Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund Grant

Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Nature Forward
Amount: Up to US $3,000
Last Updated: November 20, 2025

Summary

The Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund, established to honor leaders in nature tourism, provides vital seed funding for local conservation projects in developing countries. Since 1974, it has supported over 160 initiatives across 55 nations, emphasizing education and community involvement. Grants, capped at $3000 for one year, focus on projects that benefit endangered species and habitats, ensuring lasting impacts for local populations. Preference is given to applicants with previous conservation experience and those from outside the United States.

Overview

Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund he Fund honors Orville Crowder and Don and Sherry Messersmith, leaders in nature tourism, as a means to further global nature conservation. The Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund, together with the Nature Forward, helps fund small, local conservation and education projects in developing countries by providing seed money to communities and individuals whose projects have not attracted major support from other sources. Grants have provided more than 160 projects in over 55 countries with start-up costs since 1974. Nature Forward has administered the Fund since 1999. General Criteria Projects must: Focus on nature conservation and education. Benefit endangered or threatened species or habitat. Include a public education component. Involve the local population. Have lasting significance for local residents. Be completed within a year. Funding The maximum grant for 1 year is $3000 USD.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. United States researchers planning work in foreign countries must have at least one local collaborator and consider how the project will benefit the local communities.

Ineligibility

General Exclusions: Projects in the United States or other advanced economies. Pure scientific research or data gathering with no obvious conservation benefit. Expeditions, particularly where the applicant has to raise funds in order to participate. Projects that focus on species listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red Book of Threatened Species. Projects that are a small part of a large-scale project that has major financial support. Funding for international travel, overhead expenses, taxes, utilities, or insurance. Money transfers to individual accounts.