Rufford Small Grant
Rufford Small Grant supports early-career conservationists undertaking small-scale or pilot projects on threatened species, habitats, human-wildlife conflict and education to deliver conservation benefits.
Funder: The Rufford Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications accepted year-round)
Funding Amounts: Up to £7,000, £8,000, £12,000 or £18,000 by stage; most projects last 12–18 months
Summary: Supports early-career conservationists undertaking small-scale or pilot nature conservation projects in eligible emerging or developing economy countries.
Key Information: Arrange an organisation to receive and manage the grant before applying; funds cannot enter personal accounts.
Description
The Rufford Foundation funds small-scale and pilot nature conservation projects in eligible emerging or developing economy countries. Its priority is supporting people early in their conservation careers, particularly current MSc or PhD students and those who graduated from equivalent studies within the past three years. Projects may address threatened species, threatened habitats, human-wildlife conflict or community conservation education, but must offer an obvious conservation benefit.
Support follows four sequential stages: the 1st Rufford Small Grant, 2nd Rufford Small Grant, Booster Grant and Completion Grant. Later stages help recipients develop important elements of earlier work and consider long-term financial sustainability. Species-focused projects must concern species not globally listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, or unassessed species thought to be globally threatened.
