The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund: Up to $25,000 to address Conservation Needs

Deadline: 6 February 2015

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) is currently accepting letters of inquiry from NGOs around the globe. Besides being worldwide fund, the DWCF limits its fund transmission to the non-profits in USA only. Thus organizations outside USA, willing to secure the conservation grant should identify a US 501(c)(3) organization who is willing to become an intermediary. The US organization should receive the fund and direct the funding to international organizations that have proposed to utilize it for conservation project.

Grant request should be made for holistic programs addressing a significant conservation need (or projects that are part of a program) which reflect education and community engagement; sustainable development programs directly connected to protecting species and habitat; and scientific field studies on species and habitats (ex-situ projects/project components are not funded). Preference is given to projects where there is a significant conservation action component.

Grant request can be made up to US$25,000.

Primary Components of conservation program

1. Scientific Investigation
2. Education – positively influencing people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about wildlife and wild places.
3. Empowering communities/partners to become actively involved in protecting wildlife and habitat.

Strategic priorities

• Projects in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii (and North America in general), the Caribbean, China, Indonesia, Europe, Latin America, etc.
• Projects involving the following species/habitats (but not limited to)
  • Asian habitat and species (primarily tropical forest species)
  • Central/South African habitat and species (specifically savanna and forest species)
  • Latin American habitat and species
  • Marine species (including coral reefs, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and sharks)
• Projects that target particular wildlife sustainability issues.
• Projects that focus on invertebrate conservation issues.

Note the key dates and eligibility criteria for The DWCF (Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund).

Note the Key Dates

1. 6 February 2015 – Letter of Inquiry submission deadline
2. 6 March 2015 – Full Proposal submission deadline
3. August 2015 – Evaluation completed
4. September 2015 – Processing/Notification/Check distribution

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must be charitable, non-profit organization. Non-US applicants must partner with a US organization with 501(c)(3) status to be eligible for the grant.
• Scientists, students and institutions should work with nonprofit organizations to apply. Ph.D. level faculty focused on long term conservation programs are encouraged to partner with organizations. Graduate students can be involved in the project but cannot be the primary investigator.
• An applicant can submit only on project application for each of the following geographic areas- Africa, Asia/Australasia, Central/South America, North America and Marine.
• Applications can be made for multi-year project but projects will be funded on a year-to-year basis. Budget submitted should reflect only one year funding.
• Organizations must submit progress report to submit proposal for continuing project.
• The proposal should be cooperative in nature and may have matching funds.
• The proposal should clearly contribute to the conservation of endangered or threatened species in the wild, their habitats and engage the communities that surround them through community-based education programs or support sustainable community development projects that assist communities in protecting nature.
• The proposal should build on previous work including an established commitment to a conservation program or is well suited to become or contribute to a long-term conservation program.
• The principle investigator should affirm that the welfare of the animals identified in this study is not compromised.

Note: Inquiries are being viewed from 1 November 2015. So, submit application inquiry by 30 November to get longer time to submit full proposal.

For more information, please visit Conservation Funding.