To learn about more opportunities, review Grants.gov, the Colorado Natural Resources Grants and Assistance Database, or the Clark Family School opportunities page!

Upcoming External FUNDING

Grossman Scholarship, Volunteer for Outdoor CO — Applications due in late February

Graduating high school students, graduate students, and non-traditional students are all invited to apply! Learn More

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

The Scholarship Program identifies future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields. It is highly competitive, with students participating in their schools’ internal competitions before receiving consideration from the Udall Foundation. As a condition of their award, Scholars attend a multiday Scholar Orientation experience.

In 2024, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding 55 scholarships of $7,000 each.

The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources.

Faculty reps must register students for the online application by March 5, 2024, and submit applications by the following day (March 6, 2024). Learn more

Clark Soil Biology Graduate Student Scholarship

The Clark Soil Biology Graduate Student Scholarship (formerly the Francis and Evelyn Clark Soil Biology Scholarship) was established to recognize the importance of soil biology and the understanding of soil, plant, and microbial interactions, and of nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The scholarship is supported by a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Francis Clark to the Agronomic Science Foundation and administered by SSSA. Nominations must be initiated by March 19, 2024. Learn more

Inspiring Indigenous Biologists - Scholarship to attend Wildlife Field Techniques course

Aspiring biologists from North American Indigenous backgrounds are invited to apply for a scholarship to attend Home Range Wildlife Research's Wildlife Field Techniques (WFT) course! This course will take place twice in 2024 and there are multiple scholarships available.

Learn more about the WFT course here: https://www.homerange.org/field-training/course-offerings

The application can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNSHIy8ySOEVxJ-NOIw7tO-riOwlHOw-DlobfWvCuDV3j4fA/viewform 

Scholarships cover registration and a portion of travel and meals. Applicants should demonstrate how attending this course will help them achieve their goals. Scholarships will be accepted on a rolling basis. 

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

Paddon/Gellhorn Wilderness Research Grants

Each year since 1998, the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA) has awarded graduate research grants with a focus on ecological impacts in alpine and sub-alpine environments. The research topic should provide a better understanding of the ecology of Colorado's high country (especially the Indian Peaks and James Peak wilderness areas). 

Four IPWA Paddon/Gelhorn Wilderness grants, each with a maximum value of $2,000, are available. The deadline for applications is Sunday, March 24th, 2024, and award announcements will be made by April 15, 2024. Learn more

George Lea Founder’s Scholarship — Public Lands Foundation

The Public Lands Foundation (PLF) is pleased to offer the George Lea Founder’s Scholarship to a student who needs financial assistance to support his or her studies.  The scholarship is named for George Lea, the PLF’s founder.  Two scholarships will be awarded for the 2024-2025 school year.  The scholarship comprises three elements:

1. An award of $5,000 to be used toward the student’s tuition expenses.  Note: Funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s college or university for disbursement by a Financial Aid Office.

2. An invitation to attend the next PLF annual meeting, with transportation and living expenses paid.

3. The opportunity to “shadow” a local BLM manager for a day.

Juniors, seniors, and masters-level graduate students majoring in a natural resource management or public land policy curriculum during the 2024/2025 school year are eligible to apply.

Applications are due on or before March 31, 2024. Learn more

Conservation and Justice Fellow

This is a part-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). ABC works for birds, taking on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. We celebrate the diversity of birds and the diversity of all who cherish and conserve birds. We are inspired by our partners and our staff, and we are working more explicitly toward advancing justice within conservation.
 

American Bird Conservancy is proud to open up our second round of Conservation and Justice Fellowship program. Fellows will help us to expand the intersections between biodiversity conservation and environmental justice. We seek nine individuals with varied perspectives, personal and professional backgrounds, and areas of expertise. Please visit the Conservation & Justice Fellowships page for more details on the overall program.

National Geographic Explorers

The recipients of these grants, who we call National Geographic Explorers, are a diverse community of changemakers from around the world working to support our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. 

The National Geographic Society warmly welcomes and encourages applicants from historically and currently underrepresented and underserved populations to apply. National Geographic is committed to funding a diverse and globally representative cohort of Explorers. The National Geographic Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, or disability.

The Level I and Level II submission deadline for October 2023 has been extended. Those submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 11, 2024 with funding decisions in September 2024. Learn more

Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship - $25,000 (2 scholarships available)

The Wilderness Society, a leading conservation organization based in Washington, D.C., offers an annual scholarship, available to qualified graduate students. We award $25,000 each to two currently-enrolled graduate students to support their research and preparation of a paper on an aspect of wilderness. T. A. Barron created the Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship in honor of his mother, Gloria Barron, a dedicated educator and tireless advocate for wilderness protection.

Applicants for the Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship must: be currently enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in North America at the time of application; have strong academic qualifications; and have academic and/or career goals focused on making a significant positive difference in the long-term protection of wilderness in the United States. The scholarship is open to applicants from any graduate discipline, including sciences, law, social sciences, etc.

For more information on the Scholarship and how to apply, click here. The deadline to apply for the 2024 cycle is April 15th.

American Alpine Club

Research grants for projects focused on the social and economic influences on climbing, mountain environments and alpine pursuits. Focal areas include climate change and public land management.

The application period for the Research Grant is through the month of April. Applications must be submitted via the online application no later than 11:59 p.m. MST on April 30th.

Recipients are notified after the selection committee has made their final award choices by mid June. Learn more

Soil and Water Conservation Scholarship

Great soil and water conservationists do not evolve from our education systems, but are nurtured throughout their education and career building period by conservation stalwarts who have traveled on before them. Credit must be given to the mentors and colleagues that have shaped the field of soil and water conservation before us. The reality is the number of professionals, mentors, college curriculums, and students are diminishing in the field of soil and water conservation. This Soil and Water Conservation Scholarship is meant to bring back into focus the vital necessity and passion for our discipline by encouraging current students to consider a career in soil and water conservation. The award is supported by funds from the Soil and Water Management & Conservation Division to the Agronomic Science Foundation and administered by SSSA.

Nominations must be initiated by June 1, 2024. Learn more

Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society Small Grants Program

Offers grants for research and management, education, and travel. Typically due in November. Learn more

Colorado Native Plant Society

Various research grants, education/outreach grants, and scholarships due in February, August, and October. Learn more

Rolling Deadlines

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance - Applications accepted on a rolling basis

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) offers scholarships for students from underserved communities interested in volunteering on public lands in Utah. Students earn $450 toward education costs (as well as additional logistical, gear and travel stipend assistance) to work with the program on restoration projects in Utah. Here is the project calendar.

Patagonia — supports environmental organizations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change

We support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities. We focus on places where we’ve built connections through outdoor recreation and through our network of retail stores, nationally and internationally.

We believe local battles—campaigns to protect a specific stand of forest, a stretch of river, a native wild species or a community suffering from pollution—build public support and confront larger, more complex issues like climate change, loss of biodiversity and environmental justice.

We encourage work that brings historically marginalized communities to the forefront of the environmental movement and defends communities whose health and livelihoods are threatened by environmental exploitation.

We support multipronged campaigns that push for greater environmental protections and force the government to abide by its own laws.

We accept one proposal per group in a given fiscal year (May 1–April 30), with deadlines varying from program to program. Our typical grant size also varies from program to program, but generally ranges between $5,000 and $20,000.

One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization that provides funding to reforestation projects. If your organization is seeking funding for a project, please fill out the following information for us to evaluate. The information you provide also helps us promote your project. Learn more

Bass Pro Shops

Offers funds towards various programs and initiatives, including: Conserving Wildlife and Habitat, Connecting New Audiences to the Outdoors, and Advocating for Access and Sportsmen’s Rights. Learn more

Programmatic + Large Grants

*Many listed on Grants.gov

Colorado Water Plan Grant Program

The Colorado Water Plan Grant Program supports implementation of the Colorado Water Plan. The Partner Actions within the plan offer examples of the types of project level work that CWCB can help support through this grant program. All grant applications will be assessed based on funds available for a particular Water Plan category.

Due in July. Learn more

North American Wetlands Conversation Act (NAWCA) Grants: U.S. Small Program

The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act) Grants Program is a competitive grant program with a thorough application process. The Small Grants Program application process, while simpler than the Standard Grants application process, still takes time and effort, so please plan accordingly and do not hesitate to contact us for assistance. Before you write the proposal, think carefully about how you will implement your project.

Proposals due in October. Learn more

Past/Future Funding

National Bison Association

The Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship program has been established to recognize, encourage and promote leadership among future bison industry professionals. Expected to re-open in October. Learn more

Botanical Society of America

Graduate research awards due in February. Learn more

National Garden Clubs Scholarships

NGC is proud of its college scholarship program which offers financial aid to students majoring in fields of study related to horticulture and the environment. Due in February