Species Conservation Grants 2027

About this grant

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund provides targeted grants for individual species conservation initiatives. It aims to recognise leaders in the field and to raise the profile of species within the wider conservation debate. The fund's focus is global, and it states that eligibility extends to all plant, animal and fungi conservation efforts without discrimination by region or species. It places particular emphasis on critically endangered, endangered and data-deficient species. Applications are assessed in three funding rounds a year, in January, May and September/October. Submissions are forwarded to an independent Advisory Board for review. The fund states that submission deadlines are inflexible, while response dates are estimates that depend on review workload. The page lists the January window as closing 31 January 2027, with a response expected in late April 2027. The May window closes 31 May 2027, and the September window is listed as opening 15 September 2027 and closing 15 October 2027. The September response text refers to 2026 dates, so the year for that window is inconsistent on the page. Deadline times are based on GMT. The page states that grant applications are currently closed. Applicants are directed to the detailed application criteria, the FAQs and the glossary. The fund has made 3,367 grants since 2009, across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, plants and fungi. The page does not state grant sizes, cost-share requirements or a letter-of-inquiry process.

Eligibility

Eligibility extends to all plant, animal and fungi conservation efforts globally, without restriction by region or species. The page gives priority to critically endangered, endangered and data-deficient species. Applicants must review the separate application criteria, which cover species conservation status, before applying. Applications are accepted only within the stated funding windows. Specific applicant organisation types, prior-recipient rules and other detailed conditions are not stated on this page.

How it's scored

Applications are reviewed by an independent Advisory Board after the Fund makes its recommendations. The page does not give scoring criteria, weightings or panel composition. It refers applicants to the separate Criteria and Funding Review Process pages for those details.

Key requirements

• ✓Project must focus on conservation of threatened species (plant, animal, or fungi)
• ✓Emphasis on species classified as endangered or data deficient
• ✓Field-based conservation initiatives preferred
• ✓Open to individual conservationists and organizations

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Species Conservation Grants deadline?

Applications close 31 Jan 2027.

Who can apply for Species Conservation Grants?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; individual, nonprofit, charity, social-enterprise, community-group, indigenous-community, university, research-institution. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Biodiversity funding backs habitat restoration, species protection, protected areas and nature-positive business. It comes from environment agencies, multilateral nature funds and conservation philanthropy, often through competitive calls with defined regions. Applicants are usually asked for baseline surveys, local partners and indicators that show ecological change.