It’s official! Pending final approval from the UC Office of the President, The Green Initiative Fund, or TGIF, will continue funding undergraduate-centered sustainability projects through the 2030-31 academic year after a successful referendum, voted on by students.

Established in 2016, TGIF is a campus program hosted by UC Davis Sustainability and supported by student fees that provides grants up to $20,000 for projects and initiatives led by or impacting undergraduate students with a focus on promoting environmental awareness, engaging in sustainability research, advocating for climate justice and more.

In the recent ASUCD elections, the referendum on the TGIF renewal secured the necessary approval votes and voter participation for the program to continue. This means a $3.50 per quarter fee will be reinstated in student fees beginning in Fall 2024, with $0.50 increase in the fee per each following quarter to address the growing interest in and demand for sustainability programming.

For AMAT, this means that we can continue working on our TGIF surveillance aircraft as TGIF will continue providing us the necessary funds. We will be able to purchase equipment as well as materials to continue testing our aircraft.

Outside of AMAT, TGIF will continue funding innovative, impactful programs. The fund has typically awarded between $100,000 and $200,000 each academic year to projects. 

The next call for proposals for TGIF will be in fall 2024. Learn more about TGIF through FAQs, office hours, past projects and more.

Original article can be found here