Funding

Funding Eligibility

The Coastal Fund (CF) is created and funded by the students at the University of California, Santa Barbara in order to preserve and enhance the ecological integrity of the coastal habitats at the University. Given this charge, the CF seeks to provide the financial impetus for research, restoration, and educational projects that are in agreement with the CF's Mission Statement.

Proposed projects must seek to advance the Coastal Fund's Mission as defined in the CF Mission Statement and show a clear nexus to the UCSB shoreline area. Applications are welcomed from public and private entities seeking to carry out the proposed project within the shoreline of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Additionally, applicants may propose projects pertaining to shoreline areas within the Santa Barbara region if a significant relevance to UCSB's shoreline and the CF Mission Statement can be demonstrated (educational benefit to UCSB student body). If you have received funding in the past, in order to be in good standing, you must have submitted a final report of your previous project to be eligible for additional funds.

GOALS
  • Projects that seek to conserve, and PRESERVE the biodiversity and ecological integrity of our shoreline.
  • RESTORATION projects that seek to restore, conserve, and protect coastal areas and associated habitats. This also includes trash removal projects.
  • RESEARCH projects that study aspects of the coastal flora and fauna, ecological community dynamics, or coastal processes of the shoreline areas associated with UCSB that seek to maintain a healthy beach system. Preference is given to applied research that focuses on conservation and protection of coastal areas and the development of solutions. Research proposals must have an applied research component whereby the results will have some significance to preserving or enhancing the coast. Project must meet 3 of the criteria below to be eligible:
    1. Project involves training undergraduate students in research techniques (internships).
    2. Project addresses a coastal issue (e.g. pollution) and benefits a greater community (not just individual graduate student work).
    3. Project educates a greater community about coastal preservation
    4. Project will be conducted on UCSB property or close proximity.
    5. Address the SPF mission in preserving or enhancing the UCSB coast directly.
    6. Results can be used to enhance local coastal resources.
  • EDUCATIONAL projects that educate and inform the community about the biological diversity and ecological processes found in the coastal areas of UCSB. This includes, but is not limited to, funding field trips, enhancement of coastal areas for educational purposes, and obtaining educational materials that apply directly to the study of these areas for the benefit of the public or the students of U.C. Santa Barbara. Priority given to programs that are directly applied, unique, and involve local issues.
  • Projects that seek to improve safe, low impact ACCESS to resources associated with the shoreline of UCSB. The CF supports the balance of environmentally sensitive habitat areas with the need for safe access areas.

More Specifics
  • The CF grants awards for up to two quarters of funding per award.
  • Joint submissions to multiple funding sources are encouraged and should be noted in the proposal.
  • Some larger scale projects may warrant consecutive renewals. Project proposals submitted with this intent should note such intent in the proposal.
  • All projects accepted for funding by the CF Board must be reviewed by the UCSB Associated Students Legislative Council before final approval.
  • Recipients of awards must sign and complete a "Grant Agreement" before funds will be administered (provided by the grants manager).
  • Recipients will be responsible for CF Guidelines.
  • Funds are awarded no later than the beginning of the UCSB academic quarter following the quarter in which CF approval was made.
  • The CF Board of Directors does not meet during the summer quarter, therefore renewals for some projects will warrant special circumstances to be decided by the Board of Directors.
  • Applicants may be requested to attend a regular scheduled meeting to answer specific questions from the Board and public. Please bring a copy of your proposal with you to this meeting as reference.
  • Applicants will be contacted by the Grants Manger to schedule a meeting date or notice the status of the proposal once reviewed.
  • Additional supplemental materials (maps, sample brochures, etc) may be submitted in the mailed copy.
  • While CF will not pay salaries, it may provide stipends to services that will directly benefit the proposed project. For work compensation, please submit requests as a total amount for a stipend (however include hourly pay). Typically we pay UCSB students $8.50 hr, graduate students approx $10.00 hr. Stipends for undergraduate internships are $300 per quarter for approx 5 hours a week.
  • Application Funding Awards are notified at the end of the academic quarter applied. Check will be issued the first week of the following academic quarter. Special circumstances in which funding is needed sooner or application deadlines cannot be made will be considered by the CF Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis.