Bats for the Future Fund
Forecasted
The Bats for the Future Fund by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation supports innovative research and tools to fight white-nose syndrome and help recover North American bat populations.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Full proposal submission deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: $50,000–$250,000 per project (higher requests considered with prior approval); projects usually last up to 3 years.
Summary: Supports research, field treatments, and management tools to combat white-nose syndrome and promote the recovery of North American bat populations.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all deadlines are projected and subject to change.
Description
The Bats for the Future Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), aims to address the devastating impacts of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on North American bat populations. The fund supports both established and innovative approaches to develop, test, and implement treatments, management tools, and conservation strategies. Projects may focus on direct disease mitigation, habitat management, life history research, and collaborative research efforts, with an emphasis on species most affected by WNS, such as the northern long-eared bat and Indiana bat.
The program's objectives include:
- Advancing treatments and management tools that improve bat survival by preventing exposure to the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and/or enhancing bats’ resistance.
- Implementing strategies to help bat populations survive and recover from WNS impacts.
- Improving understanding of the life history and ecology of WNS-affected bats to inform long-term recovery.
- Supporting innovative, scalable research and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
