Conservation Grants Fund
Forecasted
Conservation Grants Fund supports AZA, accredited zoos and aquariums, and collaborators in conservation, science, and education projects advancing SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction species programs.
Funder: Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $22,500 average award since 2022; one-year grants
Summary: Supports cooperative conservation, scientific, and educational projects advancing approved SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction species programs.
Key Information: All principal and co-investigators need eligible individual AZA memberships; their institutions must become SAFE program partners before funding.
Description
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Conservation Grants Fund supports cooperative conservation, scientific, and educational initiatives undertaken by AZA, its accredited zoos and aquariums, and their collaborators. Established in 1984 as the Conservation Endowment Fund, it has supported projects worldwide, including partnerships with wildlife agencies, academia, and conservation organizations. Institutions of all sizes are encouraged to participate.
Since 2022, funding has been directed exclusively to projects advancing approved SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction species programs. Proposals must reflect the relevant program team’s priorities and implement its three-year or five-year program plan. Projects may support one or multiple SAFE species programs, spanning research, field conservation, education, communications, animal health, welfare, and population management.
