Amplify Grant

Engage with climate action on campus through this unique opportunity for students, faculty and staff.

The Amplify Grant builds upon the President’s Climate Commitment Fund’s (PCCF) mission to foster greater responsibility and leadership in addressing the ongoing climate crisis. Through this pilot program, students, faculty, and staff can apply for up to $5,000 of funding toward projects that seek to address climate change-related issues and inspire a larger culture shift on campus of actively engaging in climate action within the College and beyond. Projects can be led by individuals or teams and focus on a wide range of climate-related topics, and should demonstrate an innovative approach and measurable impact.

The Amplify Grant is funded from the existing President’s Climate Commitment Fund, a discretionary fund that was established in 2012 by Jonathan E. B. Eddy '63 and Edith Twombly Eddy '64, in order to support activities that move Swarthmore College toward a more environmentally sustainable future. The mission of the PCCF includes support for projects that address, but are not limited to, the following areas: greenhouse gas emissions reductions; efficiency technologies; student summer opportunities; course development, workshops or speakers; other special projects to advance understanding of climate issues; and programs that promote sustainable lifestyles and practices.
 

How to Apply

• Applications for Amplify grants will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The selection committee will use the selection criteria outlined below to inform decisions, with the intention to notify applicants within 30 days of submission.
• The selection committee will be made up of Office of Sustainability staff, with consultation from other campus sustainability stakeholders. Please note, the selection committee may ask for additional information or adjustments to application prior to an award.
• Applications must include the application form and budget sheet. Additional letters of support  are required for those partnering with individuals, departments, or offices that are not included on the project team.
• To apply, please review application materials and submit completed materials to the form at the bottom of this page.
• All prospective applicants are highly encouraged to contact the Office of Sustainability to discuss project ideas before submitting an application. Please reach out to the Climate action manager at hulloa1@swarthmore.edu.

Eligibility

• This program is open to current Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff members.
• Applicants should expect to be enrolled or employed through the anticipated duration of project implementation.
• Applicants can apply as individuals or as teams. Teams can be made up of a combination of students, staff, and/or faculty. 
• Note: This grant is not in service of Swarthmore College and does not create an employment relationship between any student(s) and the College.

Selection Criteria

• Alignment with priorities of the President’s Climate Commitment Fund
  • Seeks to incorporate climate action and environmental sustainability into on-campus culture. Relates to topics outlined in the mission of the PCCF.
• Supports the development of knowledge, skills and opportunities
  • Demonstrates a commitment to creating opportunities for the campus community to expand awareness, advance understanding, and develop skills related to topics of climate issues.
• Innovation and creativity
  • Creates new opportunities, connections, or processes. Demonstrates an inventive or imaginative approach.
• Measurable and lasting impact
  • Demonstrates long term impact and outlines methods for measuring engagement and effectiveness.
• Quality and clarity of application
  • Clearly outlines funding request, goals, intended outcomes, process, timeline, and other project details.

Funding Criteria

• Funding will be commensurate with the scope of the project, with awards anticipated in the range of $100 to > $5,000 per year.
• Final total grant amount will be determined by selection committee based on application materials.
• There is no requirement to utilize the entire annual budget. Funds that are awarded and not utilized by grant recipients will remain in the PCCF. Grant funds will be kept under Office of Sustainability management, with purchases and reimbursements occurring as necessary, with proper approval.​​​​​​
• Funding requests should focus primarily on project expenses, such as implementation supplies, analytical costs, outreach or events costs, etc., rather than compensation for the project team. If the funding request includes living or transportation expenses, additional information may be required prior to an award.
• Funds cannot be used in any way that violates relevant laws and regulations or College policies and practices.
• Funding cannot be awarded for projects completed prior to grant application.

Application Materials

• Application Form
• Budget Sheet
• Letters of support
  • Required for those partnering with individuals, departments, or offices that are not included on the project team.

FAQ

• Can staff or faculty apply for the Amplify Grant?
  Yes! Staff and faculty are encouraged to apply as individuals or teams with eligible project ideas. Staff and faculty can also partner with students, and vice versa. Projects can focus on impact for staff and faculty groups, not just students.
• Where can projects take place?
  To align with the President's Climate Commitment Fund, projects must be focused on impact here on campus. While project impact does not need to be limited to campus, the primary focus should be amplifying impact for the campus community. 
• Can the project include off-campus partners?
  Yes, external partners such as speakers, facilitators, or non-profit organizations can be considered as part of a project. Funding requests should still follow the funding criteria outlined above. Any potential partnerships with a vendor would be carefully reviewed for approval and does not guarantee any future vendor relationships.
• Can I apply if I’m graduating soon?
  Applicants should expect to be enrolled or employed through the anticipated duration of project implementation. If you are close to graduation, you will need to consider partnering with other students, staff or faculty that can carry the project implementation forward after you are gone. Expectations for project implementation and final report should be communicated clearly and early on to all project team members.
• What happens to awarded funding that is not used by the end of a grant project?
  Actual expenses will be approved by the Office of Sustainability once the grant amount is finalized, with purchasing and/or reimbursements being managed by the Office. If at the end of project implementation, actual costs are less than the grant amount, additional or unnecessary expenses will likely not be approved. Any awarded funds not used will remain in the PCCF. This allows us to award grant projects from the PCCF in the future, which is a limited fund that will eventually be spent out.
• What is expected for project updates and the final report?
  Awarded individuals or teams will be required to document and report on progress of project implementation. Depending on the length of project implementation, a report will be expected at the end of project or annually if the project extends over multiple years. The report should include updates on use of funds, measured success or impacts, photographs/visuals, and plans/recommendations for future improvements as relevant. A report template will be provided.

Completed Projects

• In the spring of 2023, the very first Amplify grant was awarded to Chris (Pixel) Stone ‘23, to develop an environmental justice zine cart in partnership with Environmental Studies and Iffy Books in Philadelphia. The goal of this project was to establish two zine carts to be used for local environmental storytelling. One cart is located at Swarthmore College, stewarded by James Padilioni with the Lang Center’s Environmental Justice and Community Resilience Initiative in collaboration with Maria Aghazarian with the Swarthmore College Libraries. It was used in the Environmental Studies Capstone Science Center takeover on May 1st along with a collection of Indigenous peoples and environmental zines. Another cart is located at Iffy Books in Chinatown Philadelphia, stewarded by Steve McLaughlin. It was used in Chris Stone’s Environmental Studies thesis to teach a QTBIPOC solar punk workshop on April 21st, a lesson plan has been made available to the public. Read the final report here.

For any questions, please contact Hannah Ulloa, climate action manager at hulloa1@swarthmore.edu.