Melanie Colón

In this Toolkit, you will find supports for writing a grant application for funding. Part I gives a step-by-step overview of the grantwriting process. Part II provides a general template for writing a grant application. Completing Part II will give you a solid proposal that can be adapted to meet specific grant opportunities and review criteria for specific funders. Additional tools can be found at the end of the section.

The Australian Bird Study Association Inc. operates a fund to provide financial assistance to ornithological researchers, both amateur and professional. This fund, known as the ABSA Fund for Avian Research (FAR), comprises a special deposit account that was established from donations made to the Association to support research on Australian native birds. The total amount available for grants in any year is limited to the interest earned on the FAR account over the preceding year. The total value of annual grants will not normally exceed $2,000 and is intended to provide researchers with assistance in the acquisition of research equipment and/or travel within Australia. In awarding grants, the management committee of the Australian Bird Study Association will assess the quality of the project; the applicant’s ability to carry it out; a realistic costing and timetable; and the likelihood that successful completion of the research will lead to publication of the results.

Purpose: The Avian Scientific Advisory Group (ASAG) believes that recruiting and building capacity in the next generation of zoo bird managers is vital to the continuity and survival of zoo avian programs. To this end, ASAG offers small grants to bird keepers and working bird husbandry supervisors. This grant supports travel to the annual National AAZK conference for the purpose of presenting a paper on advancements in the care, welfare, or reproduction of avian species in zoos and/or field conservation projects in which the applicant has been involved in a lead role. It is envisioned that grant recipients will become more familiar with ASAG purpose and goals, begin to establish a network of colleagues and mentors, and become active participating members of AZA avian programs. Criteria for Funding: Grant applicants must be a paid employee of an AZA accredited institution, a member of either AZA or AAZK [National or local chapter], and have worked in a position that involves the care and management of captive birds for at least two years. Persons holding the title Curator or Assistant Curator (or their equivalent) are not eligible. Applicants will make a presentation on either original research or a case study relevant to zoo aviculture or programs at the annual AAZK conference. All work must be original and not have been presented or published elsewhere. Preferred topics are those which involve taxa of current or future priority in the appropriate TAG regional collection plans; taxa for which innovation in breeding or captive management are needed; taxa of conservation priority in the wild; significant advancements in the welfare of captive zoo birds; and significant avian conservation programs. Applicants will also be judged on their leadership potential, initiative, and problem solving skills as recommended by their direct supervisor and resume.

ASAG started as an informal group of bird curators, keepers and other interested animal managers that gathered at AZA conferences to discuss avian issues. In 1988, the group put together two avian workshops at the AZA Central Regional conference. The goal of the workshops was to encourage dialogue between bird curators and field researchers on captive management practices. Workshops have been part of an AZA regional conference annually since 1988.

Seattle City Light is offering wildlife research funds to qualifying applicants. The Wildlife Research Program (WRP) was established in response to federal licensing requirements related to the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. The primary goal of the WRP is to facilitate the development of improved methods for the understanding, management, and protection of wildlife resources in the North Cascades ecosystem, with an emphasis on the Skagit River Watershed. A secondary goal of the program is to contribute to the training of new researchers and investigators. Since 1995, SCL has funded a wide range of research projects including riparian plant communities, aquatic invertebrates, shorebirds in the Skagit River Delta, lynx ecology, land bird monitoring, mountain goats, American pika, wolverines, amphibians, and grizzly bear. WRP has projects located throughout western Washington and into southern British Columbia (see map) as long as the projects had direct relevance to the Skagit River watershed. Key criteria to qualify for research funds: Projects must meet all of the WRP's goals as outlined in the Mission and Goals statement; Selected projects should complement, contribute to, or build onto the existing body of wildlife research; Professional standards must be met for all research funded; Projects may not duplicate or substitute for usual agency responsibilities and programs; Due to the limited grant budget, applicants are strongly encouraged to contribute in-kind services and obtain co-funding from other sources; The application process is competitive through the pre-proposal and full proposal stages. If an applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, there is no guarantee that an award will be made for that project.

MOS Scholarships The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) annually awards a number of scholarships to teachers and youth leaders who are involved with conservation and environmental education. Each award covers the cost of tuition, room, and board for an intensive five or six-day course of study and instruction in ornithology, ecology, conservation, and natural history. Travel arrangements and costs are the recipient’s responsibility. A flyer is available if you wish to post or email it to others. MOS awards Ecology or Ornithology Scholarships to Maryland teachers and youth leaders for summer workshops at either the National Audubon Society’s camp on Hog Island in Maine, or Washington College on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Each award covers the cost of tuition, room, and board for an intensive five or six-day course of study and instruction in ornithology, ecology, conservation, and natural history. Travel arrangements and costs are the recipient’s responsibility. Up to ten scholarships may be awarded annually. Maine workshop selections may vary from year to year and are listed on the scholarship choices document. For information about the Maryland residential workshops, please refer to http://www.ymos.org/educator-resources/. Scholarship recipients must work with young people. Teachers, camp counselors, park rangers, and others who intend to make nature education a part of their careers are eligible. Applicants need not be members of MOS, but must be endorsed by a chapter or a member of MOS. Please refer to the scholarship fact sheet for more information or contact the Scholarship Chair directly

The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) annually awards a number of research grants to encourage the study of birds in Maryland. MOS research grants encourage ecological and conservation research on birds in Maryland. Graduate school projects, projects which involve volunteers, and proposals which are not normally funded through traditional academic, governmental or professional sources are of most interest. Applications for projects which are funded from a variety of sources are strongly encouraged, but grants are open to all levels of researchers from amateurs to graduate students to professionals. Proposals are accepted throughout the year, but reviewed only twice annually. To meet review deadlines, proposals must be submitted by December 1 or June 1. Selections will be made by February 1 or August 1, depending upon the review period, and announced shortly thereafter. Late or time sensitive proposals are eligible for unawarded funds, if any, or at the discretion of the chair, may be considered along with new proposals at the next formal review session. The number of grants awarded varies each year depending upon the number of entries and the amount of the available grants. The combined value of all grants seldom exceeds $3,000, but individual grants may range from a few hundred, up to one or two thousand dollars. Well presented multi-year requests may be considered. Grants support relatively modest requests to defray the expense of short-life items such as expendable equipment, travel, food, lodging, communications costs, laboratory costs, etc., and are usually awarded to individuals. Grants are not intended for major expenses, such as capital equipment (binoculars), student stipends or administrative overhead. Any long-life equipment approved for purchase with the grant must be turned over to a public sector custodian upon completion of the study. Grants may not be used for studies already completed, or to replace funds promised to a researcher.

Grants: A total of $1000 in grant money may be authorized annually for Project Proposals that are approved by the IBBA Grant Committee. Notification of grant decisions will be announced and recommended for approval at the Annual IBBA Meeting. Applicants are not required to be members of the Inland Bird Banding Association and the proposed research does not necessarily need to involve the study of marked or banded birds; however, priority will be given to studies being conducted in the Inland Bird Banding Association states and provinces and those that have matching funds. The maximum annual limit for all IBBA grants from the Paul Stewart Avian Research Fund is $1000.

The Inland Bird Banding Association was organized over ninety years ago in 1922, in Chicago, Illinois, and in that same year began publishing the scientific work of bird banders. (For information about publication, check out our Publications page.) The IBBA has been growing ever since and now has members in 34 states and 4 provinces.

HSC and its charitable arm, the American Conservation and Education Society* (ACES) have contributed millions of dollars to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats the world over. Habitat protection initiatives, research programs, species promulgation, wildlife population management, water projects, urban sprawl, anti-poaching and other efforts are recipients of the HSC grant program. *ACES is a 501©3 non-profit organization. Grant requests are reviewed on a monthly basis by HSC’s Grants Committee and HSC’s Board of Directors. The purpose and goal of a grant request must be aligned with HSC’s mission statement: Preserving the sport of hunting through education, conservation and the protection of hunters’ rights. If you feel your project or organization would qualify to receive a grant from the HSC, please submit the HSC Grant Application.

Houston Safari Club, established in 1972, is a volunteer non-profit conservation, education, and sporting rights advocacy organization based in Houston, Texas. With a large and influential membership, Houston Safari Club works diligently to preserve the sporting heritage, support wildlife conservation, and promote education both locally and throughout the world.

The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to supporting imperiled species, habitats and their surrounding communities through conservation, research and education. The Zoo is offering $10,000.00 for competitive small grants in amounts not to exceed $2,500.00 each. Grants will be awarded based on proposal merit and in accordance with one or more of the following purposes: Conservation Education – building an awareness of a conservation program that can effect change. Scientific Research – in-situ or ex-situ research projects that have a direct impact on conservation of an imperiled species or habitat in its native location. Species Preservation – direct care or work with an imperiled species in-situ or ex-situ that results in an improved capability to preserve that species in its native habitat.

The Zoo is dedicated to the preservation of the Earth's natural resources and committed to supporting imperiled species, habitats and their surrounding communities through conservation, research and education. To meet this mission, the Zoo supports numerous local, national and international conservation projects.

The British Birdwatching Fair (Birdfair) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) together provide grants to support research projects on any birds listed by IUCN as “Endangered”, “Critically Endangered” or “Data Deficient”. Grants of up to a maximum of US $2,000 are awarded, but funds are limited and demand is extremely high, so smaller requests are more likely to succeed than larger ones. Funding is for scientific research only, and is not provided for undertaking actions such as awareness raising, advocacy or education. Projects that might qualify include searches for species with no or few currently known occupied sites, ecological research on poorly known species and work that clarifies the taxonomic or conservation status of threatened species. Priority is given to researchers working in their own country, particularly where they are working for or in collaboration with the local BirdLife Partner, and to researchers addressing research requirements identified as priorities by BirdLife International (see below). BirdLife Partners themselves are invited to apply. Applications from BirdLife Species Guardians are particularly welcomed. Funds are not usually provided for international flights.

Denver Field Ornithologists offers grants in the range of $200 to $5000 annually. Individuals or organizations are encouraged to apply. In the past, grants have been awarded to the East High School Bird Club, Eagle and other Scouting projects, raptor rehabilitation, teacher training, ornithology camp scholarships for young people, avian research on Burrowing Owls and Mallard duck nest structures, and others. Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the DFO Research, Education and Conservation Fund Committee. New funding becomes available in January of each year and grants are processed on a first-come first-serve basis until the year’s funds are exhausted. Grants will be processed and notification made in a timely manner.

The Lark Bunting has been published monthly since October 1965 for members of the Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO), and copies are routinely sent to The Denver Museum of Nature and Science for data preservation. It provides monthly program information, upcoming trip information, and articles of interest to the Denver birder. Submissions from membership are welcome.

Athens is an area rich with parks, active citizens, and wildlife. Athens/Clarke County is home to over 200 bird species that rely on habitats maintained by citizens in this beautiful region. The diversity and health of wildlife and wildlife habitat in Athens relies upon the efforts of its citizens, and one of ORAS's goals is to promote awareness of the remarkable diversity of nature in our own backyards. The conservation grant program began in the fall of 2009. Since its creation, the conservation grant has funded several scientific research, community service, and conservation projects not only in Athens, but throughout the state of Georgia. Amount: $300 Eligible Applicants: Any individual wishing to conduct wildlife research with an emphasis on bird conservation, habitat improvement, or environmental education within Georgia. Eligible Locations: Locally or throughout the state of Georgia, depending upon the theme and relative importance of the project to conservation. Requirements: Successful applicants are expected to submit a report detailing findings or results to ORAS. In addition, applicants are expected to give a 30min to 1hr presentation of their project during one of ORAS’s monthly meetings.

Athens is an area rich with parks, active citizens, and wildlife. Athens/Clarke County is home to over 200 bird species that rely on habitats maintained by citizens in this beautiful region. The diversity and health of wildlife and wildlife habitat in Athens relies upon the efforts of its citizens, and one of ORAS's goals is to promote awareness of the remarkable diversity of nature in our own backyards.

In keeping with our mission, Laramie Audubon Society will offer small grants for conservation, scholarship, and outreach. Conservation grants include conservation and restoration projects as well as research in the Laramie region. Scholarship grants include attending conferences, workshops, or summer camps in Laramie or elsewhere. Outreach grants support projects that increase knowledge and appreciation for birds, other wildlife, and habitats in the Laramie region. Grants will generally be awarded for no more than $500.

The Laramie Audubon Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational organization based in Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie Audubon Society promotes the conservation and appreciation of birds and other wildlife through education, outreach, and habitat stewardship.

The Fund honors Orville Crowder and Don Messersmith, two leaders in nature tourism, as a means to further global nature conservation. The Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund, together with the International foray program allows ANS members to experience and promote other cultures and environments and to help promote conservation awareness and protection beyond the United States. The fund helps small, local conservation and/or education projects in developing countries. Its grants provide seed money to communities and individuals whose projects have not attracted major support from other sources. Grants have provided more than 75 projects with start-up costs since 1974. The Audubon Naturalist Society has administered the Fund since 1999. In 2011, the Fund supported projects to help protect and preserve endangered species in Oceania, Africa, and Asia. Two of the species that benefited from the grants are listed by the IUCN as near-threatened; the third is critically endangered.

The Audubon Naturalist Society inspires residents of the greater Washington, DC, region to appreciate, understand, and protect their natural environment through outdoor experiences, education, and advocacy. ANS Vision The Audubon Naturalist Society seeks to create a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it.

CSIRO PUBLISHING has a long history of publishing journals in partnership with leading scientific societies and organisations and has proudly published Emu – Austral Ornithology on behalf of BirdLife Australia since 2001. As part of its commitment to supporting BirdLife Australia, CSIRO Publishing is pleased to announce sponsorship of a new annual research award from 2013. The Emu – Austral Ornithology Research Award will be administered by BirdLife Australia along with our other distinguished awards and grants. Up to $5,000 is available annually to support strong research projects.