the community;
- Projects that have already been completed.
SIF funding application
All proposals for the Sustainability Innovation Fund must be submitted to the Office of Sustainability.
Proposal Application Form & Proposal Assessment Rubric:
2019-2020 Sustainability Innovation Fund - Application Form
Application Deadline: Thursday, October 31 at 4 p.m.
Applications must be saved as a single PDF format file and sent by email to the Office of Sustainability at sustainability@yorku.ca.
Questions should be directed to Nicole Arsenault, program director, Sustainability, by email to narsenau@yorku.ca, or by telephone at 416-736-5866.