Sustainability Accelerator Grants

Letter of Intent due: Feb 25, 2022

Proposals due: March 11, 2022

The President of Stanford University announced in 2020 the establishment of a new School at Stanford with a focus on climate and sustainability. A key part of this school will be an Accelerator, an entity designed to address the urgency of global needs in sustainability. The Sustainability Accelerator will draw expertise from across the university and outside partners to co-create and scale solutions for climate and sustainability challenges that threaten people globally. This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to identify the first round of projects to be accelerated.

Scope

Proposed projects can focus on any area involving sustainability, with an emphasis on measurable impacts through partnership with the external community, connecting directly to needs in government, industry, and other outside entities, rather than on basic research. Sustainability is a broad area with needs across many domains, including advancements in policy (local, state, federal, and international), finance, and technology development, among many others. Projects can span a wide range of possibilities, examples include those aimed at improved human health and community well-being, clean energy technologies, biodiversity, ecological resilience, and environmental justice, among many other opportunities involving sustainability. Each proposal team should clearly define how its proposed project can lead to measurable impacts.

Proposals may be submitted by any Stanford University or SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory faculty, academic staff, or scientific staff with PI-eligibility per Stanford and SLAC policies (note: SLAC staff scientists or engineers in levels three to six are welcome to apply using the PI waiver process).  Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve Stanford students (graduate and/or undergraduate), post-docs, and non-PI-eligible staff, as well as external partners. 

Award Levels

Funding will be awarded based on three levels of projects:

(1) Planning projects to initiate activities at a funding level of $20,000 – $100,000 per project, for 3 months up to 1 year.

(2) Mid-range projects at a funding level of $200,000 – $400,000 per project, for up to 1 year.

(3) Large-scale projects at a funding level of $500,000 – $1,000,000 per project, for up to 1 year.

Projects at each proposed budget level can specify their timeline, ranging from 3 months up to 1 year. There is the possibility to apply for follow-on funding based on the progress of the project.

Please read the full RFP for details and how to apply: https://drive.google.com/file/d/184Cq-T-uoDT3E3iHO6y4vbYUKKYxuuLV/view?usp=sharing