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Conservation Trust Grant ApplicationConservation Trust

Are you a conservationist ready to make your vision a reality? Apply for a Conservation Trust grant and discover how we can help you get your project off the ground.

Photo: Mark Lynas
Photograph by Tim Helweg-Larsen

The objective of the Conservation Trust is to support conservation activities around the world as they fit within the mission of the National Geographic Society. The trust will fund projects that contribute significantly to the preservation and sustainable use of the Earth's biological, cultural, and historical resources.

While the Conservation Trust acknowledges the need to preserve archaeological sites and artifacts, our current budget limits prevent us from funding such requests.

Eligibility
The Conservation Trust's strength lies in supporting cutting edge programs that might be overlooked by other organizations, due to the risk involved in working with new investigators and in new fields.

Applicants are not expected to have Ph.D.'s or other advanced degrees. However, applicants must provide a record of prior research or conservation action as it pertains to the proposed project. Funding is not restricted to United States citizens. Researchers planning work in foreign countries should include at least one local collaborator as part of their research teams.

Grant Limits
While grant amounts vary greatly, most range from U.S. $15,000 to $20,000. As National Geographic Society funds are intended to function as complementary support, the trust strongly encourages applicants to seek additional, concurrent funding from other funding agencies.

Grant Restrictions
National Geographic Society grants may not be used for indirect costs, overhead, and other expenses not directly related to the project. Fringe benefits are also excluded, as are salaries.

Funds may not be used for travel to scientific/professional meetings or conferences, legal actions, land acquisition, endowments, construction of permanent field stations, or publication of research results.

Grant recipients are expected to provide the National Geographic Society with rights of first refusal for popular publication of their findings.

Obtaining an Application Form
Applying for a grant from the Conservation Trust is a two-step process.

Step 1: Pre-Application
Before receiving an application form, each principal investigator must submit a pre-application form online. There are a few things you should know before doing so:

  • The pre-application form can be completed in multiple sessions. You will be allowed to save your work and complete it at another time.
  • You will be asked to upload an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) while completing the form. Instructions will be provided.
  • Please make sure that your browser is configured to receive cookies.
  • This system works best on Internet Explorer 5.5 and Netscape 6.0 or higher.
  • If you have any questions about the online pre-application form, Please email conservationtrust@ngs.org.
  • The Conservation Trust accepts pre-applications throughout the year. Please submit your pre-application at least eight months prior to anticipated field dates.

Within eight weeks the principal investigator will receive a decision. If the pre-application is approved, the Board will send the project director an email with a link to the full application online.

Fill out pre-application.
Access your saved pre-application form.

Step 2: Application
After receiving an application, the project director must complete and submit their application online. There are a few things he or she should know before doing so:

  • The Conservation Trust accepts applications throughout the year. However, please allow eight months from the board's receipt of your application for the board to formally review and consider it.
  • Previous National Geographic Society grantees must first comply with all prior reporting and financial-accounting obligations before submitting applications for additional support.
  • Grants funded by the Conservation Trust are for one year's work in the field and/or laboratory. For more information, email conservationtrust@ngs.org.

We strongly encourage electronic submission of all documents. If this is not possible, please submit your information to the following address:

Conservation Trust
National Geographic Society
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20090-8249
U.S.A.

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