Grant Opportunities

The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation (TDARFAC) provides grants to support conservation research and community-based conservation, which aligns with our mission statement and three objectives: 1) building capacity; 2) amplifying voices; and 3) partnering with local communities.

Starting in 2025, only applicants from countries where non-human primates are naturally found will be eligible to apply for TDARFAC grants.

Applicants must demonstrate a clear connection to non-human primate conservation.

We are particularly interested in proposals on the lemur pet trade and wildlife trafficking in Madagascar. Proposals addressing these topics will not be given additional weight over others. This is simply an area of focus we are currently exploring and not a requirement for consideration.

Applicants should carefully review the following information regarding proposal guidelines; submission instructions, including eligibility and funding levels; and time-related deadlines.

Proposal evaluations will follow a double-blind review process, with funding awarded directly to individuals, not institutions. Reviewer feedback will be shared with applicants in the interest of academic transparency. Once the proposal review process has been completed and notifications have been made, grant recipients and awardees will be featured on this website and/or social media.

TDARFAC will conduct outcome evaluations after every project has ended (see example here). Evaluations include a researcher self-assessment and decision matrix designed for measuring project achievements by the Advisory Council and selection committee.

Funding opportunities are subject to change, please check this webpage for any updates and prior to proposal submission. 

How do I apply for grants?

• Prepare your project proposal following our template.

  • Proposals should be a maximum of 2,800 words following word/line counts for each section excluding title, references, and budget.

  • Figures, maps, and other visuals may be included directly in proposals and are encouraged.

  • Documents should be submitted in English.

  • File type can either be a document or PDF.

  • Maximum file size is 1 GB.

• Complete the online application.

  • A Google Account is required for our submission process.

  • Upload your project proposal to the end of the online application.

• Please ensure:

  • All questions on the online application have been answered.

  • Your project proposal uses the TDARFAC template, adheres to our guidelines, is attached to your online application as a document or PDF, and less than 1 GB.

• Principal Investigators that are students are required to submit two letters of support for their applications to be considered. Only student applications are required to include letters of support.

  • Letters of recommendation for students should be sent directly from recommenders here.

• Applications failing to follow these instructions will be excluded from consideration.

  What do we look for in proposals?

  • Follow submission guidelines and adheres to the basic requirements.

  • Meet TDARFAC’s mission and meets a minimum of one of its three objectives.

  • Pertain specifically to non-human primates, their habitats, and the conservation thereof; including any associated animal or plant species, which share and influence the same landscape(s).

  • Present specific, expected outcomes in a scientifically measurable and meaningful way within the context of TDARFAC’s objectives.

  What are my obligations if I am a grant recipient?

  Measuring Progress

  • Complete KPI (Key Performance Indicators) Targets.

  • Complete Issue Tracker.

  • Complete Risk Assessment.

    • These customizable tracking tools help project owners monitor progress towards key milestones.

    • Designed to ensure that projects stay on schedule and achieve their goals, these tools highlights areas where additional support may be needed.

    • Recipients can adapt the tool based on specific project needs, with TDARFAC providing guidance on the most relevant KPIs to track.

    • We are currently developing these tool for our 2025 grant recipients and look forward to rolling them out soon.

    Final Report

  • Prepare and submit final reports here.

    • Grant recipients must agree to submit a final report in English within 6 months of project completion. Final reports can either be written (800—1,300 words) or visual (2—4-minute video). Videos are encouraged and preferred. All final reports must include a minimum of 3 high-resolution photos with captions.

    • Recipients must also complete a self-assessment contained as part of our independent project outcome evaluation. Assessments will be used as a tool to further develop TDARFAC's grant application and review process, with the goal of improving project outcomes.  Please be transparent in your responses so we can learn from your experiences to more effectively fulfill our mission.

    • Publications, conference papers, posters, and other media formats using data or other information that were obtained with the support of a TDARFAC grant should include the following language in acknowledgment: “This research was supported by an Applied Conservation Grant from the Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation.”