Student Grants

BFI provides grants of up to $3,000 to support student-led food and farm systems research in collaboration with faculty and/or cooperative extension specialists at UC Berkeley. Check back in August 2026 for student grant applications. 

Grant timeline and requirements: grants should be spent within the academic school year awarded.

• Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will be due in October 2026
• Applicants will be notified of their awards and next steps via the email provided. 
• MOUs and budget templates will be provided.
• Awardees must attend a Zoom meeting in November 2026 where the requirements for accessing the funds will be outlined. Or communicate with the grant manager about special circumstances if you’re unable to attend this meeting.
• Awardees must be able to present their research conducted thus far at our spring student research presentation, an in-person event in May 2027. Zoom links will be provided for those who may be off-campus during this time due to their research obligations. 

Who can apply: Undergraduate and graduate students at UC Berkeley may apply for funding. Proposals that support an undergraduate thesis or graduate dissertation research are strongly encouraged.

To be eligible, students are required to be:

1. Registered for the year in which the funds are used
2. In good academic standing
3. Working with a UC Berkeley faculty member or cooperative extension on their research 

What we fund:

We support UC Berkeley student research that contributes to the following BFI focus areas: Urban and Rural Agroecology, Racial Equity, Good Food Access and Fair and Healthy Jobs. Grants can fund the following activities:

• Venue fees for hosting events, workshops or focus groups.
• Honoraria for research interviewees and community participants. 
• Conference attendance fees. If you’re using the funds to attend a conference, you must be presenting a paper or poster at the conference.
• Travel to conferences or research locations (including airfare, mileage and hotel). 
• Supplies and materials needed for conducting your research. 
• Other items may be considered on an as-needed basis and within reason and in compliance with University funding restrictions.

BFI provides grants to Registered Student Organizations (RSO) of up to $2,000 to support student-led food and farm systems programming on and off campus. 

• Applications are due in September 2026
• Applicants will be notified of their awards and next steps via the email provided.

Who can apply: 

1. RSOs sponsored by the UC Berkeley Student Union-Accounting and Finance.
2. Previous awardees of RSO grants can apply. 

Grant timeline and requirements: The funding should be expended within the academic school year awarded. Due to the funding source, cost extensions will not be allowed.  

• MOUs and final expense ledgers will be provided. All expenses must be accounted for with receipts and documentation in these ledgers. You will be required to sign the MOU before we can deposit your grant award into your RSO ASUC account.
• RSO leads must attend a Zoom meeting in October 2026 where the requirements for funds access, accounting and reporting will be outlined. Or communicate with the grant manager about special circumstances if you’re unable to attend this meeting.
• End-of-year reporting describing how the funds were spent will be required. Download the report template here.
• Grant funds must be spent by June 2027

What we fund:

We support UC Berkeley registered student groups that contribute to the following BFI focus areas: Urban and Rural Agroecology, Racial Equity, Good Food Access and Fair and Healthy Jobs. Grants can be used for the following activities:

• Venue fees and food for hosting events, workshops or Decals. (*no alcohol)
• Honoraria for guest speakers. 
• Supplies and materials needed for conducting Decals, workshops or events. All receipts should be saved and uploaded to your grant folders and expense ledgers, as provided.
• Other items may be considered on an as-needed basis and within reason according to University funding restrictions.