Wild Animal Initiative provides small amounts of funding to facilitate projects that will test promising new techniques or approaches, incorporate welfare assessments into ecological research and management, or adapt animal welfare science approaches for wild contexts. Seed Grants are ideal for early-career scientists or more established principal investigators who have no previous experience with wild animal welfare research. Grant size varies from US$2 thousand to US$10 thousand. The small grants program is open to anyone, although Wild Animal Initiative is especially interested in supporting postdocs and PhD students pursuing a long-term research career in the field of wild animal welfare, and researchers who have not previously included welfare considerations in their work. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 14 November 2025. Seed Grants
early-career
Wild Animal Initiative — Challenge Grants
Wild Animal Initiative provides grants for research projects that help us understand and improve the lives of wild animals. Challenge grants researchers exploring critical research questions that will unlock new avenues of wild animal welfare research and are not prioritized by other funders. Grant size varies from US$50 thousand to US$100 thousand. Challenge grants program is open to experienced researchers, but can include financial support for students or other early-career collaborators. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 14 November 2025. Challenge Grants
Wild Animal Initiative — Discovery Grants
The Wild Animal Initiative provides funding for projects that expand the evidence base of wild animal welfare. Discovery Grants are available to early career researchers (postdocs and PhD students) pursuing a long-term research career in wild animal welfare and established researchers who seek to expand their research portfolio to include wild animal welfare. Grant size varies from US$10 thousand to US$50 thousand. Projects must be led by a principal investigator affiliated with a university or other research institution. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 14 November 2025. Discovery Grants
African Development Bank — Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellowship 2026
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation financially supports the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowship position in the African Development Bank. The Fellowship allows talented individuals to increase and enhance their professional capacity, with the intention of contributing to the governance and development of their countries. The Fellowship is for young professionals, mid-career, and/or new executives who are nationals of an African country, residing anywhere in the world. The application deadline is 20 November 2025. More
Global Thinkers Forum — Mentoring Program 2026
The Global Thinkers Forum brings together a diverse network of thought leaders to share their visions of the future, create meaningful conversations around them, and effect positive change in the world. The program consists of an 8-month mentoring cycle that includes one-on-one sessions with experienced thought leaders and individuals aged between 18 and 29 from all over the world. The program’s mentors are successful individuals across several professional fields and countries. The application deadline is 28 November 2025. Become a Global Thinkers Mentee
Marine Stewardship Council — Ocean Stewardship Fund
The Marine Stewardship Council invites fisheries, scientists, NGOs and postgraduates to apply for grants from the Ocean Stewardship Fund. The fund supports best practices in sustainable fishing with the aim to increase the number of sustainable fisheries around the world. Grants are also available to support small-scale fisheries and fisheries in the developing world. Furthermore, the Student Research Grant awards funding to support postgraduate students who are carrying out research with fisheries engaged or working towards the MSC program. Awards of between £5 thousand to £50 thousand are available across five different strands. The application deadline is 01 December 2025. Ocean Stewardship Fund
Campus France — Visiting Fellowship for Early Career Researchers
The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) initiative calls for applications from young researchers who wish to carry out their research in France. MOPGA intends to award 40 fellowships for a duration of 12 months with a monthly allowance of €2,500. Eligible research themes include climate change and energy transition. Foreign researchers must hold a doctoral degree for less than 5 years. The application period ends on 12 December 2025. MOPGA Visiting Fellowship
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles — Grants in Herpetology
The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) makes 12 grants of US$500 each for herpetological field research, education, and conservation. Applications are submitted by individuals. Some grant categories are restricted to SSAR members and students, while others are open to everyone. The application deadline is 15 December 2025. Click here
National Geographic Society — Coastal Ecosystems
National Geographic invites science-driven proposals that protect, restore, or enhance blue forest coastal ecosystems—such as mangroves, salt marshes, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows—to benefit both biodiversity and local communities. The program supports two funding levels: Level I grants up to US $20 thousand, ideal for early-career project leaders, and Level II grants up to US $100 thousand for more established practitioners seeking deeper impact. Projects must be science-oriented and are strongly encouraged to partner with communities. The RFP closes on 03 October 2025. Link to RFP
Explorers Club — Marine Exploration Grant
The Explorers Club supports the scientific fieldwork of groundbreaking explorers around the world. The Stephenson Explorers Advancement Program supports college undergraduates/graduate students, and independent explorers under the age of 35 conducting exploration and field research for marine exploration and conservation projects. The average award is US$10 thousand. The deadline to submit applications is 13 October 2025. Stephenson Explorers Advancement Program