The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is an innovative philanthropy providing small grants to boots-on-the-ground, get-your-hands-dirty, in-the-field species conservation projects for the world's most threatened species.
Originally set up in 2008 with an initial endowment of €25,000,000, the Fund was established to:
- Provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives.
- Recognize leaders in the field of species conservation; and
- Elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate.
The Fund's reach in species conservation is truly global, and its species interest is non-discriminatory. It is open to applications for funding support from conservationists based in all parts of the world and will potentially support direct conservation projects focused on all kinds of endangered plant, animal and fungus species, subject to the approval of an independent evaluation committee.
In addition, the fund recognises leaders in the field of species conservation and scientific research to ensure their important work is given the attention it deserves and to generally help elevate the importance of species in the global conservation discourse.
In 2024, the latest round of funding ensured that the Fund allocated $27,143,809 to global species conservation. This support has facilitated 2,894 projects and played a crucial role in bringing 1,789 species back from the brink of extinction.
Read more about the species and people supported by browsing our species conservation case study section.
To view the Fund's Annual Reports, please click here.