NWRA Research Grants

NWRA Research Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Last Updated: March 01, 2026

Summary

The NWRA Research Grants program, offered by the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, funds innovative research in wildlife rehabilitation, including assessments of post-release survival and clinical treatments. This initiative aims to advance the science of wildlife care, support wildlife rehabilitators, and enhance collaboration among various stakeholders. By addressing gaps in scientific literature and promoting humane standards, the program seeks to improve rehabilitation practices and contribute to the overall understanding of wildlife health and behavior.

Overview

Research Grants The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Grants Program awards research grants in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, including wildlife medicine and wildlife education. NWRA encourages and supports wildlife rehabilitation organizations in conducting independent and/or collaborative research projects. Many types of projects are welcome to apply for funding, such as those studying post-release survival, clinical treatments, disease syndromes, behavior, nutrition, and more. Such studies offer an opportunity to evaluate and compare the success of varying approaches utilized in modern rehabilitation practices. Wildlife rehabilitation is a young science and frequently is criticized for its lack of quantitative evidence describing survivorship, behavioral responses, and overall reproductive fitness of rehabilitated wildlife following release. It also primarily involves poorly studied species where common health problems and challenges are under-investigated and lack applicable scientific literature. Through funding research projects, NWRA hopes to improve wildlife rehabilitation techniques, allow for continued growth within the profession, and to expand scientific knowledge about the species in our care. Goals of the NWRA Research Committee: Provide guidelines for integrating research and post-release studies within wildlife rehabilitation that do not infringe on the NWRA code of ethics.Support wildlife rehabilitators conducting and/or collaborating on post-release studies and similar research.Advocate for wildlife rehabilitators and rehabilitated wildlife involved in research.Broaden the breadth of knowledge on post-release survival of rehabilitated wildlife. Provide an avenue to improve and broaden collaboration between wildlife rehabilitators, governmental agencies, private groups, universities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals, conducting post-release studies and other wildlife health research. Disseminate information on permit compliance, safe handling procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOP’s), etc., for post-release studies. Simultaneously, ensure that post-release research study designs and proposals involving rehabilitated wildlife adequately address animal welfare considerations by adhering to humane standards of care.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. NWRA offers many opportunities for wildlife rehabilitators and professionals at all stages of their career.