Spark Change: Sustainability Seed Grants

The Bryn Mawr College Sustainability Office offers internal grants to support the campus community in advancing sustainability initiatives on campus. This opportunity is intended to provide small “seed” grants for faculty, staff, or student-led projects that move the College forward in our sustainability goals and/or inspire a greater culture shift in recognition of climate change and the need to engage in action.

Active Grants - Spring 2026

The Sustainability Office was fortunate to receive a dozen applications for Spring 2026 seed grants to accelerate sustainability on campus. Five projects have been chosen to receive funding for Spring 2026! Congratulations to the following teams:

Biology Department: Greener Labs Ahead

Science labs use lots of energy and generate waste that can be tricky to recycle—but the Biology department hopes to change that! As part of this project, students and faculty will pilot solutions to cut energy use, reduce disposable plastics, and adopt eco-friendly materials while maintaining safety standards.

Community Garden Team: A Fresh Start for Our Garden

The Bryn Mawr Community Garden is getting a makeover! Plans include raised beds, wider pathways and a new gathering space for classes and events. Students will lead the revitalization in partnership with Career & Civic Engagement and Facilities Services, creating an accessible, inviting space for growing, learning and community building.

Dining Services: Smart Tech to Cut Food Waste

Erdman Dining Hall will fight food waste with Leanpath, a real time tracking system that weighs and analyzes discarded food. This data-driven approach will help staff reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and cut costs.

Staff Association: Upgrading a Campus Tradition

For 28 years, the End-of-Year Sale has kept thousands of pounds of belongings out of landfills—and now, it’s getting an upgrade! Staff Association will work with a small team of student interns who will lead outreach, signage and donation tracking to boost sustainability education and expand community partnerships. The goal: more reuse, less waste, and a stronger culture of responsible consumption.

The Thorne School: Little Hands Making Big Change

The Phebe Anna Thorne School is Launching a sustainability pilot in its kindergarten program with a waste audit and composting initiative. Through partnerships with local eco-conscious businesses, students will learn hands-on lessons about sustainable living. The project aims to inspire families and create a model for other departments on campus.

Overview

Grants are provided for projects that may address a wide range of climate- and sustainability-related topics that impact our campus, such as better integrating sustainability in the academic curriculum, waste reduction and diversion, renewable energy and energy conservation, building standards, environmental justice, efficient technology, promotion of new sustainable practices, sustainable procurement, and sustainable food sourcing. For the first round of funding, preference will be given to projects that help improve our sustainability performance in one or more areas as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS).

This grant program itself is a pilot program for Spring 2026. Any member of the campus community may apply for a grant. Employees must have permission from supervisors to allocate staff time towards a grant funded project.

Funding of $500 - $10,000 may be requested, but only expenses necessary for the project should be requested. A budget template can be found here.

Project timelines must be no longer than 14 weeks for a semester. Unspent funds will be returned to the Sustainability Office for future projects. Allowable expenses include:

• Faculty or staff applications may request support for undergraduate students. Hourly pay for part-time students is $15/hour. Students must be enrolled through Spring 2026 to be eligible.
• If the applicant is a student or student organization, a staff or faculty mentor is strongly encouraged. A mentorship stipend of up to $1,000 can be requested for the mentor, but this must follow all applicable campus policies, and with permission from supervisors and Human Resources. Please contact the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) or Human Resources with questions and confirm eligibility.
• Research or program-related travel
• Materials, supplies, and equipment
• Speaker honorarium and travel
• Food for campuswide or community events.

Don't miss opportunities to apply for grants to enhance strategic innovation and Bi-Co collaboration. 

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