The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund gives targeted grants of up to $25,000 for the conservation of threatened or poorly known animal, plant, and fungus species anywhere in the world. It prioritizes Endangered, Critically Endangered, and Data Deficient species (plus unlisted species suspected to be highly threatened), and especially welcomes local and grassroots projects. Applications run in three annual windows — January, May, and September/October — with a deliberately simple review process.
Why it is notable: a global, species-level conservation fund with no regional discrimination, modest paperwork, and a preference for grassroots applicants — most small conservation teams have never heard of it, and the January 2027 window is open now for applications.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Project costs up to US$25,000: field surveys, data gathering, direct conservation action, recovery management, training, and related species-conservation work.
Recipients must report every six months and publish project information for public viewing.
Not a salary or stipend; institutional overhead is not the purpose of the award.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
No degree requiredfor Grant
This grant is offered for species-conservation initiatives — field surveys, data gathering, direct action, recovery management, and training — not for degree study.
Who can apply
All nationalities — "Its focus is global, and eligibility for grants extends to all plant, animal, and fungi conservation efforts, without discrimination based on region or species" (official).
Experience
No fixed experience bar — but the application must make a credible species-conservation case; the Fund explicitly aims to be flexible and accommodating, and particularly welcomes local/grassroots projects.
Language Certificate
None required — but applications must be submitted in English and budgets in US Dollars (official criteria).
Other Certificates
None required.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All countries eligible; no regional discrimination (official).
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Species
project must concern a threatened/endangered/data-deficient (or suspected highly threatened) animal, plant, or fungus species, with correct conservation status and justification.
02
Budget
in US Dollars; maximum $25,000 requested from the Fund (higher requests are rejected).
03
Language
application in English.
04
Focus
primarily in-situ conservation (surveys, data gathering, direct action, recovery management, training); single-species preferred.
05
Deadline
window deadlines are inflexible, GMT-based.
06
Reporting
recipients report every six months and publish project information publicly.
Document checklist
01Online application (species, conservation status with justification, project description).
02Detailed project plan and timeline.
03Budget in US Dollars (≤ $25,000 requested from the Fund).
04Supporting evidence for the species' threat status (IUCN assessment or equivalent justification).
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Not a study program — no student visa.
Application Procedure
8 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Read the official application criteria first (especially
the species-conservation-status rules), plus the FAQ and glossary on the Fund's website.
→
02
Prepare the application for a specific animal
plant, or fungus species: conservation status and justification, project plan (surveys, direct action, recovery management, training), and a budget in US Dollars (maximum $25,000 from the Fund).
→
03
Submit the online application in three steps
via the official grants page before the window deadline (deadlines are inflexible, GMT-based).
↓
06
Detailed project plan and timeline.
←
05
Online application (species
conservation status with justification, project description).
←
04
Await the Advisory Board's review —
responses are estimates depending on workload.
↓
07
Budget in US Dollars (≤ $25,000 requested
from the Fund).
→
08
Supporting evidence for the species' threat status
(IUCN assessment or equivalent justification).
Application milestones
31 Jan 2027
Application deadline
31 May 2027
Application deadline
2027
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation… platform.
Who can apply? A: Anyone, anywhere — the Fund's focus is global, with eligibility extending to all plant, animal, and fungi conservation efforts without discrimination based on region or species.How much can I request? A: Up to $25,000 per project; any application asking for more from the Fund will be rejected (total project budgets may be higher with other funders).When are the deadlines? A: Three windows a year: January (closes Jan 31), May (closes May 31), and September/October (closes Oct 15); deadlines are inflexible and GMT-based.What kind of work is funded? A: Primarily in-situ conservation in natural habitats — surveys, data gathering, direct action, recovery management, and training; ex-situ work only where critical to the Does my species need to be officially listed as threatened? A: Priority goes to Endangered, Critically Endangered, and Data Deficient species, plus unlisted species suspected to be highly threatened —In what language and currency? A: Applications in English; budgets in US Dollars.When will I hear back? A: January-window applicants receive responses in late April 2027 (response dates are estimates depending on review workload).What are my obligations if funded? A: Report every six months and publish project information for public viewing.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
UAE · The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation…
