Grant Cycle 

NOMINATIONS

Each year, the ATCF Grant Program mobilizes our membership to identify and fund high-impact, community-led conservation projects worldwide. Members nominate organizations they know and trust, ensuring strong partnerships and meaningful on-the-ground impact.

Organizations with any relationship to a member may be nominated, but only ATCF members may submit nominations. Each member may nominate up to two projects that align with our funding criteria. Selected nominees will be invited to submit a full grant request between USD $10,000 and $20,000. Applications are reviewed by staff, the Board, and technical advisors, with a final shortlist presented to members for voting. Projects receiving the most votes are awarded funding.

Submit nominations by March 20, 2026. Late nominations will be considered, but all projects must meet the final application deadline.

*If you are not an ATCF member or do not have a relationship with one, but would like your project considered for nomination, please complete the inquiry form.

Read the funding criteria

Completing the RFP can sometimes be a challenge for organizations, especially when English is their second language.  While it is not a requirement, we encourage all of our member companies to provide basic translation support to the organizations they nominated. Grant applicants will have approximately one month to submit their application. We estimate that it will take organizations approximately 5-6 hours to complete the application.

If you have specific questions about the nominations process, contact Soraya Shattuck at soraya@atconservationfund.org

Grant Funding Details

  • Organizations applying must be nominated by an ATCF member to begin the application process and be considered for funding.

    If you have a project that fits the above criteria, we invite you to partner with one of our ATCF members to get your project nominated. Once our deadline for project nominations closes, we will contact the organizations that were nominated, and invite them to submit a formal application. These organizations will be asked to complete and submit their RFP project application to the ATCF. If you have questions about whether or not your nominated project will fit within our criteria, please contact us at soraya@atconservationfund.org.

    If you do not have an existing relationship/connection with any of our ATCF members, but would like to try and get your project nominated, please complete this form and we will do our best to connect you with one of our members to consider nominating your project.

  • Funding amounts will range between $10,000 to $20,000 each depending on the size of the project and the impacts that the proposed project aims to achieve.

    Projects will be expected to be completed within 1 year of funding distribution.

  • Project Nominations: March 2-20, 2026

    Application Period: March 30- April 15, 2026

    Voting Period: June 29 - July 27, 2026

    Grant Winners Announced: August, 2026

    Funding Awarded: December, 2026

    • Projects that most closely align with the ATCF grant criteria

    • Available funding capacity for that grant cycle

    • Membership voting preferences

    • Governmental entities

    • Humanitarian projects

    • Video or documentary film projects

    • Research

    • Advocacy

  • The term "indigenous" generally refers to the original inhabitants of a particular region or area, who have maintained a longstanding presence in that territory, often preceding the arrival of settlers or colonizers. Indigenous peoples are typically characterized by their distinct cultures, languages, traditions, and connections to the land they inhabit.

    Key characteristics of indigenous communities may include:

    • Historical continuity: Indigenous peoples have long standing ties to specific territories and have often inhabited these regions for generations, if not centuries.

    • Distinct cultural identities: Indigenous communities possess unique cultural practices, languages, belief systems, and traditions that are integral to their identity and way of life.

    • Connection to the land: Indigenous peoples have deep spiritual, cultural, and economic connections to their ancestral lands, which often serve as the foundation of their social and economic systems.

    • Recognition of sovereignty and self-determination: Indigenous peoples often assert their rights to self-governance, autonomy, and control over their own affairs, including the management of natural resources and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

    We recognize that the term "indigenous" encompasses diverse communities around the world, each with its own distinct histories, cultures, and experiences. The specific criteria used to define indigenous peoples may vary depending on cultural, legal, and historical contexts within different regions and countries.