NSS International Exploration Grants

NSS International Exploration Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Speleological Society
Last Updated: October 13, 2025

Summary

The NSS International Exploration Grants support members of the National Speleological Society in their international cave exploration and survey projects. This program, established through generous contributions, emphasizes conservation and responsible exploration. Grant criteria include participant involvement, expedition complexity, and proposal quality. Eligible expenses cover group costs and equipment, while ineligible expenses involve personal gear and legal fees. The grants aim to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among cavers worldwide, ensuring sustainability in cave research.

Overview

National Speleological Society Mission The National Speleological Society (NSS) is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the scientific study of caves and karst; protecting caves and their natural contents through conservation, ownership, stewardship, and public education; and promoting responsible cave exploration and fellowship among those interested in caves. What We Do Connect Cavers WorldwideRecreation & FellowshipConservation & PreservationCave ExplorationScienceEducation International Exploration Grants A decade ago, the grant program was endowed under the leadership of Don Paquette and in subsequent years with funds from the NSS International Speleological Participation Fund, the Gunung Buda Project, and through the generosity of NSS Caver Ron Simmons. Over $100,000 was added to the quasi-endowment for this fund thanks to Ron. Grant Award Criteria Considered Number of NSS members participating (also in relation to total number of participants).Challenge, complexity and cost of the expedition.An expedition focus on cave exploration, survey and documentation/ photodocumentation.Overall quality and completeness of the proposal.Experience and previous success on international expeditions, including reporting/maps, and the previous fulfillment of grant requirements if applicable.Permits acquired, if applicable.Reasonable budget expensesOther funding sources.Cooperation with local partners in country, if applicableEfforts to share results with in-country land managers to assist in cave management, if applicableIf an expedition includes a member of the Committee, that member cannot be the applicant and must abstain from voting on or rating that proposal

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants can be used for group expenses and equipment.  Requested funds for expensive equipment (over $400) are acceptable if the equipment is intended for repeated use in multi-trip projects, but not for single use. Example expenses might include, but are not limited to: rope, survey gear, SAR gear, guides and porters, permits and permissions, in country group transportation travel, group meals, and specialty food such as freeze dried.One grant per year, generally the largest, will be known as the Ron Simmons Award in honor of Ron’s contribution to the International Exploration Fund. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.

Ineligibility

The Committee is not prepared to fund expeditions whose results are secret or to be kept from other cavers. However, specific cave location information need not be shared.Group equipment does not include personal plane tickets and personal caving gear.Additional non-allowable expenses include: legal expenses (permit fees excepted) indirect costs and overhead conference travelcapital expenses incurred prior to expedition (i.e. books, LiDAR data, etc.)