Greenville Zoo Conservation Grants

About

Please check back soon for 2024 application dates! 

Information and Guidelines:

The mission of the Greenville Zoo is to provide an enjoyable guest experience while we support and promote conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all living things.

We have many values that support our mission, including promoting conservation and sustainability, actively seeking knowledge through science, and collaborating with others to maximize our impact and achieve greater goals.

In fulfillment of our mission, the Greenville Zoo has established a fund for local conservation projects (those occurring in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) as well as national and international projects by utilizing funds from our Quarters for Conservation program. Conservation grants are awarded to projects that focus on Field Conservation (the conservation of free-ranging wildlife or habitat), Conservation Research, or Conservation Education (See category descriptions below). Local projects receive preferred funding priority. Projects including species and habitats at risk will be receive greater weight in application review.

*** GRANT CATEGORIES:

Conservation Research   – Projects that involve the scientific method with a primary focus on studying questions relevant to free-ranging wildlife or habitat conservation (i.e. is hypothesis or question- driven, with systematic data collection and analysis with conclusions that can be applied to conservation efforts). Examples include health/physiologic assessment of a species, collection of environmental data such as water quality, etc.

Conservation Education – Projects that raise public awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation issues, stimulate conservation action, transfer skills and technology, and/or empower new conservation leaders, particularly those locally-based (e.g. create/print instructional materials, formal or informal education classes or curricula, capacity-building efforts, etc.)

Field Conservation – Projects that directly and actively contribute to the long-term survival of species in natural ecosystems and habitats. These projects can either impact wildlife directly or the habitats within which they live (e.g. population management, breeding and reintroduction programs, human-wildlife conflict, restoration or maintenance of a natural area, reforestation/ tree-planting, field studies of free-ranging species, etc.). Certain ex situ efforts that provide positive impact on imperiled species and their sustainability may be eligible for this category.

*Although some projects may involve two or even three categories simultaneously, please select only one that best fits the project description or the application will not be considered (as the scoring of the application is done per specific criteria assessed for each category). The zoo may adjust the category if it deems it fits better in another and will inform the applicant of this. 

New Grants Program: $300 to $1,000

• Awarded to applicants whose projects we have never supported before
• Grant request cannot exceed $1,000

Continuing Grants Program: Up to $3,000

• For applicants with whom the Greenville Zoo has an established relationship.
• An established relationship includes those applicants who have received funding from us in the past.
•  (e.g.  applicants who have received grant funding from us previously and have successfully fulfilled the requirements of the grant awardee, including providing regular updates on project progress).

NOTE: Only one application can be submitted per person and project

Application package should include:

• Completed application. If available, a full proposal is encouraged to be attached for reference, but all questions in the body of the application still need to be fully answered. Answers of "See attached" or similar will cause the application to not be considered. A detailed budget (estimates are acceptable). If there is a particular line item(s) that you would like funded by this grant, please specify.
• Three photos, diagrams, or other images with captions related to the proposed conservation project.
• Include a minimum of three professional references with contact information and affiliations. Letter(s) of reference can also be provided. 
• At least one letter of support or collaboration is required. These should originate from an academic institution with which the applicant is working (e.g. thesis project) or from an agency and/or range country within which the project is being held to indicate collaboration and/or permission for its implementation there.
• Applicant's Curriculum Vitae (CV) and those of the principal investigator(s) if different than applicant
• If applicable: A map of the research or conservation site.
• If applicable (i.e. project involves manipulation and/or handling of live animals): Please include a copy of your institution's Institutional Animal Care and Use Policy (IACUC), your project's IACUC submission and approval along with the full project design or proposal.
• Optional: Additional articles, cited literature references, and other documents that assist in project justification or description can strengthen the application.
• Additional details regarding your project may be requested by the Conservation and Research Committee before a decision is made.

Award Recipient Expectations*:

• Due December 31, 2023: A mid-term report detailing funds spent to date and project progression
• Due September 1, 2024: A year-end report that includes: Five photos with captions, accounting of all grant funds spent for the project, and wrap up information for the funded project. Format can be of the recipient's choosing.
• Ongoing: Acknowledgement of the Greenville Zoo in any presentations and/or publications associated with the supported project(s).
  • Any changes to the project (e.g. design, methodology, study locale, etc.) or funds’ usage must be submitted in writing for approval by the Greenville Zoo prior to implementation.

* Failure to meet these conditions may affect future grant awards. A Continuing Grant applicant from the preceding year must have a mid-term and year-end report submitted before applying again. Disregard the dates on the grant application. Please follow the timeline listed above.