This page curates funding, fellowships, prizes, and awards across conservation, environmental science, policy, practice, and communication. It draws on my experience in environmental leadership and mentorship and is designed to broaden access and support both applicants and nominators.
I began curating this list because I could not find anything comparable when I needed it. It is now widely shared by mentors and leaders working to expand access and recognition. Equity and inclusion are central here. Many opportunities listed below explicitly support women, Indigenous, Black and racialized, LGBTQ2S+, first-generation, and other under-represented groups.
People use this resource to:
find funding, scholarships, fellowships, or awards they may be eligible for
share opportunities with students, colleagues, mentees, or community partners
nominate others for prizes and recognition they might not self-nominate for
scan what exists and think differently about possible next steps
If this page is useful, please share it. If you know of an opportunity that belongs here, let me know.
Alongside Wildlife Foundation small-grants program helps fund important projects that are typically overlooked (e.g., natural history, science communication)
Anne Kantor Fellowships (General or *Young Women Environmentalists) are $50k for 1 year to 'equip and encourage new voices in Australia's future policy and democratic debates' (including environment, climate change, advocacy)
Aspire Grant Program ($5,000 USD) for African grad students and early career professionals working on Congo Basin conservation
Harvard-Kennedy Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs has numerous fellowships (PhD students, postdocs, junior faculty, maybe other groups) to study topics like Arctic research, energy/climate/techn, history and policy, etc.
British Ecological Society Outreach Grant funds members to promote ecological science to a wide audience (<£2,000)
Charles Boyden Fund for Small Grants (£500, estuarine and coastal research) to travel for a conference, workshop, training, fieldwork, or to buy goods. Preference for students
Conservation Alliance's Confluence Program ($50k x 2 years, multiple awards) is for BIPOC and historically racially marginalized people working to protect natural places
Ford Foundation Fellowships (pre-doctoral and dissertation) for US citizens to increase ethnic and racial diversity
Future for Nature Award recognizes early-career individuals (<35 years old) for their leadership and creativity to achieve tangible conservation success for one or more wild animal/plant species/population
Garden Club of America has scholarships for botany-related research (don't have to be a US citizen)
Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship (~$10,000) for North American graduate students with academic/long-term career goals to help improve wilderness conservation in the US
Idea Wild gives small equipment grants to conservation professionals, especially in critical biodiversity hotspots
Instrumentl is a new crowd-funding platform for women in science to raise research funds
Joke Waller-Hunter (JWH) Initiative funds young leaders of environmental and community organizations from developing countries & emerging economies (includes Canadian First Nations)
National Science to Action Fellowship for graduate students in US Northwest to study climate change impacts on fish, wildlife, or ecosystems to decision making
OECD Co-operative Research Programme Fellowship for research scientists (≥ 4 years postdoc training) working in agriculture, forestry or fisheries to conduct research projects in another OECD country. Also see funding to host conference or workshop.
Playa Summer Lake is a funded retreat in Oregon for creative people or groups working on literature, the arts, and/or natural sciences
Prince Bernhard Nature Fund for work on critically endangered flora and fauna in Africa, Asia and Latin America
oSTEM and Queer in AI Graduate School Application Program to help queer people apply for grad and med school, including up to $750 USD for application or test fees. International -- all universities and nationalities can apply. They need mentors too!
Rachel Carson Centre (in Germany) international fellowships for postdocs working on transformations in environment and society.
* Toptal Scholarships for Women empower future female leaders to change the world ($10k + 1 year mentorship, >16 years old)
Torrey Botanical Society has awards for undergraduate and graduate student botanical research, training, and conferences. You have to pay to be a member in order to apply, which I don't like for equity reasons.
WCS Graduate Scholarship Program funds international Masters or PhD programs for exceptional conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups
Wenner-Gren Foundation funds anthropology PhDs, postdocs, and international conferences or workshops
Whitley Award supports outstanding nature conservationists around the developing world
Y2Y Partner Grants support small, grassroots conservation projects in the Y2Y region (not research)
Young Nature Leaders Grant from Nature Canada is up to $1000 for someone <30 years old "to develop and implement a project to celebrate the role that nature plays in our Canadian culture and identity"
Young Leaders Award provides up to $50k cash and support for young (20-39) environmental changemakers in Canada and the USA
BC - BC Nature Rene Savenye Scholarship for undergraduate studies to improve environmental awareness and understanding
BC - Bullitt Environmental Fellowship is for grad students from under-represented communities who possess a capacity for leadership and who show exceptional scholarship (for work in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest)
BC - Bullitt Foundation funds urban sustainability work in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest
BC - College of Applied Biology Linda Michaluk Scholarship for grad students working on science-informed decision making
Bill Mason Memorial Scholarship ($2000) is for a Canadian undergraduate student in outdoor rec, education, environmental studies or similar with an interest in the environment and background in canoeing
Canadian Council on Ecological Areas Stan Rowe Home Place Graduate Award for first-year Master's students studying ecosystem or landscape-based approach to selecting, establishing, or managing protected ecological areas in Canada
Yukon Conservation Society's Ted Parnell Scholarship ($500) to undergraduate student Yukon resident of environmental studies who demonstrates outstanding interest and motivation in the environmental field
Fellowships (mostly for non-students, though students might be eligible)
Canada only
Bullitt Environmental Fellowship is for grad students from under-represented communities who possess a capacity for leadership and who show exceptional scholarship (for work in British Columbia)
Pathy Foundation Fellowship is a paid, year-long program with $50k funding for recent Master's or undegrad students in Canada to lead social change, anywhere in the world
Bullitt Environmental Fellowship is for grad students from under-represented communities who possess a capacity for leadership and who show exceptional scholarship (for work in US Pacific Northwest)
Earth Leadership Program is for mid-career university faculty to develop skills in communication and leadership (used to be the Leopold Leadership Program)
Indigenous Leaders Conservation Fellowship (Conservation International) for indigenous leaders from East Africa, Asia, and the Amazon to explore solutions to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss using traditional knowledge
Iris Prize is for projects led by youth 14-24 years old that protect and restore nature and the rights of those working to defend it.
James S. McDonnell Foundation postdoc fellowships toward the discovery and refinement of theoretical and mathematical tools contributing to the continued development of the study of complex, adaptive, nonlinear systems
Kinship Conservation Fellows emphasizes "market-based solutions" to environmental problems (for practitioners, not researchers)
WCS Graduate Scholarship Program funds international Masters or PhD programs for exceptional conservationists from Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and North American indigenous groups
WWF's Train Fellowships support individuals from developing countries to a) pursue a graduate degree in conservation, or b) improve training as a current or aspiring faculty member
Wyss Fellows's 2-year program for emerging conservation leaders (recent graduates or career change) in western United States
Young Leaders Award provides up to $50k cash and support for young (20-39) environmental changemakers in Canada and the USA
Science communication and art (some are mixed in above/below)
Canadian Wilderness Artist Residency is for artists to find inspiration, community and resonance with the land while broadening experience in northern Canada. Maybe subsidized? There is a cost.
Informal Science has a list of external bodies that fund "informal STEM education"
Leaders for Sea Change Program for marine conservationists and scientists working in Pacific coast of Canada, US, and Mexico
Metcalf Institute’s annual science immersion workshop for journalists (reporters and editors) to study climate change, fisheries and water management, sea level rise, and coastal pollution
National Science Policy Network microgrant initiative supports initiatives led by US early-career scientists advocating for science policy and diplomacy
Know someone doing outstanding work? Nominate them for an award. Be mindful of diversity and bias in nominations and writing reference letters.
Canada only
3M Environmental Innovation Award recognizes outstanding individuals in business, government, academia or community organizations whose innovative contributions to environmental change are benefiting Canada and Canadians
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Power of Youth Leadership Award for people <32 years old who live/work in BC (one award for research/analysis and one award for building social movements)
Canadian Institute of Forestry has >10 national awards recognizing forest and forestry-related research, communication, DEI, and more
Canadian Museum of Nature's Nature Inspiration Awards recognize individuals and organizations that encourage Canadians to take an interest in natural history, create links with nature, and contribute to its preservation
Coastal Ocean Awards for marine and coastal research, conservation, and tech in BC, Canada (junior & senior categories)
Quebec's Forces Avenir awardsrecognize, promote and honour university students or groups who have distinguished themselves in arts, culture, health, science, technology, peace, and more
International Mohn Prize for Outstanding Research Related to the Arctic
Power of Youth Leadership Awards for young (<32 years old), progressive leaders in British Columbia -- one award for helping to build social movement and one for public interest or policy-related research
Stevenson Lectureship Award is for early-career (<10 years after PhD) aquatic or fisheries scientists in Canada
Wildlife Preservation Canada'sAlec Monro Award for early or mid-career Canadians working on endangered species conservation
Yukon Conservation Society's Gerry Couture Stewardship Award for outstanding personal dedication to natural resource conservation and management in the Yukon
International awards (Canadians might be eligible too)
BioOne Ambassador Award is for early-career researchers who have recently published in BioOne-related journals (a number are wildlife/conservation/ecology) and you have to be nominated by a BioOne partner (some professional societies qualify, e.g., TWS)
Blue Planet Prize for outstanding individuals or organizations who have helped to improve the global environment
* RAISE Project maintains the world's largest database for awards/prizes in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (with particular emphasis on nominating deserving women)
Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (international) recognizes individuals making a difference in environmental science, health, or energy conferring great benefit for humanity
Animals Travel Award (800 CHF) for PhD students and postdocs presenting 'animal science' at an international conference
AuthorAID has grants for researchers in developing countries to travel and present research, and to organize workshops
British Ecological Society training grants (£1,000) for students and post-grad research assistants to attend field training courses, workshops and conferences
Charles Boyden Fund for Small Grants (£500, estuarine and coastal research) to travel for a conference, workshop, training, fieldwork, or to buy goods. Preference for students.
Diversity Journal Travel Award for postdoctoral students to attend a conference (800 CHF)
Gregory Award provides economic assistance to outstanding students and young professionals from outside of the US and Canada to attend the Society of American Foresters National Convention
OECD Co-operative Research Programme funding to host conference/workshop related to agriculture, forestry or fisheries. Also see fellowship program (must have 4 years postdoc training).