Environmental Funding Opportunities

1. Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research
Several hundred dollars up to about US$5,400, American Philosophical Society
Deadline: 16 November 2026 (letters of support due 13 November 2026)
Small grants for doctoral students to carry out exploratory field studies that collect specimens and data, in disciplines with a heavy dependence on fieldwork such as biology, ecology, geography, geology and paleontology. Budgets are limited to travel and related field expenses, and the work should be directed toward the dissertation as far as the applicant’s stage allows. The competition is open to US citizens and residents working anywhere in the world; foreign applicants must be based at a US institution or plan to work in the United States. One of the two recommendation letters must come from the academic advisor, and notification comes in April 2027 for work taking place from May onward.
Apply: https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/lewis-and-clark-fund-exploration-and-field-research

2. Japan Fund for Global Environment Grants, Fiscal Year 2027
Amount set per project (not stated on the English guidance page), Japan Fund for Global Environment
Deadline: 16 November 2026 (application window opened 13 October 2026)
Grants for non-governmental and non-profit organisations carrying out environmental conservation activities, including non-profits working in developing countries on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. Non-Japanese organisations are only eligible if they have an agent, an organisation or individual with a bank account in Japan, who can communicate with the fund in Japanese both verbally and in writing. Every document must be submitted in Japanese on the fund’s official forms, and applications are made online.
Apply: https://www.erca.go.jp/jfge/english/wwd/grants.html

3. Global EbA Fund Medium-Size Grants (First Call)
Up to US$500,000, Global EbA Fund (IUCN and UNEP)
Deadline: 16 November 2026 (submission window opened 12 October 2026)
The fund’s first-ever call for medium-size grants supports projects that tackle systemic barriers to scaling ecosystem-based adaptation, including through innovative finance, human development and security, and stronger links across the climate, biodiversity and land agendas. Projects must be global or thematic, or target only ODA-eligible countries, and must build on existing work. Projects can run for up to 24 months, and applications are submitted through the fund’s online platform.
Apply: https://globalebafund.org/medium-size-grants/

4. Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, Fiscal Year 2026
No minimum or maximum award, US Federal Highway Administration
Deadline: 16 November 2026 (11:59pm EST)
Competitive grants for projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and, in doing so, improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. Eligible applicants include state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organisations, units of local government, regional transportation authorities, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, Indian Tribes and federal land management agencies, or groups of these. At least 60 percent of programme funding goes to projects in rural areas. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov, and awards are expected to be announced in March 2027.
Apply: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/41eb2492-6242-49f8-89ae-17d15c068be4

5. Ecological Society of America Awards 2027
Amount varies by award, Ecological Society of America
Deadline: 19 November 2026 (nominations)
Nominations are open for the society’s 2027 awards cycle, which includes the George Mercer Award for an outstanding paper by an early-career researcher, for papers published in 2025 or 2026. Unless an award states otherwise, nominees may be of any nationality or place of residence, with priority given to ESA members. Self-nominations are not accepted, except for the Forrest Shreve Student Research Fund for research in the hot deserts of North America. All nominations are submitted through the online awards site, and incomplete nominations are not reviewed.
Apply: https://esa.org/about/awards/

6. Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Round 12 (Main and Extra)
Amount varies by scheme, UK Government (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Deadline: 23 November 2026 (Stage 1; invited Stage 2 applications due 5 April 2027)
UK government competitive grants for projects that reduce pressure on wildlife from illegal trade and, in doing so, reduce poverty in developing countries. Main grants test new and innovative interventions to provide proof of concept at a smaller scale, while Extra grants expand approaches that have already demonstrated success and impact. Both schemes run a two-stage process: Stage 1 applications are submitted through the Biodiversity Challenge Funds Flexi-Grant portal, and shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full Stage 2 application.
Apply: https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk

7. Darwin Plus Local, Round 8
Up to £50,000 for organisations and £20,000 for individuals, UK Government (Darwin Plus)
Deadline: 23 November 2026
Funds small-scale environmental projects exclusively in the UK Overseas Territories that protect their biodiversity, improve resilience to climate change, build capacity in-territory and contribute to local economies. Projects in this round can last up to 12 months, starting from 1 April 2027 and finishing by 31 March 2028. Applications are single-stage, made on the Flexi-Grant portal, and must include a workplan on the fund’s template, a cover letter and, where applicable, a letter of support from the relevant territory government. Enquiries go to DarwinPlusLocal@jncc.gov.uk.
Apply: https://darwinplus.org.uk/apply/local-applications/

8. Awesome Foundation Conservation and Climate Micro-Grants
US$1,000, Awesome Foundation, Conservation and Climate chapter
Deadline: 27 November 2026 (one of six rounds a year)
Micro-grants for promising projects and innovations in nature conservation and climate change, particularly those that larger funding organisations may overlook. The chapter is volunteer-run and self-funded, with trustees pooling their own money to make the grants. The chapter may choose not to award a grant in a round if no application meets its criteria.
Apply: https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/conservationandclimate

9. Terre de Femmes International Award 2027
€10,000, Fondation Yves Rocher
Deadline: 30 November 2026 (midnight)
This year’s edition of the thematic award goes to two projects led by women, or collectives of women, that put trees at the heart of cities. Eligible work includes hands-on urban tree education, community orchards and forest gardens, protecting heritage trees, native tree nurseries and re-greening built-up areas such as streets, rooftops and school grounds. Applicants must be of legal age, of any nationality and resident anywhere, and the project must be carried out through a non-profit organisation that has existed for at least one year. Applications are submitted through the foundation’s Wiin platform.
Apply: https://www.yves-rocher-fondation.org/en/how-to-apply-for-the-international-award/

10. Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Fellowships and Mentorships 2027
One US$20,000 fellowship, six US$5,000 fellowships and ten mentorships, Vital Impacts
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Supports long-term documentary photography projects on environmental and conservation challenges and the people and communities working towards solutions. The US$20,000 fellowship goes to an established photographer and the six US$5,000 fellowships to emerging photographers worldwide, with applications strongly encouraged from photographers documenting their own communities or with a sustained relationship to the issue. Prior publication is not required, and fellows are expected to make substantial progress on their project over 12 months with guidance from the Vital Impacts mentorship community. One fellow will be invited to exhibit at the 2027 Festival of Ethical Photography in Lodi, Italy, with production, travel and accommodation covered.
Apply: https://site.picter.com/vital-impacts-environmental-photography-fellowship-2027

11. Climate Intervention Environmental Impact Fund Grants
US$75,000, Climate Intervention Environmental Impact Fund
Deadline: 1 December 2026 (sixth grant round)
Grants for teams preparing field tests of climate intervention technologies, to be spent on environmental impact assessment, predictive impact modelling, or engagement with potentially affected stakeholders from local communities to government agencies. Applications must focus on at least one of those three elements and answer ten set questions, including evidence that the technology is ready for field testing, the permits required and willingness to publish results. There is no standard form: applicants contact the fund’s manager before sending, applications are kept confidential, and any found to be written with AI are rejected. Decisions are expected by 1 February 2027.
Apply: https://cieif.org/guidelines-for-grant-applicants/

12. Turtle Conservation Fund Grant Program
Up to US$5,000, Turtle Conservation Fund
Deadline: 1 December 2026 (two cycles a year, 1 June and 1 December)
Supports conservation and research on highly threatened tortoises and freshwater turtles, with priority for species listed Critically Endangered or Endangered. Smaller requests of US$3,000 or less are encouraged, particularly from emerging turtle conservationists in developing countries. The fund does not support work on marine turtles. Proposals are submitted by email using the fund’s own template.
Apply: https://turtleconservationfund.org/grant-application-guidelines/

13. Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund Grant Program, Fiscal Year 2027
Amount varies by grant category, Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund
Deadline: 1 December 2026 (17:00 Japan Standard Time; window opened 1 October 2026)
Annual grants for nature conservation projects, offered across four categories: Basic Grant A, Basic Grant B, Standard Grant and Collaboration Grant, each with its own schedule and proposal template. Applications are submitted only through the fund’s web-based management system, and applicants must register for a login first, allowing extra time because registration can take a while. Gmail addresses cannot be used for registration, as they do not receive messages from the system. The outline, document list and application guidelines are linked from the programme page.
Apply: https://www.keidanren.net/kncf/en/fund/program

14. Neotropical Grassland Conservancy Student Grant Program
US$1,500, Neotropical Grassland Conservancy
Deadline: 1 December 2026 (three cycles a year: 1 April, 1 August and 1 December)
One-off grants for Latin American students enrolled in an MSc or PhD programme at a university in the United States or South America, covering basic research costs such as transport, lodging, meals and consumable field supplies. Applications are reviewed by the programme committee and two outside reviewers, judged on the student’s commitment to conservation, the feasibility and merit of the project, and its fit with the conservancy’s grassland conservation mission. Awardees submit a year-end report, after which they become eligible for further funding. The conservancy’s Research Equipment Program, which supplies field equipment to Latin American researchers, runs on the same deadlines.
Apply: https://conservegrassland.org/our-programs/

15. OSME Trevor Poyser Species Conservation Fund
£5,000, Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia
Deadline: 1 December 2026
One award a year for field-based research and conservation of a globally threatened bird species in the Middle East, the Caucasus or Central Asia, for projects starting in the following calendar year. Eligible species are listed on the society’s website and include Saker Falcon, Steppe Eagle, Sociable Lapwing, Northern Bald Ibis and Basra Reed Warbler. The project leader must be a national of the project country, the work must emphasise research and monitoring with clear conservation implications, and desk, laboratory and awareness-raising projects are not eligible. Applications go by email in English on the standard form, and the successful applicant is notified before 31 December.
Apply: https://osme.org/the-trevor-poyser-species-conservation-fund/

16. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 63
£15,000 grand title prize plus category awards (recognition and exhibition), Natural History Museum, London
Deadline: 3 December 2026 (11:30am GMT; entries open 19 October 2026)
The sixty-third edition of the Natural History Museum’s wildlife photography competition opens for entries on 19 October 2026 and closes on 3 December 2026. It is open to amateur and professional photographers of any age, with an adult competition across 19 categories, including a new Positive Action category for conservation successes, and a free young competition for those aged 17 and under. Adults may enter up to 25 images for a single £35 fee, which is waived for entrants aged 18 to 26 and for residents of 114 countries across Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Images must have been taken on or after 1 November 2021, AI-generated images are not accepted, and the 100 winning images are exhibited in London and toured internationally.
Apply: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/competition

17. GEF Small Grants Programme, Turkmenistan
Up to US$75,000, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
Deadline: 8 December 2026 (23:59 Ashgabat time)
Letters of inquiry are invited from public associations, enterprises of public organisations and economic entities based in Turkmenistan, in the first application round of the programme’s current operational phase in the country. Projects must sit in the Balkan-Caspian-Ustyurt, Southern Mountain and Semi-Arid, or Wetland, Coastal and Desert landscapes, or address cross-cutting national initiatives, and can cover species and habitat conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation, sustainable water management, sustainable livelihoods and civil society capacity. Women-led and youth-led organisations receive particular attention. Letters of inquiry, in English, Russian or Turkmen, go by email to sgpturkmenistan@cepf.net using the programme’s template, and all funded work must finish by 31 October 2028.
Apply: https://www.cepf.net/grants/open-calls-for-proposals/2026-turkmenistan-call-for-lois-gef-sgp

18. Roger Conant Grants in Herpetology
US$500 per award, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Deadline: 15 December 2026
Fourteen awards a year for herpetological research, education and conservation, across categories covering conservation, field research, laboratory research, travel, international students, herpetological education and undergraduate research. Most categories are for students who are SSAR members, but the international category is open to non-member students at institutions outside the United States, and the education category is open to anyone. Proposals are limited to 1,200 words, need a letter of support and a signed liability waiver, and are submitted as a single PDF. Awards are announced in March.
Apply: https://ssarherps.org/ssar-awards/grants-in-herpetology/

19. Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) 2027 Visiting Fellowships
€2,500 a month for 12 months plus a €500 settling-in allowance, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, implemented by Campus France
Deadline: 15 December 2026
Twelve-month research stays in France for early-career researchers of any nationality other than French who defended their PhD between December 2021 and December 2026. Eligible themes are Earth system sciences, climate change and sustainability sciences, energy transition, societal challenges related to environmental issues, and One Health projects linking human, animal and ecosystem health. Applicants must secure a host laboratory in France, cannot be living and working in France when they apply, and cannot have held a MOPGA fellowship before; international travel is not covered. Applications, in English or French, are submitted through Campus France’s online platform, with results in May to June 2027.
Apply: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/mopga-2027

20. Conservation, Food and Health Foundation Grants
Typically US$25,000 to US$50,000 a year (no set minimum or maximum), Conservation, Food and Health Foundation
Deadline: 22 December 2026 (concept applications; the following round closes 15 June 2027)
Seed funding for applied research, pilot projects, training and technical assistance in conservation, food and health in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. Conservation grants cover field research, projects and advocacy, and the foundation increasingly prioritises direct support to locally led organisations. NGOs, civil society organisations and academic institutions can apply, and organisations in higher-income countries are eligible when working with local partners in those regions. The process has two stages: a short online concept application in English, followed by a limited number of invited full proposals, with one concept application per organisation per cycle.
Apply: https://cfhfoundation.grantsmanagement08.com/

21. GCA Fellowship in Ecological Restoration
US$8,000, The Garden Club of America
Deadline: 31 December 2026
An annual fellowship for exceptional graduate students pursuing specialised study in ecological restoration at an accredited US university, with the aim of advancing knowledge and increasing the number of scientists in the field. The fellowship is not limited to a particular degree programme, and past recipients have come from disciplines including forestry, applied plant sciences and ecology. Applicants submit a research proposal and a budget showing how the award would be spent. Only one Garden Club of America scholarship, fellowship or award may be applied for each year.
Apply: https://dashboard.gcamerica.org/scholarships/details/ecological-restoration-fellowship

22. Global Raptor Research and Conservation Grant
Up to US$3,500, HawkWatch International
Deadline: 31 December 2026 (11:59pm Mountain Standard Time)
Supports local researchers working on a single high-priority raptor species, either to close critical knowledge gaps or to put effective conservation strategies in place, with up to three grants awarded a year. Eligible species are those scoring above 0.5 on HawkWatch’s updated priority index, and the project leader must be a citizen or permanent resident of the project country, affiliated with a registered NGO or university there. Projects in the United States, Canada or Europe are not eligible, applications must be in English, and all grant outputs must be completed within 18 months. Preference goes to projects where the grant makes up at least half the budget and to species with no prior research, and past recipients can apply for one further year of funding.
Apply: https://hawkwatch.org/investing-in-others/grrcg/

23. Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
Recent awards of about US$1,000 each, Roger Williams Park Zoo
Deadline: 1 January 2027
Supports field studies and other projects that take a multidisciplinary approach to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, including techniques for use in natural environments, environmental education and integrated breeding programmes, with the highest priority for projects involving in-country collaborators. Funds go to organisations such as NGOs and universities rather than individuals, and there are no nationality restrictions. Applications need a completed form with a detailed budget, a two-page CV, two recommendation letters and a tax form, submitted by email in English. Applications containing AI-generated material are ineligible, and awards are announced on 15 April 2027.
Apply: https://www.rwpzoo.org/danforth-conservation-grants/

24. EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants 2026
About US$180 million in total, US Environmental Protection Agency
Deadline: 22 January 2027 (11:59pm ET)
Funding to accelerate the upgrade, retrofit and replacement of older diesel engines, vehicles and equipment, including buses, heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, marine engines and nonroad equipment used in construction, cargo handling, agriculture, mining and energy production. Eligible applicants are regional, state, local and Tribal agencies and port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and non-profits that serve diesel fleet operators or whose principal purpose is promoting transportation or air quality. Funds cannot cover emission reductions already mandated by federal law, emissions testing equipment or fuelling infrastructure. Applications go through Grants.gov, which requires an active SAM.gov registration that can take a month or more, and selections are expected in May 2027.
Apply: https://www.epa.gov/dera/national

25. Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, January 2027 Window
Up to US$25,000, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
Deadline: 31 January 2027 (GMT; window opens 4 January 2027)
Targeted grants for individual species conservation initiatives, open to conservation efforts for any plant, animal or fungus species worldwide, without restriction by region or species. The fund runs three application rounds a year, in January, May and September or October, and applications submitted by 31 January 2027 should receive a response in late April 2027. The fund describes its submission deadlines as inflexible, and applications are made online through its grants page.
Apply: https://www.speciesconservation.org/biodiversity-nature-people/conservation-philanthropy/grants/

26. National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Up to US$10,000, National Geographic Society
Deadline: 5 February 2027
A challenge for 13 to 18-year-olds to submit a one-minute video describing their idea for solving an environmental issue, with selected entrants receiving up to US$10,000 to put it into practice. Participants register on the Videos for Change platform, and those under 18 need a guardian’s email and consent. The challenge offers resources and virtual sessions for developing ideas, and is supported by the National Geographic Society and Allen Family Philanthropies.
Apply: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/explore/programs/slingshot

27. European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund
€10,000 to €50,000, IUCN Save Our Species, funded by the European Union
Deadline: 10 February 2027 (14:00 CEST), or earlier if funds are fully allocated
Fast-track grants for urgent action against recent incursions of invasive alien species in the European Union, aimed at stopping small invasions before they become established. Projects run for up to 12 months and must focus primarily on physical eradication or management, with a small share of the budget allowed for monitoring effectiveness. The call is open to civil society organisations, NGOs, research institutions and public authorities operating in the EU, including the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira, but not other overseas territories. Land purchase, firearms and activities affecting cultural heritage are excluded, and IUCN has said the call closes early once the money is committed.
Apply: https://iucnsos.org/initiative/european-invasive-alien-species-rapid-response-fund/

28. WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
US$50,000 to US$300,000, US Bureau of Reclamation
Deadline: 24 February 2027 (next round; later rounds close 1 September 2027 and 15 February 2028)
Funding for watershed group development, watershed restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. Applicants must be an existing watershed group incorporated as a non-profit, or an eligible state, Tribe, local or special district, non-profit or university sponsoring a new watershed group. Projects must be in one of 19 western US states or in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico. No cost share is required, and around 100 awards are expected from a US$25 million pool across all rounds.
Apply: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/362755

29. ASM Latin American Student Field Research Award and Oliver P. Pearson Award
Student awards of up to US$2,250; Pearson Award of US$5,000 to US$8,000 plus up to US$2,000 for travel, American Society of Mammalogists
Deadline: 1 March 2027
The student award supports field research in Latin America by graduate students who are citizens of Latin American countries, on the natural history, conservation, ecology, systematics, wildlife biology, biogeography or behaviour of mammals. The Pearson Award supports one young professional of any nationality, within five years of their PhD and holding an academic or curatorial post at a Latin American institution, to establish or consolidate a research programme. Pearson applicants must be society members. Applications are submitted through the society’s webform, and documents in Spanish or Portuguese are accepted for the student award.
Apply: https://www.mammalsociety.org/committees/latin-american-fellowship