Conservation Scholarships | Research & Projects
Would you like to conduct research that helps us understand and conserve species and habitats? Do you have a project idea that you’d like to turn into reality? Are you working on the ground and need support to create more conservation impact?
You might be surprised to discover just how much funding is available to support conservation research and projects – from small, one-time grants to tens of thousands in project support.
We’ve listed over 400 conservation scholarships for individuals and teams carrying out conservation research and projects. Explore some of our favourites below, or dive into the full list.
Top Conservation Scholarships for Research & Projects
Here are 10 conservation scholarships for research and projects that we know and love. Make sure you to explore the full list here!
CLP Future Conservationist Awards | Conservation Leadership Programme
Each worth $15,000, Future Conservationist Awards are granted to teams of early-career conservationists who are conducting high-priority projects focused on protecting species listed as Data Deficient, Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Eligibility: Projects must take place in an eligible country, be led (or co-led) by a national of one of these countries, involve at least three people and last between three to 12 months.
EDGE Fellowships | Zoological Society of London
The EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) of Existence programme awards two-year Fellowships to future conservation leaders (EDGE Fellows) working on poorly-known EDGE species.
The EDGE Fellowship programme identifies, trains, and mentors local conservation leaders and supports the implementation of targeted initiatives to protect EDGE species. Under the supervision of internationally renowned scientists at ZSL and partner organisations, EDGE Fellows receive support (via two training courses, online learning, project visits and mentoring) in project design, data collection and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, community outreach, education, leadership and fundraising.
Future For Nature Awards | Future For Nature
Each year Future For Nature (FFN) awards three young, talented, and ambitious nature conservationists with the FFN Award. This award provides the winners with international recognition, €50,000 for their nature conservation work, and a warm welcome to the growing FFN Family!
Eligibility: Are you a young (between 18 to 35 years old) and dedicated nature conservationist committed to protecting species of wild animals and plants? Do you combine passion with action to create concrete results in nature conservation? Are you the future for nature?
Rufford Small Grants | The Rufford Foundation
The Rufford Foundation provides startup funding for nature conservation projects in developing countries. The funding process is staged, with five levels of support. Grants start at £6,000 and increase to £15,000 for projects that successfully complete each stage.
Eligibility:
- Your project must have a nature conservation focus.
- Any species you are working on must be considered threatened.
- Your project must not be in a developed country.
- Your project must not be in a restricted country.
- You should be in the early stages of your conservation career.
Global Grants | The Rotary Foundation
Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. Global grants can fund scholarships for graduate-level academic studies, and have a minimum budget of $30,000.
Marine Conservation Action Fund | New England Aquarium
The Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF) is a small grants and fellowship program that addresses critical needs in the marine conservation field, including rapid turnaround funding for urgent, time-sensitive projects and support for early-stage, entrepreneurial projects led by local conservation leaders in low and middle-income countries.
Since it was founded in 1999, MCAF has supported more than 190 projects in more than 60 countries and across six continents. Through these efforts, conservation leaders are creating solutions that benefit ocean health and support food security and livelihoods for local communities.
MCAF awards are up to $12,000.
Eligibility: Project leaders must be a national of the low or middle-income country or the broader region where the work is taking place.
Special Reporting Initiatives (SRI) Program | Mongabay
Mongabay.org’s Special Reporting Initiatives (SRI) program enables professional journalists to conduct in-depth reporting on a specific issue over a three-month period.
The SRI program enables high-quality and detailed reporting on an environmental issue that may be otherwise overlooked or underreported by the broader media. SRI fellows are given the funding and support to become issue area experts, adding value to their own career and contributing to the wider conversation regarding the state of our natural world.
Mongabay.org offers a $12,000 honorarium and up to $3,000 for reporting, travel, and research costs for each project.
Amphibian Conservation Grants | SAVE THE FROGS!
To ensure the success of our worldwide efforts, SAFE THE FROGS! offers Amphibian Conservation Grants to dedicated groups and individuals who wish to conduct important amphibian conservation activities and seek financial assistance.
SAVE THE FROGS! Amphibian Conservation Awards are usually for $2,000 or less.
Eligibility: SAVE THE FROGS! fund projects that demonstrate a clear benefit to the conservation of amphibian populations. Projects could be centered around research, education, policy, and/or habitat.
Small Grants Program | Wild Animal Initiative
Our grants aim to empower wild animal welfare researchers to explore topics neglected by other funders. We support research that advances our understanding of the fundamental concepts, novel methods, and preliminary interventions that will most rapidly accelerate progress in the field.
We are currently soliciting proposals on the following themes:
- Innovative methods for measuring wild animal welfare
- Innovative methods for monitoring wild animal welfare
- Population regulation
- Rehabilitation/conservation
John Thorbjarnarson Fellowship for Reptile Research | Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Senior Conservation Scientist Dr. John Thorbjarnarson was a world-renowned expert on crocodiles, alligators, anacondas, turtles, and other species of reptiles and worked tirelessly throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia to ensure their protection and conservation. With the generous support of the Thorbjarnarson family, WCS has established a memorial fellowship fund in John’s name.
Eligibility: For citizens of developing countries whose research interests are focused on the conservation of reptiles.
Primate Conservation Grants | Primate Conservation, Inc.
Primate Conservation, Inc. will grant seed monies or provide matching grants for graduate students, qualified conservationists and primatologists to study rare and endangered primates and their conservation in their natural habitat. Grants have averaged approximately $2,500, with a maximum grant of $5,000.
Eligibility: Regions of current interest are Asia and West Africa.
Search all conservation scholarships for research & projects
Search all conservation scholarships for research and projects on our Conservation Scholarships Board.
All Conservation Scholarships
At Conservation Careers we’re on a mission to help conservationists achieve career success, and create a world where wildlife thrives. We believe all conservationists should be able to pursue the best training opportunities, have the best experiences, conduct meaningful research and lead impactful conservation projects to boost their careers and ultimately help wildlife thrive.
But we know that, especially early in your career, money can be a big barrier, and sometimes even prevent talented conservationists from pursuing and growing their careers. That’s why we’ve reviewed some of the top conservation scholarships around the world.
Whether your next career step is training, research, an experience or a project, we hope to help you make it a reality.
Search all conservation scholarships
Explore funding that helps build your skills or knowledge –
whether via a short course, undergraduate degree, master’s or PhD.
Explore funding that helps you carry out research or conduct a project –
whether in the field or at your desk, locally or abroad.
Explore funding that helps you gain real-life experience – such as volunteering, internships, traineeships and expeditions.
Useful links & free stuff
To help you navigate your options, please select which best describes you:- You want to work in conservation but you’re feeling lost, disillusioned or confused?!? Check out our Kick-Starter training designed to help you understand the job market, to navigate your career options, and to get hired more quickly. It’s designed for students, graduates, job-seekers and career-switchers. We’re proud to say it also has 100% satisfaction and recommendation ratings. We know you’ll love it. Find out more about our Kick-Starter – Online Course.
- You need answers to top questions about working in conservation? Check out our free Ultimate Guides covering topics like the 15 Key Conservation Job Types, Top Conservation Internships | Paid or Free and Marine Conservation Jobs, and answering questions like How to Switch Careers into Conservation, Do I need a Master’s Degree? and much more! Or download our free guides to keep and read later!
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