Sustainable SF State

Image: Green spaces around campus and source of renewable energy and organic produces.

Getting Involved & Donations

 

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Grounds Internship Program Objectives

  • Campus-wide collaboration: Contributions from all academic disciplines are welcomed. By engaging the full diversity of the SFSU community, we can learn from each other, foster creativity, enrich our campus environment, and encourage a more participatory society.
  • Increase resource efficiency: Interns and volunteers are helping reduce indirect fossil fuel consumption by propagating plants to replace high-maintenance lawns; reduce herbicide use by removing invasive species; reduce water consumption by planting rain gardens, bioswales, and low-water native plants; and recharge groundwater reserves through permeable paving and green storm water management projects.
  • Increase education in sustainability: The transition to a sustainable campus requires a change in infrastructure as well as individual behavior. Interns and volunteers can help get the message out by designing educational material presenting sustainable values, environmental stewardship, resource conservation, waste and pollution reduction, ethical consumerism, natural design, social equity, local participation and global responsibility.

Project List

  • Sustainable Outreach and Education
  • Wildlife Habitat Design and Monitoring
  • Plant Research and Design
  • Seed Saving and Propagation Program
  • Botanical Garden Development
  • Invasive Species Removal
  • Grant Writing
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Resource Conservation

Alpha Phi Omega volunteers help plant the Science Building bioswale

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Forest Renewal Fund

Fund Purpose

SF State welcomes the campus community to support the maintenance of the campus forest. Donations for planting trees may be made to acknowledge individual or corporate support for development of the campus forest, in honor of retirements, or as memorials. Funds are received by the SF State Foundation into a special account and disbursed in the to SF State's Facilities and Service Enterprises for purchase of trees.

Every year campus trees are damaged or lost to storm breakage, insect pests and disease infestations, construction activity, and decline associated with a variety of urbanization influences or biological factors. Please see the Forest Threats page for more information.

When such losses affect trees specifically planted to honor individuals, the purpose of the the gift to honor life is not well met. To better support our donors' intent, and to share recognition of donations as widely as possible, the campus now accepts donations for forest regions rather than individual trees, and lists the names of donors or memorials prominently on the Campus Forest Renewal Fund Region Map available at all times to our donors and their families on our website.

Forest Renewal Fund Regions

The core campus has been divided into donation regions as shown on the Campus Forest Renewal Fund Region Map. Click on a region label to see images of that region.

Recognition and Memorials

Since physical plaques are damaged or degraded with time, and are accessible only to those on campus, the Campus Forest Renewal Fund Region Map is now used to recognize our donors and all memorials in a manner easily accessible at all times on-line for our community. Each region has a separate recognition page.

Donations are listed alphabetically by the name of the individual, program, or organization being honored. No notation of the gift amount is made.

To Donate

Donations to the Forest Renewal Fund are received and processed by the University Development Office. You may make a credit card donation on-line, or by mail or fax.

Please note: When you reach the donation processing page, you must select "Other" in the drop-down list of options for your support, and specify "Forest Renewal Fund" in the "if other, enter designation " box.. The next step is to enter the name of the region , and the individual(s), organization, or program you wish to honor with your gift in the "Special instructions for this gift" box. Click here to go to the donation processing page.

Thank You

By donating to the program, you are enabling the planting of new trees, and promoting a thriving forest and enriched wildlife habitat on campus for years to come.

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Academic Engagement

Faculty and Class Involvement

The Grounds Department is working with the Environmental Studies, Biology, Geology, Design & Industry, Engineering, Chemistry, Math, Geography and Art departments on projects including Living Labs, Native Planting, Ground Water Infiltration, Digital Wind Monitoring, the Sound Web, and more!

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Donors and Supporters

San Francisco State University Grounds Department is thankful to the following businesses and organizations that have donated to our model programs, demonstration gardens and student experience days!

  • Mostly Natives
  • CalFlora
  • North Coast Natives
  • Delta Blue Grass
  • CH Bacchus
  • Ecology Center of San Francisco
  • The Urban Farmer Store
  • Trader Joe's
  • Ambrosia Bakery
  • Noah's Bagels
  • Katz Bagels
  • The Bagel Bakery
  • Arizmendi Bakery
  • San Francisco Federal Credit Union

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