The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund accepts applications until 15 October 2026 for grants of up to $25,000 per project. Anyone directly involved in species conservation can apply. For Atlaspreneur readers, it fits researchers and conservation-minded founders running field work on a threatened species, not general business ventures.
At a glance
| Deadline | 15 October 2026 |
| Who can apply | Anyone directly involved in species conservation |
| Grant size | Up to $25,000 per project |
| Focus | Field-based (in situ) conservation of threatened species |
| Where | Global, no regional limit stated |
| Cost to apply | No application fee listed on the official pages |
| Language | English, with budgets in US dollars |
| Official page | speciesconservation.org grants |
Who can apply
The fund’s FAQ says that “anyone directly involved in species conservation can apply.” It states no geographic restriction and says the fund considers conservation work globally. Each species or project needs its own application.
The fund generally gives priority to species facing a high threat of extinction, with an emphasis on Endangered and Critically Endangered species. Applications must reference conservation status through the IUCN Red List or provide a documented alternative. Applications with a clearly incorrect status and no justification will not be considered.
What you get
The fund will not give more than $25,000 per project. The criteria page says the fund is primarily interested in in situ work in the field. It will not award a grant simply to cover an organisation’s core running costs or administrative overheads. The pages do not list any other benefit.
How to apply
- Read the application criteria and the FAQ.
- Prepare the application in English, with the budget and all financial data in US dollars.
- Submit it through the fund’s online system by 15 October 2026. Only applications sent through that system are considered.
- Wait for the review. Applications received by the deadline get a response by the end of December 2026, and every applicant receives an email once the review is complete.
Start from the official grants page. The fund says its submission deadlines are inflexible.
Advice from the Atlaspreneur team
- Be honest about fit. This is a species grant, so it suits a founder or researcher whose venture protects a named threatened species in the field. A startup with a broad environmental mission is outside its focus.
- Check the species’ IUCN Red List status before you write anything else, and cite it. A wrong status without justification ends the application.
- Budget for field activity, not for running costs. The fund says it will not pay core costs or overheads.
- Keep each application to one species or project, as the FAQ requires.
- Convert every figure to US dollars early, so the budget is consistent.
FAQ
Can individuals apply?
The FAQ says anyone directly involved in species conservation can apply. It does not restrict applications to organisations.
What is the maximum grant?
$25,000 per project.
When will I hear back?
The grants page says applications submitted by 15 October 2026 receive a response by the end of December 2026.
