SCALe Mini Grants

• As soon as you have an idea, complete this non-binding Interest Form to express your intent to propose a mini grant.
• The sooner you submit this form, the more likely staff from the Office of Climate and Sustainability may be able to share feedback, confirm feasibility, recommend integral partners, and offer overall guidance before you submit a final application.
• Questions? After submitting an interest form, email Emily Bilcik, Assistant Director of Sustainability and Climate Applied Learning with any questions.

• Grant applications will open again in Fall 2025. Stay tuned!

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

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.) 

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

• Pilot new climate and sustainability education and engagement programs/events at Duke across disciplines, Duke organizations and departments (e.g., workshops, popups, or symposia that contextualize climate change or sustainability on Duke's campus). 

• Convene Duke students, staff and faculty in sustainability and climate skill-building and campus community-building to activate behavior change on campus.

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

• Build capacity for sustainability and climate related conversations and collaborations at Duke at the intersections of social and physical campus activity. 

• Enhance climate and sustainability education on campus through art.

• (When supplies and materials are needed) conduct applied benchmarking research on a campus-related sustainability or climate problem or opportunity in an active partnership with a campus department that requests support to advance departmental climate and sustainability goals (offering recommendations for action or providing information to support future decision making on campus.)

While preference is given to on-campus projects, an off-campus project may be considered if it directly explores how Duke’s campus 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. 

An ideal proposal will address the following criteria:

Scope Feasibility

• The scope of a proposed project should be fully feasible to implement by the team proposing the project. 
• Proposals that are submitted in Fall 2025 shall be implemented by the end of Spring 2025.

Connection to Duke's Campus & Community

• Proposals should demonstrate how climate and sustainability challenges and opportunities manifest at Duke University. In other words, proposals should be rooted in the context of Duke's campus and engage with real-world campus needs.
• SCALe Mini Grants are intended to enhance student learning and position students, staff and faculty as change agents through collaborative, hands-on experiences that imagine a more sustainable campus culture at the intersections of social and physical campus activity.
• Proposals should contextualize Duke's campus as a living learning laboratory for climate and sustainability learning, teaching, community building or transformation.

Evidence of Active Partnerships

• IMPORTANT: In instances where the input and active partnership of a Duke operational entity will be necessary for project success, a Statement of Approval or Partnership must accompany the final application submission to serve as evidence of support.
• As applicable, proposals must identify partners who are necessary to the successful implementation of the project and outline the role(s) the partner(s) have agreed to.
• Teams should consider logistical and/or operational partnerships that are needed, such as building managers and staff members who are in charge of spaces, storage, materials, or facilities (and more).

Alignment with Duke Climate Commitment Pillars

• Proposals should explicitly align with Duke's Climate Commitment goals for Education and Campus Engagement or Sustainable Operations (or both).

Compelling Learning Outcomes

• Proposals shall demonstrate a specific applied/experiential learning component to enhance Duke students’ Climate and Sustainability Fluency as it relates to the Duke 4-C Pathway.
• Proposals shall outline methods to measure and report on student learning.

Budget Requests

• All budget items must be thoroughly justified and used sustainably.
• Budgets should be well researched such that requested funds are adequately calculated to cover the true cost of goods and services.
• Budgets should not request non-eligible expenses such as salaries and stipends or donations (Read more in Funding Restrictions section below).

Organized and Thorough Planning

• Proposals should have well-developed ideas and strong evidence of thoughtful logistical planning.
• Projected timeline of the proposed project should be well-organized and thought out.

Funds cannot be used… 

• for student, staff or faculty salaries and stipends.

• to give donations or cash

• 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 our staff for guidance if your proposal may require buy-in and support from another campus department.) 

(All purchasing must abide by Duke's procurement policies.)

• The minimum budget request is $500.

• Average requests range from $500-$5,000.

• Budget requests of $5,000 or more may be considered if well justified.

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

• A 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 regarding project outcomes, lessons learned and the use of funds. (A template will be provided.)

  • 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 or before June 1st, whichever comes first.  

• 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. Preference will be given to new proposals. 

What is a Fund Code and why is it required on the application? 

A fund code is Duke’s approach to bank accounts for Duke departments and student organizations. Your fund code (or cost center, etc.) is where grant funds will be deposited if awarded. Note, grant funds can only be paid to a Duke department or organization. If you are a faculty or staff member, please list your department’s fund code on the application. If you are a student collaborating directly with a Duke department or representing a DSG/GPSG student organization, please work with your faculty/staff advisor to gather this information for the application. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Bilcik.

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 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.