Conservation Funding Resources at:  Cyber-Sierra's
 Conservation Grants Center
Find funding for your Environmental, Watershed and Natural Resource Projects!
 

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Grants from Foundations

Over $800 million dollars is granted by foundations and corporations every year for conservation and environmental projects.

Getting funding from a foundation for conservation work can be a complex task. It is extremely important that you have as much information about a foundation as possible before submitting a Letter of Inquiry or a proposal.

Before writing even one word of a proposal you should examine the history and philosophy of a foundation, study past recipients, find out the types of support they offer, and any limitations they might impose on applications. You'll also need to find out if they award the funding in advance of the work or reimburse for the project after completion.

TIP: Foundations like to work with people and organizations that they know. Sometimes you need a 'champion' for your project to get it considered for funding. If your group doesn't meet the funding requirements, find out who does and partner with them. Alliances pay off!

Grant Databases and CD-ROMs

Grant databases for natural resources are still fairly difficult to locate on the Internet. Consequently I am listing the ones I am aware of, along with subjective information about them.

Note: The information given below is descriptive and does not constitute an endorsement of a particular product by this site, or by Cyber-Sierra. Some foundation centers offer for-fee subscription services. Certainly you should ask around to see a local library, a regional grants center or local college may have access to grant subscription resources before you spend any money. Before ordering anything, I would recommend you ask some e-lists or chat groups if anyone has personal experience with the product before you invest in it. Also inquire about return policies, or product limitations or software glitches.
Environmental Grantmaking Foundations CD-Rom
Environmental Foundation sources on CD-rom and in print. The latest edition profiles 900 foundations that give environmental grants, including 215 members of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Each funder profile gives you the data you need to target your most likely sources of support. Multiple indexes help you narrow your search to the grantmakers that fund your topics or your geographic focus. Also contains details about which foundations use letters of inquiry, submission tips and much more. NOTE: If you are looking for private foundation funding, this could save you hours (or days) of searching. In print or on CD for around $120 US.
 
Red Lodge Cleaaringhouse
The Red Lodge Clearinghouse has a wealth of funding sources but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Be sure to check out all their resources on conservation partnership development and problem solving.
 
Foundation Center
In addition to their many free services, the Foundation Center also publishes printed directories and a CD-ROM database of contacts featuring over 100,000 grant opportunities. This information is offered free to the public at five regional centers and more than 200 cooperating collection libraries, where Foundation Center directories are part of each library’s reference collection. If there is no Center near you, the information can be access online by paid subscription. This may be cost effective for some groups or alliances of partners.
 
Fundsnet Services
Fundraising and Grants Directory is provided at no cost to their visitors. Categories include Animal and Wildlife, Environment and Conservation.
 
Grantsmanship Center
While the online resources are not as extensive as the Foundation Center, TGCI has a nice map of community based foundations which may help you pinpoint a local partner. Also, they do have proposals on CD-ROM in various categories available for purchase. Their popular grantsmanship magazine is free and available both online and in print.
 
Guidestar.Org
Guidestar can give you basic information about a nonprofit for free, but to find out more you'll need to subscribe at some level. Note: some libraries and educational centers may already have paid for access.
 

General Grant and Foundation Web Sites:

Conservation Assistance Tools
The Sonoran Institute has a searchable grants database. While the focus is on North Western US, many of the grants mentioned are nation wide. Numerous foundations are listed. For widest results choose 'no preference settings'.
 
Foundation Finder
Use the Foundation Finder to search by name for basic information about foundations within the universe of 65,000 private U.S. foundations. The Foundation Center has extensive tools to help the greantseeker so explore other sections of the site.
 
Open Directory - Grants
Open Directory has a modest list of grant making foundations.
 
Galaxy
Topical list may lead to your needed funding under 'Environment', which includes links to environmental foundations and trusts. You can also try searching under 'environment grants' or 'environment foundation'.
 
Fundsnet
A portion of Funds Net that will assist you in finding funders plus an alphabetical index to Foundations online.
 
Fundsnet - Index
A different section of Fundsnet identifying a broader spectrum of funding resources.
 
Guidestar
Search GuideStar's database of more than 850,000 U.S. nonprofit organizations.
 
PNN Online
Philanthropy News Network is a major philanthropic online magazine. It's a good resource for understanding the non-profit viewpoint. Great articles in the archives and there is a 'Fundraising' section, too.
 
NPTalk
NPTalk is one of the most useful e-lists for nonprofit technology and issues. A few grant announcements will come through but that's not the reason to subscribe (free). This discussion list puts you in touch with a lot of bright minds. Plus their archived discussions are very fruitful.
 
NPaction
NPaction is an outgrowth of NPTalk and a center for online advocacy information.
 
Nonprofit Online News
Excellent current news of interest to nonptofits.
 
Nonprofit Resource Center
Accounting standards for non-profits, and links to other detailed articles.
 
TechSoup
The technology place for nonprofits.
 
One NorthWest
Online networking for the environment is their specialty. This group has extensive information about online advocacy as well as recommendations for hardware, software, access. Excellent resource!
 
Council of Foundations
A primary center for foundation information - from the DONORS point of view. The Council's site has information for grant seekers as well as information on how to start a foundation.
 

Some Foundation Programs Focusing on the Environment with Open Deadlines:

ABOUT CYBER-SIERRA

Jean Saffell

Cyber-Sierra is a one-woman business. I build natural resource webs and conduct information searches. I specialize in developing content for conservation web sites which can be maintained by volunteer staff. Visit Cyber-Sierra.Com for details.

Looking for work? Cyber-Sierra's Natural Resources Job Search gets thousands of visitors each week looking for jobs in natural resource and environmental occupations. Established in 1997, the site has always been free for job seekers. Employers may advertise for modest fees. Stop by for a visit and you may find your dream job in an conservation occupation!

Remember  A thought for every day:
"Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

 

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