Biodiversity conservation, climate action, scientific research, technological innovation and the strengthening of organizations are some of the topics for which funding will be available in May 2026.
Discover opportunities that can boost conservation and sustainable development!
- Wildlife Acoustics Grant Program. This call supports research and conservation actions by providing equipment, specialized software and travel grants for projects focused on monitoring wildlife and habitats, especially birds, bats, amphibians and other terrestrial animals. It is aimed at researchers, professionals and non-profit organizations from any country. It offers support of up to USD 1,000 in travel grants and specialized equipment. Next closing date: May 15 Apply here.
- D-Prize. This call finances early-stage entrepreneurs to launch projects that deliver proven solutions to poverty in developing countries. It is aimed primarily at individuals or teams that have not yet formed a formal organization and are looking to pilot their initiative for three months with scaling potential. Closing date: May 17. Apply here.
- iF Social Impact Prize. This award supports existing projects that contribute to improving social conditions and addressing urgent global challenges, with a special emphasis on initiatives aligned with the SDGs. It is aimed at organizations, social enterprises, NGOs, and entrepreneurs that integrate design as part of their approach. Closing date: May 20. Apply here.
- MIT Solve 10th Anniversary Global Challenge. This call for proposals seeks to identify and scale technological solutions with social impact that address urgent global problems and have the potential to reach millions of people. It is aimed at organizations with advanced-stage or scalable projects aligned with the SDGs. Closing date: May 21. Apply here.
- Illuminating Climate Solutions. This call finances storytelling projects that make visible climate solutions and experiences of resilience in different parts of the world, with the aim of inspiring action in the face of the climate crisis. It is aimed at storytellers and creators with media experience, especially those with direct links to the communities where the stories are developed. Closing date: May 25. Apply here.
- Common Waters: Strengthening community management of coastal and river areas. This call finances innovative projects that strengthen community management and conservation of coastal and river ecosystems, integrating traditional ecological knowledge and local leadership. It is aimed at initiatives linked to indigenous peoples and local communities that promote resilience in the face of climate change and other factors of pressure on these ecosystems. It offers funding of up to US$75,000. Closing date: May 31. Apply here.
- Daylight Research (Velux Stiftung). This call for proposals funds interdisciplinary research that places natural light at the center of addressing social, environmental, and health challenges. It is aimed at research teams that propose innovative and collaborative approaches with the potential to generate global or regional impact. Closing date: June 4. Apply here.
- BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards. The nineteenth edition of these awards recognizes contributions to top-level research and artistic creation, outstanding for their originality, relevance and impact. The awards seek both to expand the boundaries of knowledge in different disciplines and to promote interdisciplinary approaches that give rise to new fields of study. Closing date: June 30. Apply here.
- Reece Foundation Grant. This grant supports local initiatives that help communities in Australia and overseas gain access to clean water, sanitation or food security through irrigation. Closing date: No closing date. Apply here.
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. The DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations that solve the world's biggest social and environmental problems through innovative and scalable approaches. Deadline: No deadline. Apply here.
- Grants from Rapid Response Facility (RRF). The Rapid Response Facility (RRF) provides emergency support to natural World Heritage sites in times of crisis. The RRF is a partnership between the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Fauna & Flora International (FFI). RRF grants are available for natural UNESCO World Heritage sites. The RRF only funds actions at a site facing an 'emergency' threat to its biodiversity. They do not fund ongoing problems, even if they require urgent action. Apply here.
- Rufford Grants Program. This grant program offers funding for nature conservation projects in the developing world. There are five consecutive funding schemes: the Rufford Small Grant, the 2nd Rufford Small Grant, the Booster Grant, the 2nd Booster Grant, and the Completion Grant. The primary requirement is that the work must be pragmatic in nature and have a substantial and lasting impact on the issue at hand (conservation). A significant human element is often present in a successful proposal, with community education and engagement being crucial. The Foundation has a broad scope of interest. In addition to the conservation of animals in their natural habitats, it also seeks to support conservation work focused on threatened habitats and other organisms such as plants, fungi, and insects. Apply here.
