Feasibility Awards Grant

Feasibility Awards Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Rainforest Trust
Amount: Up to US $20,000
Last Updated: December 28, 2025

Summary

The Rainforest Trust offers Feasibility Awards to evaluate the potential for establishing or expanding protected areas. These awards help fill critical information gaps in conservation initiatives, serving as a precursor to applying for larger grants. They can fund legal pathways for site protection or surveys for endangered species. Typically, these awards average $10,000, with exceptions for grants exceeding $20,000 in extraordinary circumstances.

Overview

Feasibility Awards Rainforest Trust provides Feasibility Awards to assess the potential for creating or expanding protected or conserved areas. These awards are intended to address specific information gaps in conservation projects, as precursors to applying for a Protected or Conserved Area Creation Award. For instance, Feasibility Awards can support developing a legal pathway to protect a proposed site, or field surveys to determine the presence and abundance of Critically Endangered or Endangered species. The average size of Feasibility Awards is $10,000; in exceptional situations, amounts of greater than $20,000 may be considered. Required Criteria for All Projects: The primary objective must be the creation/expansion of a protected or conserved areai.The proposed area(s) must be currently unprotected. Please use the World Database of Protected Areas to help determine if formal protection is already afforded (IUCN category 1-6)ii.The proposed protected or conserved area serves to:Protect globally significant populations of Critically Endangered and Endangered species (e.g. Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites); AND/ORiii, ivProtect large areas of Tropical and Sub-tropical High Integrity Forests; AND/ORProtect Tropical and Sub-tropical habitat critical for mitigating global climate change (e.g. peat swamps, mangroves, páramo).The Project Implementer must be a legally registered non-government organization and authorized to conduct work in the country of the project.The project demonstrates support from relevant governments (including Indigenous governments) and Indigenous Peoples and/or Local Communities, and that relevant Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) has been or will be properly conducted.The protection mechanism, resulting in a change in legal status of the area during the course of the project, will mitigate critical threats to biodiversity and, where applicable, to carbon storage.A management system (management plan and committee) is, or will be, in place that ensures positive and sustained outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity.Resource extraction limits are, or will be, established to prevent unsustainable use. Additional Required Criteria for Specific Project Types Projects where Indigenous Peoples' and/or Local Communities' Land Tenure is the Primary Conservation Strategy Substantial management authority of the area will be led by the Indigenous Peoples or Local Communities.Land titles—or similar permanent land ownership or resource rights designations—and governance authority will be granted to the Indigenous Peoples and/or Local Communities with the customary right to the land in question; ORiLands and/or waters will be designated as a multiple-use territory with management (or co-management) by the Indigenous or Local Community. Projects where Land Purchase is the Primary Conservation Strategy Land is likely to be converted in the near future if purchase is not completed.An alternative protection strategy is not possible, more expensive, or significantly less effective.Conservation value is greater than expected based on the cost; ORi,iiVery high biodiversity value; ORStrategic value Projects where Marine Protected Area Creation is the Primary Conservation Strategy Enabling conditions exist for Marine Protected Area (MPA) creation and effective management, includingi:Overlaps area of maximum biodiversity benefit from MPAs according to Sala et al. 2021; ORiiStands out on other measures of biodiversity value; ORHigh carbon value.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. All applicants must be legally registered, non-government organizations that are authorized to conduct work in the country of the proposed project.Your project must be in line with our Project Criteria.

Ineligibility

Please note that Rainforest Trust support focuses on direct conservation action, centered around the creation and expansion of sustainably managed protected or conserved areas. As such, we are unable to fund the following: Fixed rate overhead costs, although please note that itemized expenditures will be considered.Long-term ecological monitoring or research.Large scale habitat restoration (e.g., tree planting).