Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Annual Fund

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is the hub of collaborative sustainability research at Cornell University, forging vital connections among researchers, students, staff, and external partners. Our mission is to accelerate groundbreaking research across all of Cornell’s colleges and schools, while connecting innovation to real-world impact. Cornell Atkinson focuses on impact in these four priority areas: climate, agriculture, energy, and One Health. The annual fund and similar flexible funding allows us to take calculated risks and seize new opportunities—to launch cutting-edge research and partnerships that pioneer solutions. Your support today ensures a resilient tomorrow.

Make your gift to Cornell Atkinson now

Cornell Atkinson Faculty Fellow Jason Oliver aims to mitigate the environmental impact of dairy operations by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from long-term manure storage. Photo: Alison Usavage

In the past, the Cornell Atkinson Annual Fund has supported:

Cornell Atkinson connects faculty with unique partnerships outside the university, harnessing Cornell’s broad expertise to drive creative solutions.

In 2023, we awarded $1,625,892 in 11 seed grants through the AVF—supporting novel, risky, and innovative research projects for 33 Cornell faculty across nine colleges.

Annual fund dollars also supported our projects to reduce methane emissions, enabling technology that will lead to new ways to measure emissions from New York’s dairy cows.

Annual funds helped us award 15 Fast Grants to support impact-oriented faculty climate research in partnership with The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative.

Cornell Atkinson trains the next generation of sustainability scholars and innovators. The 2023 summer internship program with the Environmental Defense Fund provided 10 Cornell students with real-world experience.

In 2023, 10 graduate students received research grants through the Graduate Research Grant or Sustainable Biodiversity Fund programs.

Cornell Atkinson is now in its second year of the Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Program.

Cornell Atkinson engages more than 600 faculty fellows from every Cornell college.

As part of the Office of the Provost’s Radical Collaboration initiative in sustainability, Mario Herrero, a leading global expert in sustainable food systems, joined the university as a Cornell Atkinson Scholar and professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

Since 2020, we have supported the research of approximately 215 faculty fellows. Many fellows continue to connect with us in a variety of ways, such as applying for funding, assisting with grant reviews, and hosting topical lunches.

Future priorities for the Cornell Atkinson Annual Fund include:

How Cornell Atkinson would use future gifts at the following levels:

$7,000will support one student participating in the Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research program.
$15,000will fund one Rapid Response grant.
$25,000will contribute to one faculty-led Academic Venture Fund research project.
$175,000will fully sponsor one Academic Venture Fund project.

Message from the director

David M. Lodge

“At Cornell Atkinson, our purpose is to move knowledge to impact, leveraging Cornell’s deep research enterprise in climate, energy, food, and health to change opinions, practices, products, and policies. Gifts to the Cornell Atkinson Annual Fund support faculty and students who are positioned to change the world.
Cornell Atkinson is experiencing growth—with an increase in student and postdoctoral fellow programs, more knowledge to impact research, and an increasing number of corporations, NGOs, and government agencies and organizations that want to work with us.”

—David M. Lodge
Francis J. DiSalvo Director of Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability

Contact Cornell Atkinson

Connect with us to learn more about ways to give to the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability with this contact form.

Every dollar adds up

We can do so much more with your support this year—and every year.

Make your gift to Cornell Atkinson

In the past, the Cornell Atkinson Annual Fund has supported:

Awarding seed grands for innovative research projects.

Internship and research support for students and emerging scholars.

Interdisciplinary leadership, through hiring experts.

Future priorities for the Cornell Atkinson Annual Fund include:

Academic Venture Fund to support faculty projects.

Rapid Response Fund to support exciting research.

Undergraduate Summer Mentored Research Grants.

How Cornell Atkinson would use future gifts at the following levels:

Message from the director

Contact Cornell Atkinson

Every dollar adds up