Other Funding and Award Options

Equipment and supplies for research and conservation work.

IUCN Land acquisition

With its land acquisition fund, IUCN NL provides funds for local NGOs to acquire threatened patches of wilderness to create or expand safe reserves and connect wildlife habitats. The general objective of a proposed project must contribute to the main objective of SPN, which is to enable strong local conservation NGOs to secure, connect and efficiently protect habitat of Red List species.

Midori Prize for Biodiversity

The MIDORI Prize honors three individuals who have made outstanding contributions to conservation and sustainable use at local and global levels, and who have influenced and strengthened various biodiversity-related efforts, as well as raised awareness about biodiversity. Each winner is awarded a monetary prize of $100,000 and more to support their work in safeguarding biodiversity.

National Geographic/Buffett Awards For Leadership In Conservation

The National Geographic/Buffett Awards for Leadership are to recognise and celebrate unsung conservation heroes who are working in the field. Two awards are presented each year: one for achievement in Africa and the other for achievement in Latin America.

National Geographic Expedited Grant

An expedited Grant application is a rare request for funding that requires a rapid response due to exceptional circumstances.

National Geographic Early Career Grant

An Early Career Grant offers individuals their first opportunity to lead their own project. No advances degree is needed, although evidence of prior experience is expected.

National Geographic Standard Grant

a standard grant application is a request for funding that does not have the urgent time constraints of an expedited Grant application. The applicants should have clear records of successful completion of similar projects with measurable and/ or tangible results.

NBC Conservation Fund

The Neotropical Bird Club awards grants of $1,500, $3,000 and $5,000 (US dollars) for conservation work or research that has an intended conservation benefit. This awards is for projects carried out by nationals and/or residents of countries in the Neotropics ( i.e the Caribbean, Central America, and South America).

Rolex Awards for Enterprise

Support individuals with new or existing ground-breaking projects that expand knowledge, preserve the environment or improve life on the planet. Prize worth up to 100,000 Swiss francs.

Save Our Species Fund – Rapid Action Grants

SOS is the go-to mechanism to identify and support the best frontline wildlife conservation projects worldwide that help address the global extinction crisis.

Seaworld and Bush Gardens – Conservation Fund

The conservation Fund makes grants for wildlife conservation, research and education. Applicants are accepted from non-profit organisation in the USA and other countries.

Terra Viva Grants

Directory of other funding opportunities.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards recognise fundamental contributions in a broad array of areas of scientific knowledge, technology, humanities and artistic creation, as listed in point 2 of these call conditions. Candidates may be one or more natural persons of any nationality, without limitation of number, that have made independent or convergent contributions to a given advance, whether due to a formal collaboration (with the nominees belonging to one or more groups) or parallel working. The awards are also open to scientific or cultural organisations that can be collectively credited with exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge, cultural creation or the fight against climate change

Blue Planet Prize

Blue Planet Prize goes to outstanding individuals or organisations whose work have and continue to contribute significantly to the improvement of the global environment. The prize is awarded to two individuals or organisations annually.

The Disney Conservation Hero award

The Disney Conservation fund recognises 13 people across the globe with the Disney Conservation Hero award, for their tireless efforts to save wildlife, protect habitats and inspire communities to take part in conservation efforts.

The European Natura 2000 Awards

The Natura 2000 Award is designed to reward excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites and showcase the added value of the network for local economies. Any organisation or individual can apply for an Award, so long as their work is directly linked to one or more Natura 2000 sites. The jury will decide 5 winners and the public will choose one winner. The six winners will receive a small financial prize.

The Explorers Club Grants

The Explorers Club is a multidisciplinary, professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation. They offer 7 different types of grants focussed on field exploration and discovery.

The Future Conservationist Award

The funding will support early-career conservationists to conduct scientific research, encourage and promote pro-conservation attitudes and deliver tangible results to better conserve and manage the natural world. The funding will be worth $15,000. For more requirements please see the website.

The Indianapolis Prize

The Indianapolis Prize awards $250,000 to an animal conservationist who has achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. The Prize also awards five Finalists with $10,000 each.

The Marion Paviour Award

The purpose of this award is to further research into the conservation of birds of prey and is intended to support early-career researchers working towards this goal. The maximum award amount is £1000.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Grants for single species conservation initiatives.

The Prince Bernhard Nature Fund

The PBNF aims to help save critically endangered flora and fauna. The urgency of the conservation case is directly related to the priority your project will receive. The PBNF does not support individuals, only registered non-profits. The grants do not exceed US $20,000 or € 20,000.

The Rufford Small Grants Foundation 

Grants of up to £5,000 for small and pilot conservation projects, ranging up to £25,000 for more established projects.

The SEED Initiative

Support for sustainable development projects.

The St Andrews Prize For The Environment

The award recognises significant contributions to environmental issues and concerns. Applications are invited from individuals, multi-disciplinary teams or community groups. The winning environmental project receives funding of $100,000 USD and the runner(s)-up will receive $25,000 USD.

The Tyler Prize For Environmental Achievement

This global environmental prize recognises individuals who have contributed in an outstanding manner to the scientific knowledge and public leadership to preserve and enhance the environment of the world. Recipients encompass the spectrum of environmental concerns, including environmental policy, health, air and water pollution, ecosystem disruption and loss of biodiversity, and energy resources.

The Volvo Environment Prize

The Volvo Environment Prize is awarded for: “Outstanding innovations or scientific discoveries, which in broad terms fall within the environmental field.’’ The Prize consists of a cash award for SEK 1.5 million (approximately EUR 140,000 or USD 150,000) and more.

The WCN Scholarship programme

The WCN Scholarship programme nurtures emerging young conservationists so they can one day take up the fight for wildlife. These students from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America are committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries.

The Whitley Fund for Nature

The Whitley Awards provide funding, training and profile to mid-career conservationists who lead grassroots projects in the Global South, benefitting wildlife, habitats and people. Whitley Award winners receive £40,000 and join an active network of 200 alumni across 80 countries and successful projects can go on to receive long-term Continuation Funding, as well as WFN’s top prize – the Whitley Gold Award – worth £100,000.​

The Tusk Conversation Awards

The Tusk Conservation Awards has three types of awards

• The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa
  This is an achievement award, recognising an outstanding dedication and exceptional contribution to conservation in Africa. The winner will receive a grant of £40,000 towards their work.
• Tusk Conservation Award in Africa
  This award is given to an individual who has been judged to be emerging as a leading conservationist in recognition of their outstanding contribution to, and considerable success, in their chosen field. Three finalists are being chosen and the winner will receive a grant of £20,000. The two runners up each receive a grant of £7,500.
• Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award
  This award gives international recognition to the men and women who face danger every day to protect Africa’s wildlife. The winner receives a grant of £10,000.

Tropically Biology Association Small Grant Scheme

TBA supports conservation projects that strengthen the proficiency of our alumni and alumni groups in natural resource management and research. The projects must be designed to solve a specific conservation or research problem in Africa, and show impact. There are three grants: project grants, Fellow up grants and Networking grants.

Unesco-Mab Young Scientists Awards

The MAB has been supporting young researchers each year with awards of up to US$ 5,000 in support of their research on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity. Nominations for the Prize can only be made by UNESCO Members States with consultation of their National Commissions, and by Non-Governmental Organizations maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO, and active in relevant fields covered by the Prize.

Van Tienhoven Award

The VTS Award consists of a medal, a certificate for the nominee and a subsidy for him and his colleagues. Those eligible for the Van Tienhoven Award are individuals that are working at grassroot level of nature conservation outside developed countries. The nominees have proven outstanding performance and have contributed directly and practically to nature conservation, for many years under difficult conditions.

Wildlife Acoustics Grant Program

Wildlife Acoustics is committed to advancing wildlife research and conservation among their customers. Every quarter, Wildlife Acoustics gives away up to $12,000 worth of eligible products to grant recipients worldwide. Applicants may each request up to $4,000 worth of Wildlife Acoustics products and software licenses. Selections are made on the basis of a competitive review from our Grant Management Board. Recipients may also have their work featured on our website and social media channels.

WWF Education for Nature

The WWF Education for Nature programme offers Russell E. Train Fellowships to support individuals pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in conservation.