Rufford Foundation Small Grants: Apply for Up to £7,000 for Your First Conservation Project
The Rufford Foundation accepts applications throughout the year for small nature-conservation projects in eligible emerging and developing economies. Its first-stage award offers up to £7,000, making it a funding route worth examining for an early-career conservationist with a practical, clearly scoped proposal.
This is a rolling programme rather than a competition with an October closing date. The official application portal and guidance were checked on 14 October 2026. Applicants should use the current online criteria rather than older grant summaries, because award amounts and the number of stages have changed.
What funding is available?
The programme has four successive stages: a first grant of up to £7,000, a second of up to £8,000, a Booster Grant of up to £12,000 and a Completion Grant of up to £18,000. The higher amounts are follow-on stages, not alternative starting awards for new applicants. Rufford’s official announcement explains the revised funding structure.
Who should consider applying?
The foundation prioritises people beginning their conservation careers, particularly current master’s or doctoral students and recent graduates. Undergraduate students are excluded. Projects must have a conservation purpose and take place in an eligible country. The criteria cover threatened species, habitats and relevant conservation issues; purely academic research without a clear conservation benefit is excluded. Check the full criteria before developing a budget.
How the application works
Applications and references are submitted in English through Rufford’s online system. Arrange an organisation to receive and administer any award: payments cannot go into an individual’s personal bank account. Three independent references are required, and referees should be approached early. The FAQ warns that review can take up to four months and that projects already started cannot be funded. These details matter when deciding when field activities can realistically begin.
Applicants may make only one funding application within a 12-month period. Read the current FAQ for reference requirements, payment arrangements, reporting and review times.
Deadline and official application
There is no annual closing date. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to the programme’s eligibility and repeat-application rules. Start with the official Rufford Small Grants application portal, and confirm all requirements before submitting.
