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Counsel on Student Affairs and Fees

February 20, 2026

Presenters:

Grant Program Manager: Heidi Rogers

Treasurer: Claudia Colorado

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Agenda

What
How
History
TGIF Today

Demand
Current Committee
Process Improvements
Fee allocations
24/25 Granted Projects
25/26 Granted Projects
Impact

TGIF in the Future

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What is TGIF?

The Green Initiative Fund that

advances sustainability on campus
provides measurable impact to undergraduates

Supported by undergraduate student fees
Funds open to Students, Faculty & Staff
Three grant cycles annually
Majority student-led committee
Currently 6 out of the 9 undergraduate UC campuses hold this program

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How TGIF Works

TGIF awards 2 types of grants:

Mini-grant: up to $1,000

Funded once approved
Must complete within the AY
Unused funds returned

Main-grant: up to $20,000

Must complete within 2 years of application
Funded at project conclusion for approved expenses outlined in proposal

Grants $100K-$200K per year in project funding

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TGIF’s History

Student referendum in February 2016

Implemented at $3/quarter/student
25% Return to Aid

Spring 2021- Spring 2024 TGIF running off reserves

Had student support, but voter threshold not met

Voter threshold for renewal achieved in Spring 2024 ASUCD elections
Reinstated for 10 years in Fall 2024

TGIF has funded 152 sustainability projects since 2016

F21-93 Nature Heals, famously known as “Sheep Mowers!”

Historical Highlight

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Granted Projects Database

Check it out!

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Demand for TGIF over time

Funding pipeline restored and demand high!

	2025-26		2024-25		2019-20
	This year so far		TGIF’s first year back!		Pre-Covid & Pre-referendum
	Requested	Awarded	Requested	Awarded	Requested	Awarded
Fall	$203,944.78	$50,000	$148,443.61	$71,453.05	$216,467.32	$80,252.53
Winter	$189,072.08	-	$201,028.03	$79,795.00	$184,592.19	$133,369.82
Spring	-	-	$244,551.95	$42,163.41	$134,228.17	$82,293.42
Mini-Grants	$2,632.63	$2,415.50	$8,077.54	$5,923.54	-	-
Total	$395,649.49	$52,415.50	$602,101.13	$199,335.00	$535,287.68 (peak year)	$295,915.77

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Current TGIF Committee

Undergraduate Members

			�� �

Anya Rao

Sofia Stuckmann

Bella Heryford

Claudia Colorado

Kelsie Garay

Thomas Wong

Donovan Madden-Watson

Ellie Noh

Brooke Threlkeld

Heidi Rogers

Carla Fresquez

Graduate Member

Alex Liesegang

Jeff Bruchez

Staff Member

Support Staff

EPPC Rep

Sriya Batchu

COSAF Rep

Kim Vu

Student Assistant

Brooke Threlkeld

GPM: Here I’ll outline roles and responsibilities of each committee member type who is financially supported by TGIF:

Undergraduates serve on the majority, but graduate and staff members also comprise the TGIF committee who vote on funding decisions and

Serve on several subcommittees such as

Marketing - social media, tabeling, flyers etc
Grant Advising - support student, faculty and staff applicant writing
Project Management - helping support granted projects accomplish their proposed goals

TGIF also maintains a paid

-Student Assistant

-and myself, the Grant Program Manager who, to name a few,

serves as the formal student employee supervisor for undergrad committee members
supports committee transitions from year to year
oversees funding transfers and documentation

Supporting TGIF in a voluntary role are:

non-voting sustainability representatives
a voting staff member

TGIF also has an EPPC representative and a COSAF representative who serve on the committee in a non-voting capacity.

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Process Improvements in 24/25

New TGIF Grant Program Manager hired
RSOs can now apply for TGIF grants
Award process streamlined with DocuSign
TGIF Bylaws revised
Outreach and engagement efforts improved

Ex: Embedded TGIF branding into funded project outreach materials

Grant application and evaluation rubric reviewed and improved

Coming soon in 25/26: website overhaul!

Redact old information and streamline content
Provide specific support for student, faculty, staff and affiliated organizations
Improve engagement

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SECTION 1: TGIF FEE ALLOCATIONS

Since TGIF funds projects for up to two academic years, awarded funds may remain encumbered across fiscal years, increasing TGIF’s carryforward.

Category	2024-25 Actuals	2025-26 Estimation
a. Student Salaries (including benefits)	$ 17,760.62	$ 34,324.00

b. Career Staff Salaries (including benefits)	$ 44,227.24	$ 58,710.00

e. Supplies & Expenses	$ 9,187.14	$ 7,316.60

f. Student Committee Stipends	$ -	$ -

Subtotal - Operating Expenses	$ 71,175.00	$ 100,350.00
c. Current Year Award Distributions (Grant Awards)	$ (28,587.35)	$ (35,000.00))

d. Prior Year Grants Remaining Fund Distribution (Encumbered)	$ (6,707.04)	$ (174,919.71)

h. Return of Unused Grant Funds	$3,567.49	$ 613.00

i. Other - Fee Revenue	$ 249,626.43	$ 287,000.00

Subtotal - Awards and Fee Revenue	$ 217,839.53	$ (77,693.29)
g. Contribution to Reserves	$ -	$ -

Total - Current Year Position	$138,289.04	$ (22,656.71)

Starting CF	$ 31,419.08	$169,708.12
Net Position	$ 169,708.12	$ 147,051.41

GPM: I am happy to circle back to this table to highlight any fee allocation detail you may be interested in learning more about, but I wanted to spend some time around changes to our funding distribution that impacts our carryforward fund. Prior to 24/25, TGIF funded all main grants in two installments: ½ of the funding upon the proposal approval and the 2nd ½ at the midpoint. in 24/25 TGIF shifted this funding distribution at the projects conclusion and only for actual expenses approved in the proposal budget. This shift imitates other internal funding schema at UC davis and significantly reduces administrative back and forth when requesting unused funds form projects. Since projects have 2 years to complete their goals, this mean TGIF’s carryforward is heavily impacted by encumbered funds to these multi-year projects.

Starting with the Carry Forward Line, you will see a significant increase by about $130,000 this year compared to last year.

Referring to line c, you can see we actually gave out $28,587.35 to completed projects last year, but we promised approved proposals more funding in that year in which we will only be paying out this and next year. We expect to have a similar situation in our current year award distributions.

I also wanted to spend a little more time on student salaries: You will see we anticipate a significant increase to student salaries this year and that is because by a majority committee vote, TGIF formally increased the workload requirement from 2-3/hr/week to 5 hrs/week given the average workload students experienced given their commitments to their subcommittee roles. Therefore, student salaries increased from $500/quarter to $825/quarter as required by UC Davis Aggie Service so that student salaries are reflective of minimum wage for ~5/hrs of work/week.

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As a result of this reimbursement- based, multi-year funding structure (with the exception of Mini Grants), TGIF anticipates a gradual decrease in Campus Grants carryforward over time, as funds remain encumbered within TGIF accounts until project completion rather than distributed upfront.

j. Prior Year Carry Forward (2024-25) Taken from line 20 & 21 on the TGIF Fee Sources & Uses Report	i TGIF Carryforward	$31,419.08
	ii Campus Grants	$54,269
	Total	$85,688
k. 2025-26 Estimated Contribution to Reserves Line G above		$-
l. TOTAL Estimated Carry Forward		$85,688

SECTION 2: DEPARTMENT CARRY FORWARD

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Fall 2024

Project Title	Amount Approved
F24-135M Sprout Up	$ 998.80
F24-133M Aggie Trading Post	$ 500.00
F24-134 Grow Guide	$ 700.00
Mini-Grant Total	$ 2,198.80
F24-122 Village Homes	$ 12,963.35
F24-124 Campus Canopy	$ 19,997.95
F24-126 Cooling Pavillion	$ 20,000.00
F24-128 Solar Maintenance	$ 3,664.75
F24-132 Earth Building	$ 11,648.57
Main Grant Total	$ 71,453.05
Grand Total	$ 73,651.85

*items in green were distributed in the 24/25FY

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Winter 2025

Project Title	Amount Approved
W25-136M Farm Mural	$ 1,000.00
Mini-Grant Total	$ 1,000.00
W25-138 Better Practices	$ 19,985.00
W25-143 Transpo Course	$ 20,000.00
W25-144 Eco Makerspace	$ 20,000.00
W25-146 Hands Land	$ 19,810.00
Main Grant Total	$ 79,795
Grand Total	$ 80,795

*items in green were distributed in the 24/25FY

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Spring 2025

Project Title	Amount Approved
S25 - 151M Kids in Nutrition	$ 940.00
S25 - 152M Plant Futures	$ 975.00
S25 - 153M Bodega Tour	$ 330.00
Mini-Grant Total	$ 2,245.00
S25-154 Textile Recycling	$ 153.00
S25-156 Environmental Risks	$ 5,689.00
S25-158 Glove Waste Diversion	$ 11,990.40
S25-165 Slough Restoration	$ 4,331.00
S25-167 Sustainable Wastewater	$ 20,000.00
Main Grant Total	$ 42,163.00
Grand Total	$ 44,408.00

*items in green were distributed in the 24/25FY

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Fall 2025

Project Title	Amount Approved
F25-184M Driptape Recycling	$ 700.00
F24-186M Sprout Up	$ 1,000.00
Mini-Grant Total	$ 1,700.00
F25-178 Regenerative Foodways	$ 10,000.00
F25-180 Rethinking Architecture	$ 20,000.00
F25-182 Bioremediation Rice	$ 20,000.00
Main Grant Total	$ 50,000.00
Grand Total	$ 51,700.00

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Winter 2026

Project Title	Amount Requested
W26-187M Glove Recycling	$ 715.50
W26-188M Lagoon Adventure	$ 217.13
W26-189M VeggLife	$ 1,000.00
Mini-Grant Total	$ 1,932.63
W26-190 Cata-Comb	$ 19,231.76
W26-191 Community Cats 2	$ 3,500.00
W26-192 Sustainable Health-Tempeh	$ 18,911.59
W26-193 Sandwich Day	$ 15,209.35
W26-194 Food Symposium	$ 5,429.02
W26-195 MycoStructure	$ 20,000.00
W26-196 SLLC Center	$ 19,981.97
W26-197 MycoExhibition	$ 20,000.00
W26-198 Earthen Material	$ 11,968.50
W26-199 Re/Fill	$ 20,000.00
W26-200 Pest Mitigation	$ 14,072.00
W26-201 Greener Speed	$20,000.00
Main Grant Total	$ 189,072.43
Grand Total	$ 191,005.06

TGIF committee currently reviewing these applications

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Drip Tape Recycling (Mini-grant)

Recycle ~40 yards of agricultural tubing (≈2 years’ accumulation)
Divert ~2.74 tons of plastic from landfill
Expand recycling to additional campus field operations
Develop a scalable “how-to” guide (process, cost, impact) for campus units

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Regenerative Foodways Symposium

Sustainability education centered on California Native Plant Foods
Indigenous keynote speakers addressing root causes of degradation
Elevates knowledge holders as teachers, scientists, and practitioners
Centers justice, Indigenous voice, and community-led solutions

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Sustainability Impact

Sustainable Food & Agriculture Systems
Waste Reduction & Circular Economy Initiatives
Green Infrastructure & Climate Resilience
Water Conservation & Resource Efficiency
Renewable Energy & Low-Carbon Innovation
Environmental Education & Community Outreach

Farm Mural Mini-Grant ‘24-25

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Undergraduate Impact

Student Applicants (Project Leaders)� – Project Design & Implementation� – Grant Writing & Proposal Development� – Budgeting & Financial Planning� – Applied Sustainability Practice� – Research, Outreach & Collaboration

TGIF Committee Members (Program Leaders)� – Grant Evaluation & Funding Decisions� – Financial Stewardship of Student Fees� – Budget Analysis & Policy Compliance� – Project Oversight & Accountability� – Marketing, Outreach & Strategic Governance

F25-186M Sprout Up

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TGIF fees in future

Academic Year	Fee - Student/ Quarter	Return to Aid (25%)	TGIF Funds
2024-25	$3.50	$.88	$2.62
2025-26	$4.00	$1.00	$3.00
2026-27	$4.50	$1.13	$3.37
2027-28	$5.00	$1.25	$3.75
2028-29	$5.50	$1.38	$4.12
2029-30	$6.00	$1.50	$4.50
2030-31	$6.50	$1.63	$4.87
2031-32	$7.00	$1.75	$5.25
2032-33	$7.50	$1.88	$5.62
2033-34	$8.00	$2.00	$6.00

(30 seconds)

GPM:

Currently students pay about the price of cup of coffee per quarter, in ten years, that will increase to an expensive latte. In that timespan, we have big plans, beginning with revamping our website and application materials (streamlining the application process), further developing/building relationships with departments on campus to help remove barriers to the funding opportunity by way of faculty and staff awareness. We understand that faculty, staff and graduate students can provide avenues for undergraduate student involvement. We are working on providing streamlined processes for RSO as well. With a larger pot of funding, we are considering the potential to increase grant amounts. Laying a foundation to give more students the opportunity to access this valuable resource for large scale projects.

(1 min)

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Thank you!

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Rethinking Architecture

This project investigates sustainable architectural 3D printing using clay, recycled composites, and natural fibers. Their research tests agave fiber mesh as a potential replacement for less sustainable and synthetic material in architectural design. They aim to reduce constructions environmental footprint while promoting scalable, low-impact, and cost-effective building methods

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Bioremediation Rice

This project will conduct research and outreach activities focused on mitigating the impact of a glyphosate-based herbicide commonly used for controlling levee weed in Sacramento Valley rice farms as its floodwater is released into the Sacramento River which serves as the main drinking water source for Sacramento, and provides habitats for several endangered species. They will investigate the potential synergistic effects of the Fungi, modified Biochar, and UV-C Radiation