Proposals should include:

1. A description of the project and its intended outcome, including criteria for evaluating its success in meeting its goals, and with an explanation of any independent funding secured by the applicants
2. Project participants, identifying project leadership and their responsibilities
3. The target beneficiary audience
4. A detailed time line, including a start date and anticipated implementation schedule
5. Specific cost and savings estimates, and
6. A sponsorship letter, expressing support for the project from the sponsoring department chair and/or center head.

Penn Green Fund
Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services
3101 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6289

OR

Email sustainability@upenn.edu with the subject “Penn Green Fund Submission”

1. What is the maximum/minimum amount of money my project can receive?
   The maximum donation is $50,000, but if you contact the Penn Sustainability Team (sustainability@upenn.edu), we can discuss the potential of additional funding.  There is no minimum grant award requirement.

2. What criteria are used in determining which projects are awarded?
   Each project will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Impact on Penn’s carbon emissions, or other environmental benefits
2. Savings to the University
3. Overall project cost

While awarding creativity and innovation, priority will be given to projects with results that are:

1. Able to demonstrate a quantifiable return on investment
2. Applicable across campus
3. Effective in educating or changing behavior at Penn
4. Focused directly on Penn’s campus, including the University City campus, New Bolton Center, and the Morris Arboretum
5. Interdisciplinary, and engage multiple stakeholders within the Penn community.

3. Can I reapply for funds if I want to do my project again next year?
   No.  The purpose of this fund is to be a one-time funding.  This fund is to help get projects off the ground and to provide funds for a pilot project that otherwise could not be funded.

4. If I don’t work directly with a school or center, what should I do?
   The Sustainability Team will assist in finding a school or center to sponsor your project to help transfer funds required for implementation.  Please contact sustainability@upenn.edu.

5. If my project is partially funded by another source, can I apply for money from this fund?
   This funding is meant to help support projects that would not happen otherwise.  Partial funding is available at the discretion of the review committee.

6. I am struggling to find a way to quantify the environmental benefits of my project, can someone help me?
   The Sustainability Team can assist in determining the environmental benefits of projects, and determining the environmental metric that should be used, such as metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCDE) reduced, gallons of water saved, or energy saved.

7. If my project does not have direct cost savings, can I still apply?
   Yes, projects will be considered both on the basis of environmental improvement, education, or behavior change, as well as utility cost reduction.

8. If I am unsure about some of the costs, can I put estimates and then clarify those costs later?
   Estimated data is acceptable, but should be indicated as such in the application.

The Penn Green Fund Review Board will be made up of nine individuals from the Penn Community.  These individuals will present students both graduate and undergraduate, faculty, large and small schools, and staff.  This board will be chaired by Penn’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator to guide the review board decision making process.

Penn Sustainability Team: Dan Garofalo, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities and Real Estate Services: Marilyn Jost, Exec. Director of Finance and Administration
Office of the Provost:  Andrew Binns, Associate Provost for Education
Business Services:  Laurie Cousart, Director of Dining Services
Penn Professional Staff Association:  Taylor Berkowitz, Senior Planner, Facilities and Real Estate Services
School of Arts and Sciences:  Ramin Sedehi, Vice Dean
School of Design:  Mark Alan Hughes, Distinguished Senior Fellow, School of Design and TC Chan Center
Undergraduate Assembly:  Dan Sanchez, Director of Housing, Facilities, and Sustainability
Graduate and Professional
Student Assembly:  Michelle Jacobson, Vice Chair for Equity and Access