SCALe Mini Grants

• Grant proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.

• Funding priority may be given to proposals submitted by October 4 and February 14 of the 2024-2025 academic year.  

• Funding shall be spent by June 30, 2025. Flexibility may be approved if requested in the proposal. 

• Applications may take up to 30 days to process.

Examples of How SCALe Mini Grants May Be Used (But Not Limited To)

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Please note this example list is not exhaustive of all grant possibilities. (If you have an idea but feel unsure if it’s eligible, please reach out to Emily Bilcik.) 

• Pilot new climate and sustainability education and engagement programs/events at Duke across disciplines, organizations and departments (e.g., workshops, popups, symposia, etc.). 

• Convene Duke students, staff and faculty in sustainability and climate skill-building and campus community-building. 

• Demonstrate that we can be agents of local positive change through volunteer service and art. 

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  Create awareness for and participation in sustainability and climate best practices at Duke. 

• Promote community and planetary wellbeing on Duke's campus. 

• Build capacity for sustainability and climate related conversations and collaborations at Duke. 

• Host a local field trip to learn about community and operational sustainability and bring lessons learned back to campus for collective reflection. 

• (When supplies and materials are needed) conduct applied benchmarking research on a campus related sustainability or climate problem or opportunity to offer recommendations for action or provide information to support future decision making on campus. 

• Collect and evaluate campus sustainability data in an active partnership with campus departments that request support with applied benchmarking research to advance departmental climate and sustainability goals. 

• While preference is given to on-campus projects, an off-campus project may be considered if it directly explores how Duke’s community and activities impact the university’s sustainability and climate progress (i.e., Study Abroad, etc.).  

Inspiration may be gleaned from Duke’s Sustainability Strategic Plan Goals; however, please note the goals are actively being updated by the Duke Climate Commitment Advisory Council. 

Funds cannot be used… 

• to give out direct donations, cash or cash-equivalents (i.e., gift cards).  

• for student, staff or faculty salaries and stipends.  

• for conference registration or travel (unless used to support travel for a visiting speaker/presenter). 

• to modify campus infrastructure or operational procedures without evidence of an active partnership with appropriate campus operations staff. (Consult Emily Bilcik first if your proposal may require buy-in and support from another campus department.) 

• for permanent art installations on Duke’s campus. (Temporary installations with logistical plans for decommissioning are allowable.) 

• There is not a maximum limitation on budget requests, although average requests range from $500-$5,000.  

• The minimum budget request is $500.

• Current staff, faculty and enrolled students at Duke University, Duke Health System and Duke Marine Lab are eligible to apply. 

• A Cost Center or Fund Code is required upon application. (This will be where grant funds are deposited). 

• Student-led projects require a staff or faculty sponsor/advisor. 

• All proposals must offer a clear learning component to enhance Duke students’ “Climate and Sustainability Fluency” either as a project planner/team member or a participant/recipient of the proposed project activities or outcomes.  

  • Please refer to “The Duke 4-C Pathway” of Duke’s Climate and Sustainability Fluency Framework to brainstorm meaningful student learning outcomes associated with each grant proposal. 

    • (The 4 Cs of Duke’s Climate and Sustainability Fluency Framework are: context, causes, consequences, and catalysts for change.) 

• Mini Grant recipients are required to participate in a brief mid-project reflection/check-in with staff from the Office of Climate and Sustainability. 

• Mini Grant recipients are required to submit a final report and reflection regarding project outcomes, lessons learned and the use of funds.  

  • The final report is due within 30 days of project completion and requires at least one engaging photo depicting the project (for use on the SCALe website). 

• Project implementation is the responsibility of the team members who submit the proposal. 

• Any unused funds must be returned to the Office of Climate and Sustainability within 2 months of the project’s completion date.  

• Mini grant projects must adopt Office of Climate and Sustainability branding guidelines. Joint branding with other entities is allowable. 

• Technology or equipment purchased with grant funds shall remain the property of Duke and shall be returned to the Office of Climate and Sustainability at the completion of the project if not permanently installed on Duke property or formally integrated into ongoing campus operations. 

• Funding will not be approved for the same project in subsequent proposals if the project is unchanged. 

• Proposals will be evaluated based on scope feasibility, compelling learning outcomes, budget requests, creativity, campus and community impact, merit, alignment with either the Duke Climate Commitment’s “Education” or “Sustainable Operations” pillars, and evidence of active partnerships where appropriate. Additional review criteria may be considered. 

• Preference is given to proposals that are collaborative in nature (e.g., projects that encourage collaboration between students and staff/faculty or projects that unite registered student organizations toward a common goal, etc.). 

The why behind SCALe Mini Grants

Interacting with the campus as a “Living Learning Laboratory” equips members of the Duke community with new knowledge and skills (e.g., teamwork and change management) and increases climate and sustainability fluency for everyone involved; learning from the world around us through experiential and applied approaches can build momentum and buy-in for transformational changes at an institutional level.

The outputs of real-world learning efforts can advance support and tangible outcomes for Duke University and its community of students and employees. From developing new engagement programs to informing the evolution of campus operations, students have always played an integral role in advancing Duke's sustainability progress.