Our Conservation Capacity program is designed especially to support efforts that improve the ability of the environmental community to address communications, bolster legal strategies and strengthen overall organizational capacity within the conservation community.

To this end, two different tracks guide our investments in this funding area:

1. Support for service providers offering a range of tools aimed at strong advocacy and effective movement building
2. Support for individual groups or coalitions developing organizational capacity or engaging in strategic research (This funding is earmarked for groups already receiving support from our Conservation Policy or Place-based Conservation programs.)

Long-term Goals

• Conservation groups will achieve more community relevance.
• Service providers will address the technical and organizational needs of the conservation community.
• There will be an increase in the number of supporters and in the total budgets of bellwether grantees.
• The ability of pro-conservation groups and constituents to reach key audiences or decision-makers will improve.
• The credibility of conservation groups among community and policy leaders will improve.
• Pro-conservation groups will have access to strong leadership resources and best practices. (Read more about our Leadership Initiative.)

Types of Grantees

• Regionally focused service providers that offer communications training and analysis, leadership development, and technical and legal assistance
• Individual grantees or coalitions engaging in leadership coaching, succession planning, board development, or facilitation or collaboration training
• Individual grantees or coalitions engaging in strategic research to address important trends or to stay abreast of strong nonprofit management practices
• Individual grantees or coalitions following-up on strategic research findings

Funding details

Typical grants, awarded at one of three board meetings held each year, range from $10,000 to $50,000 and can be awarded for multiple years. Inquiries are accepted on an ongoing basis. Proposals are accepted by invitation only.