Deadline of October 12 - Truth Initiative Grant Opportunity for Colleges.

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. Grantees will receive technical assistance through an in-person training, webinars and one-on-one consultations throughout the grant period. They will also receive programming for student activism and evidence-based cessation for students and employees.  

Since 2015, the Truth Initiative Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program has provided grants to more than 200 minority-serving institutions, community colleges, women’s colleges and college systems. This is the first year that Truth Initiative will be expanding the grant to all colleges and universities that do not already have a 100% smoke- or tobacco/vape-free campus policy. The grant expansion is a response to the burden of the vaping epidemic, COVID-19, and the mental health crisis of this generation. Students are facing more mental health issues today than any other generation. One in five college students say their mental health has significantly worsened due to COVID-19. Vaping nicotine can amplify feelings of depression and anxiety symptoms. A tobacco/vape-free policy is a critical component of an overall plan to promote campus health and well-being. With 99% of smokers starting before age 26, college campuses are critical to preventing young adults from starting tobacco use, aiding current smokers in quitting and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke for all. 

Colleges that have smoke- or tobacco-free policies that do not include e-cigarettes may still apply. To combat the vaping epidemic, Truth Initiative is offering grants of up to $10,000 to colleges to strengthen their 100% smoke or tobacco-free policies by adding e-cigarettes.

For more information, including the grant guidelines, link to the online application and informational webinar registration, please visit: https://truthinitiative.org/tobacco-vape-free-college-program. Please direct questions to Vera Kuma at vkuma@truthinitiative.org. The deadline to apply is October 12, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET.