Sustainability Grants
Projects for Academic Year 2025 - 2026
Application Due: Monday, January 27, 2025
Approximate Date of Award Notification: April 2025
The President’s Sustainability Council of the Fashion Institute of Technology offers an annual grant-fund of $15,000 to support the College’s commitment to sustainability through creative and innovative initiatives that help to infuse various aspects of sustainability into our college culture, curricula, operations, and physical environment. We welcome proposals from FIT faculty, staff and students (student projects are required to have a faculty or staff adviser). Grants are awarded up to $5000 each and the fund is administered by the Sustainability Council.
2025-2026 Grant Details
The fund supports the development of a full range of potential sustainability efforts at FIT. For the 2025-2026 grant cycle the Council is encouraging proposals with the following foci: Circularity, Environmental and Social Justice, and Innovation. Projects are accepted that look at these areas within sustainability, focus on student, faculty, and staff engagement and provide opportunities to further develop an understanding of both practice and efforts towards building a sustainable future both at FIT and globally.
Grant Awards
The fund’s annual budget is $15,000. The maximum grant awarded per project is $5,000, though smaller amounts may be requested. Please see examples of past funded grants.
Application
Administration of the Fund
The chair of the Sustainability Council administers the fund under the auspices of the Office of the President. The Sustainability Council Grants Subcommittee has established and may periodically revise the guidelines for eligibility and the procedures for selection of grant recipients. All members of the Sustainability Council review proposals and make its recommendations for selection to the President for final selection.
It is recommended that grant writers consult with the Sustainability Council's Grants Committee. Please contact the Sustainability Council Chair, Karen Pearson, at [email protected] with any other questions about the Sustainability Council Grants.
» Is your project eligible? Does it meet the grant guidelines?
» Are you ready to apply? Learn more about the proposal requirements
Important Dates
Fund Year Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
- January 27, 2025: Application Due. Please complete the grant application in accordance with the application guidelines, by the end of the day
- February - March 2025: Sustainability Council reviews grant proposals
- April 2025: Grant awardees notified by email no later than May 30. Projects can begin as soon as awardees have been notified. NOTE: Purchases for goods and services may not begin until July 1, 2025. Purchases made before July 1, 2025 will not be reimbursed. All recipients will have a budget orientation meeting at the beginning of the grant cycle
- February 15, 2026: Tentative project completion date (project completion date is flexible)
- March 15, 2026: Written report on the project outcome is due to the Sustainability council (or when project is completed)
- April 2026: Project presented at FIT’s Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference (specific date to be determined; typically held in early April)
- June 30, 2026: Purchases of all goods and services, in accordance with the Sustainability Council’s Administrative Guidelines, must be completed.
All recipients will have a budget orientation meeting at the beginning of the grant cycle.