Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program Grant

Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Truth Initiative Foundation
Amount: Up to US $20,000
Last Updated: March 07, 2026

Summary

The Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program offers grants of up to $20,000 to U.S. colleges and universities aiming to implement 100% tobacco/vape-free policies. Additionally, grants of up to $10,000 are available for schools looking to enhance existing smoke-free policies to include e-cigarettes. This initiative seeks to engage students and create support from faculty and staff, ultimately fostering healthier campus environments.

Overview

Background Truth Initiative is a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where all young people reject smoking, vaping and nicotine and a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are a thing of the past. Since 2015, Truth Initiative has awarded funding to more than 200 colleges and universities to advocate for, adopt and implement a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy. Grants To keep the momentum going, the Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program is offering grants of up to $20,000 to colleges and universities to support the adoption and implementation of a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy. To combat the vaping epidemic, Truth Initiative is also offering grants of up to $10,000 to colleges and universities to strengthen their 100% smoke-free or tobacco-free policies by adding e-cigarettes. Grant activities must engage and mobilize the student population and create support among faculty, staff and administration for the policy. Project Work Plan - Required Elements The proposal must clearly address all five core project elements: Taskforce Form a college taskforce with broad representation of the campus including students, staff, faculty and administration. The purpose of the taskforce is to spearhead the tobacco/vape-free campus project and carry out project activities including policy development.Students must be represented on the taskforce.AssessAssess tobacco-related issues including behavior, attitudes and support among students, faculty and staff. Understanding the nature of the problem is the first step in any policy process. Please note that Truth Initiative will provide a survey with core questions to be conducted at your college.Educate and EngageEducate and engage students, faculty, and staff about the need for and benefits of a 100% tobacco/vape-free campus. This must be done in two ways: a) student engagement and b) education and engagement of adult staff, faculty, and decision- makers.Student EngagementThe goal of the student engagement component is to inspire youth and young adults to use their creativity and social influence to spread the truth about tobacco and vaping, thereby driving policy change on campusAll applicants are required to incorporate student engagement into their grant proposal and allocate at least 15% of the total budget to student engagement events and activities.Your work plan must incorporate these two student engagement activities:RecruitmentPartner with Truth Initiative to recruit two students for the position of “College Leader.” Engage, Mobilize and AdvocateTobacco TreatmentIdentify a plan to address tobacco treatment for those students, faculty, and staff who are interested in quitting. Policy RecommendationDevelop a policy recommendation for a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy to present to key decision makers and finalize adoption. The policy must be college-wide, affecting all campuses.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Funding is available to colleges or universities located in the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and five US territories which signed the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands).Eligible colleges include those that do not currently have a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy.For example:If your college currently does not have a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy, you may apply for up to $20,000 to adopt a policy.If your college has less than a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy, you may apply for up to $20,000 to strengthen your policy. If your college currently has a 100% smoke-free or tobacco-free policy and you want to strengthen it to include e-cigarettes, you may apply for up to $10,000 to support the advocacy, adoption, and implementation of a 100% tobacco/vape-free policy.Colleges that received Truth Initiative funding through the HBCU or Community College Smoke- Free and Tobacco-Free College Grant Program between 2015 to 2017 and did not adopt a 100% smoke or tobacco-free policy are eligible for this grant. Such applicants may request up to $20,000 minus the total amount awarded from the previous grant. For example, if an HBCU or community college received a $5,000 grant from Truth Initiative, the college would be eligible for a grant in an amount not to exceed an additional $15,000.Any official entity – department, administrative unit, sanctioned group or club, etc. – within a college may apply with authorization of the college administration.If approved, the grant will be awarded to the college and the official entity that applied (department, administrative unit, sanctioned group or club, etc.) will be responsible for carrying out the grant activities. College foundations may also apply on behalf of the college. Applicants will be required to provide one letter of support for the project from an authorized representative of the college administration.To avoid any real, potential, or perceived conflict of interest between Truth Initiative’s grant recipients and any tobacco-related entities, grantees must agree that during the grant period:No person working on the grant project will provide services to, or receive services or anything of value from, any “Tobacco Company” (as defined below) or the Foundation for a Smoke Free World; AND No funds or anything of value received by grantee from a Tobacco Company or the Foundation for a Smoke Free World shall be used in connection with the grant project.For purposes of this condition, the term “Tobacco Company” means any company that manufactures and/or distributes tobacco and/or tobacco-derived products intended for human consumption (including without limitation e-cigarettes) or any such company’s parents, subsidiaries or affiliatesAllowable costs for student engagement (must be at least 15% of total budget) include but are not limited to:Printing/production of educational and marketing materialsExpenses for a student engagement event or advocacy action including speaker fees, room rental, AV equipment, food, and suppliesPrinting/production of items to promote a tobacco-free environment such as pins, buttons, t-shirts, socks, fidget spinners, hacky sacks, etc.Incentives for student participation in surveys, research or eventsStudent personnel expenses (internship pay, stipends, etc.) are allowable and highly encouraged but do not count towards the 15% requirement.Additional allowable project-related costs include:Personnel costs including staff time or stipends for student interns. Personnel costs may not exceed 70% of the total proposed budget.Development and printing of tobacco/vape-free policy signageMeeting and event expenses including speaker fees, room rental, AV equipment, and food. Food expenses may not exceed 40% of the total proposed budget.Photocopying and printing costsPostageOffice suppliesIndirect costs, not to exceed 8% of direct costs. Indirect costs are considered “overhead” costs that help offset the college’s expenses such as facilities, accounting, and administrative costs associated with carrying out the grant.

Ineligibility

If your college currently has a 100% smoke-free and vape-free policy and you want to strengthen the policy to add smokeless tobacco, you are not eligible.If your college currently has a 100% smoke-free or tobacco-free policy and you want funding to support implementation efforts, you are not eligible.Grant activities may not include efforts to engage in any political activities or lobbying, including, but not limited to, support of or opposition to candidates, ballot initiatives, legislation, referenda, or other similar activities.Grantees may not receive funds from other tobacco-related youth serving campaigns (for example, This Free Life or Fresh Empire) during the grant period.Unallowable project-related costs include:Nicotine replacement therapyCapital expendituresEquipment expenses (such as computers, i-pads, cameras, film equipment, etc.)