Funding & awards

Scholarships, Grants, and Research Funding and Awards

*indicates funding specifically for women

This is sort of a 'brain dump' of funding for ecology and conservation research, fieldwork, scholarships, fellowships, etc. Many are for projects in western North America and sub-Saharan Africa (reflecting my work), as well as for women and early-career folks (reflecting, uh, me). Also check out this list of early-career funding.

If you find these resources useful, or if you get funding from it, please consider a charitable donation to Y2Y since I maintain it during my lunch break.

Scholarship and fieldwork funding (some non-fieldwork too)

International (including US)

*Advance Africa's list of scholarships for African women
Association of Commonwealth Universities scholarships/visiting fellowships for ACU member institutions around the world
Biology Postdoc Resources collates info on postdoctoral fellowships and grants available worldwide
Botany in Action Fellowship for US-based PhD students doing plant-based field research
Coalition Wild has a big list of conservation-related international fellowships and grants
Committee for Environmental Cooperation North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA)
Conservation Leadership Programme has three levels of awards for early-career conservationists
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund grants 'help implement an investment strategy' in biodiversity hotspots
EDGE of Existence Fellowship (ZSL) for in-country conservationists to work on wildlife management and research
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)
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)
Joseph L. Fisher Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for final-year PhD students studying environment, natural resources, or energy
JRS Biodiversity Foundation funds bioinformatics work on biodiversity conservation and development in sub-Saharan Africa
Keep Calm, Get Money (Or, a Starter List for Grant Hustling) by Asia Murphy
The Maya Research Program has a huge list of external fellowships and grants for conservation, archaeology, anthropology & more
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund supports individual species conservation and recognizes conservation leaders
* MyAfricaNow's list of scholarships for women in Africa and other developing countries
National Geographic Young Explorers Grant funds fieldwork for <25 year olds (2-5K in complementary support; not salaries)
National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration funds fieldwork for hypothesis-driven scientific research
National Geographic Conservation Trust funds fieldwork for innovative and applied approaches to conservation
National Geographic Expeditions Council funds "exploration and adventure" around the world
National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) has a number of workshops and fellowships in the US
Nationally Coveted College Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Awards by Francisco Tomei
*Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World has PhD funding for women in the natural sciences
People's Trust for Endangered Species supports research and conservation on endangered species around the world.
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
Rachel Carson Centre (in Germany) international fellowships for postdocs working on transformations in environment and society.
Rafe Sagarin Fund for Innovative Ecology is a grant for grad students and postdocs doing observational ecology/natural history
Resources For the Future fellowships, internships, and grants re: the environment, energy, and natural resources around the world
* Robbie Melton Women In Bio scholarship (there's a Montreal chapter)
Rufford Foundation Small Grants Program funds nature conservation projects in the developing world
Russell E. Train Fellowships (WWF) funds Master’s and PhD studies for conservationists from developing countries
* Science Magazine's list of grants for women in science
Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology grants for student research and fieldwork
Terra Viva Grants Directory for grants about agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in less developed countries
The Nature Conservancy's internal Coda Global Fellows Program is for TNC staff to use their expertise around the world
Walt Disney Conservation Fund supports research on wildlife, habitats, and community conservation and education
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
The Whitley Award supports outstanding nature conservationists around the developing world
Wilburforce Fellowship in Conservation Science for conservation scientists working in western North America
Wildlife Conservation Network funds field-based wildlife conservation organization
Women [Scuba] Divers Hall of Fame Scholarships & Training Grants
Wyss Scholars (Master's and Law students) working on conservation in the western United States
Y2Y's Sarah Baker Memorial Fund Award for graduate students and postdocs working in the Yellowstone to Yukon region

Canada-only

Aboriginal Bursary Search Tool lists nearly 800 bursaries and scholarships for First Nations students in Canada
Aboriginal Learning Links grants and scholarships for First Nations students in Canada
Rupertsland Institute provides post-secondary financial aid to Métis students
Award Opportunities in BC and Canada (curated by the University of British Columbia)
BC - BC Aboriginal Scholarship Guide (curated by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society)
BC - BC Nature Rene Savenye Scholarship for undergraduate studies to improve environmental awareness and understanding
BC - Bullitt Environmental Fellowship is for grad students from underrepresented 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
BC - Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society in British Columbia (includes aboriginal, study-abroad, and transfer students)
BC - Province of BC Grants database (wide variety of public and private grants for fieldwork, equipment, scholarships, etc.)
* Canadian Foundation of University Women grants and scholarships
BC - Coastal Ocean Awards for research, conservation, outreach work on British Columbia ocean and coastal work
BC - Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia annual Distinguished Academics Awards
BC - UVic's Internal grants, Dean's Conference Fund (Social Science) to put on a workshop or conference, Wanosts’a7 Scholarship for graduate student working on Indigenous knowledge or Indigenous languages
Canadian Council on Ecological Area Stan Rowe Home Place Graduate Award for Master's students studying ecosystem or landscape-based approach to selecting, establishing, or managing protected ecological areas in Canada
CWF's Orville Erickson Memorial Scholarship for undergrad and grad students studying conservation ($500-4000)
Dalhousie University's funding for graduate students database
First Nations scholarships, awards, and bursaries (curated by Concordia University)
Government of Canada International Scholarship Opportunities for Canadians (students, postdocs, faculty)
International Development Research Centre doctoral awards for Canadians and developing countries
The JWH Initiative funds training for young leaders of environmental and community organizations from First Nations
* Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation of Canada
Loran Scholars is for high-school/CEGEP students, going to university, who show commitment to service and leadership
MEOPAR Researcher Development Funding supports academic, research and/or career development needs of MEOPeers
Mitacs graduate student and postdoctoral research partnerships with Canadian industry or non-profit sector
National Aboriginal Scholarship Guide (curated by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
* PEO Scholar Awards are merit-based awards for American and Canadian PhD students (prefer more senior students)
Québec - Centre d’étude de la forêt - Centre for Forest Research
Québec - Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies
Québec - Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science
* Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada
* Soroptimist Foundation of Canada for careers which will improve the quality of women's lives
W. Garfield Weston Graduate Fellowship for Northern Conservation (WCS Canada) for graduate research in Canadian boreal forest

Fellowships, i.e., for non-students (some are mixed in above too)

Bullitt Environmental Fellowship is for grad students from underrepresented communities who possess a capacity for leadership and who show exceptional scholarship (for work in BC and Pacific Northwest)
Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships for Commonwealth researchers to do 1-2 years postdoc research in the UK
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) supports working groups, postdocs, and sabbaticals to study theory-driven synthesis and data-driven theory in biodiversity sciences
Grant Notley Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship at U Alberta for social, economic, history research in western Canada
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
Killam postdoctoral fellowships at UBC, U Calgary, U Alberta, Dalhousie
Kinship Conservation Fellows emphasizes "market-based solutions" to environmental problems (for practitioners, not researchers)
Kress Conservation Fellowships are held at museums and other conservation facilities for onsite training and research
Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is for Canadian conservation research & practice (non-Canadians can apply)
Luc Hoffman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program for conservation-science leaders (especially working in Africa)
Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowships for policy-related research with government decision-makers
* Organization for Women in Science For the Developing World has fellowships to help women get a PhD in natural sciences
* PEO International Peace Scholarship provides graduate funding for international students to study in the US and Canada
Safina Center Fellows are already established, well-recognized authors, filmmakers, photographers, artists, and scientists
Sarah and Daniel Hrdy Fellowship in Conservation Biology for recent PhDs to spend 1-2 semesters at Harvard University
Smith Fellows is for US postdoctoral researchers to link conservation science and application (non-US citizens can apply)
* UNESCO-L'Oreal International Fellowships (and awards for established female scientists)
United States Fish and Wildlife Service MENTOR Fellowship Program (Mentoring for ENvironmental Training in Outreach and Resource conservation, Africa)
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 Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund for postdoctoral fellows
WWF's Prince Bernhard Scholarships for mid-career conservationists from the East and South to pursue studies or training
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

Prizes and Awards

VKnow someone amazing? Nominate them for an award! Consider diversity (gender, ethnicity, career stage, etc) when thinking about potential nominees, including reducing unconscious bias when writing reference letters.

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
3M National Teaching Fellowship recognizes Canadian excellence in university teaching and educational leadership
AAAS Award for Public Engagement with Science: Senior Scientist Award and Early-Career Award
Alberta - Nature Alberta Awards honour vision, volunteerism and achievement in support of Alberta’s natural history
BC - BC Nature Awards recognize members of BC Federation of Naturalists for their efforts in conservation and education
BC - CUFA-BC Distinguished Academic Awards for societal impact of research done by public university professors in BC
BC - Victoria Leadership Awards for community service (from youth to lifetime recognition) in Victoria, BC
Canadian Association of University Teachers has awards for reseachers, academics staff, journalists, and more
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 Council of University Biology Chairs has awards for undergrad and grad student research, career achievement, 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
Canadian Science Policy Conference Science Policy Excellence Award Youth (<35 years old)
Canadian Science Writers Association has awards for excellence in promoting a better understanding of science by the public
Canadian Society for Ecology & Evolution's Early Career Awards for outstanding accomplishments and future research potential
Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society has awards for students, professionals, NGOs, and researchers in wildlife and conservation
Canadian Wildlife Federation Conservation Awards for professionals, educators, youth, volunteers, artists, 'outdoors people', & legislators
Coastal Ocean Awards for marine and coastal research, conservation, and tech in BC, Canada (junior & senior categories)
Quebec's Forces Avenir awards recognize, promote and honour university students or groups who have distinguished themselves in arts, culture, health, science, technology, peace, and more
Fund for Nature Awards celebrate 'tangible achievements in protecting wild animal and plant species
Geological Association of Canada awards for research, service, student, and communication of earth science in Canada
Government of Canada's list of national and international awards for science
John Maddox Prize for individuals who promote sound science and evidence on a matter of public interest, facing difficulty or hostility
Lane Anderson Award for Canadian science writing
National Geographic/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation for outstanding leadership to manage and protect the natural resources in their countries and region
Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science for mentorship of young researchers
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
*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)
Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists for outstanding life science doctoral research in the last two years (read the winning 2015 Ecology & Environment essay by Liber Ero Fellow Adam Ford)
Society of Conservation Biology Service Awards for commitment to conservation and service to the field (public service, early-career, individual/group categories)
Starfish Canada's Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 for young leaders creating positive environmental change in their communities
Statistical Society of Canada's Excellence in Data Journalism Award
Top 40 Under 40
- Calgary and Edmonton (same website, different awards)
- Canada
- Vancouver Island: Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Awards
Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (international) recognizes individuals making a difference in environmental science, health, or energy conferring great benefit for humanity
Union of Concerned Scientists Got Science? Champions for scientists whose "passion for the truth exceeds their fear of censure or political unpopularity"
UVic's list of community, provincial, and national awards
UVic Provost's Engaged Scholar Award for tenured faculty

Travel (to a conference) awards

Many societies and conferences have travel awards (e.g., CSEE, CSZ, ESA, IMCC, SICB, TWS). Below is non-specific travel funding.

Association of Commonwealth Universities has international travel/conference awards for early-career researchers and students for ACU member institutions around the world
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
Diversity Journal Travel Award for postdoctoral students to attend a conference (800 CHF)
PLOS Early-Career Researcher Travel Awards ($500) towards conference, must have published in PLOS
Sociological Review's (£1000) travel award for PhD students and postdocs (interdisciplinary research OK if a strong social bent)
UVic student travel grants, CUPE 4163 travel funding