United World Sustainability Fund

Allocation Decision Strategy and Process

Arguably the most significant issue facing our species is the imbalance between our resource consumption and the Earth’s ability to generate resources.  Global warming is but the tip of this iceberg we are headed toward.  United World Colleges is uniquely positioned to address this issue because the issue impacts everyone in the world, it is caused by everyone in the world, and the world’s youth will be most impacted. 

Progress in addressing an issue requires passion, creativity, perspective, and energy.  Progress also requires funding. The United World Sustainability Grant is intended to provide at least some of the funding.

The strategic view of the funding allocation decision process is that three UWC graduates will develop an allocation recommendation which will be forwarded to the UWC International office which has veto authority.  The criteria which the three graduates use is to do their best to get the best bang for the buck.  That is, they will recommend the applicant(s) they perceive to offer the biggest improvement in sustainable living.

More specifically:

• The donor was involved in selecting the three graduates, but the International Office has the final word on the selection.
• The three graduates represent diverse backgrounds.
• The graduates perform their selection as volunteers.  Expenses such as phone charges may be covered by the fund.  Communications are through phone and email rather than travel.
• A deadline will be set for application submissions, and another deadline for the graduates to notify the International Office of their recommendation.
• The three graduates may use any process they like for reviewing the applications.
• Clearly it is extremely difficult to decide which opportunity will result in the maximum return on sustainability investment, and different people would likely make different decisions.  At the same time, an objective decision needs to be made by an unbiased process, and the three graduates are empowered to make that decision (subject to veto by the International Office). 
• If any of the graduates has any relationship with the applicants they’ll inform the International Office.  This will not necessarily prevent that applicant from applying, there just needs to be full disclosure.
• The three graduates should make every effort to deliver a specific final recommendation.  If they are unable to reach agreement they may ask a representative from the International Office to serve as tie breaker.
• The International Office has veto power, to prevent the misuse of funds, and they serve as tie breaker as needed, but the they generally have minimal involvement in the allocation decision.

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