Projects
CGI has approved funding for the following projects:
( s =student-led or inspired proposals)
2021-2025 small Grants
Small grants (<$500) require lower long-term investment from the applicant and coordination with campus partners relative to large grants.
Examples of small grants (<$500) include supplies for small projects (such as repair tools for student gardens and funding for Adopt-a-Spot signs on campus) and small-scale behavior change campaigns.
2021-2025 Small Grant Examples
- Adopt-a-Spot sign repairs, signs, and posts (The Last Reformers, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, College Republicans, Zeta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Kappa, Biology Club, Native American Student Association (NASA), Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Organization of African Students (OAS), LatinX Student Union, Kappa Alpha Order, Student Alumni Association, Association of Biological Studies Graduate Students (SBSGS), Alpha Chi Omega)
- Spring Pollinator Planter Box
- Jamil Niner Garden Extension
- Turn Off the Lights Stickers
2021-2025 Event Grants
Event grants fund any on-campus events that benefit UNC Charlotte students. Event coordination could be simple for smaller events involving one or few student organizations, or more complex for larger events that require collaborating with a university office for logistics.
Examples of event grants include events hosted by student organizations, campus departments or offices, individual staff and faculty members, and individual students. The CGI committee introduced event grants during the 2024-2025 academic year
2021-2025 Event Grant Examples
- Party for the Planet 4/22/2025s
- Reusable Tote Bag Paintings
- Student Sustainability Summit Spring 2025s
- Earth Day Festival
- Student Garden Day Spring 2025
- Sustainability Game Night
- Anything that Rollss
- Build Your Own Bamboo Planters
- Biological Sciences Bat Week Socials
- Transportation Fair 10/2/2024
- Lorax + Coloring Movie Nights
- Earth Club Family Feuds
- Halloween Costume Reuses
2021-2025 large grants
Large grants (>$500) and large-scale projects typically require the highest level of investment, campus collaboration and partnership, and long-term planning for maintenance and care. These projects require a campus partner to assist with planning and maintenance. However, there is some variability within the large grant category to consider.
The average grant size submitted for funding consideration is $3,000. Student organizations or individuals could successfully submit large grants falling in the $500-$3,000 range with less coordination with campus partners. Examples of these smaller large grants include behavior change campaigns, campus improvements, and waste management equipment.
2021-2025 $500-$3,000 Large Grant Examples
- Pollinator Garden Revitalizations
- I Heart Water Campaign 2.0 (water bottles)
- Sunscreen Dispensers for Outdoor Recreational Spacess
- Menstrual Product Dispensers for Gender Neutral Restrooms at UNC Charlottes
Since the first CGI grant proposal was submitted in 2010, the committee has only received 10 grants over $25,000. Projects at this scale are rare and require strong support, well-established campus partnerships, and clear explanations of intended fund use. The committee will dedicate many hours of thought and discussion to funding these proposals.
Examples of these largest grants include bike-share racks (now maintained by Parking and Transportation Services), hammock stands on campus (maintained by the Grounds Department), and water bottle fillers (maintained by Facilities Management Maintenance & Operations).
2021-2025 >$25,000 Large Grant Examples
- Water Bottle Filler Upgrades 3.0s
- Zero Waste Event Bins & Solar Trash Compactors
- Campus Bike Repair Stations