Paleontology Grants

Last updated October 10, 2026

Grantable tracks 38 active paleontology grants in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 24 list an award amount, with a median of $1,000.

Grants tracked: 38; from 21 funders
Median award: $1,000; middle half $1,000–$3,000
Total listed funding: $219K; across 24 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 0; 0 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
SVP Wood Award Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · Varies The SVP Wood Award, named in honor of Dr. Albert E. Wood, supports student research on vertebrate fossils and natural history collections.	Not published	Varies
SVP Jackson School of Geosciences Student Travel Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · Varies The SVP Jackson School of Geosciences Student Travel Grant supports current students presenting at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's 85th Annual Meeting in Birmingham, UK, from November 12-15, 2025.	Not published	Varies
Marvin and Beth Hix Preparators’ Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · Varies The Marvin and Beth Hix Preparators’ Grant, offered by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, aims to enhance the field of Vertebrate Paleontology through preparation advancements.	Not published	Varies
Everett Lindsay Award Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · Varies The Everett Lindsay Award supports innovative research into mammalian evolution, encompassing studies of fossils, anatomy, and paleoecology.	Not published	Varies
National Speleological Society: Research Grant National Speleological Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The National Speleological Society (NSS) offers Research Grants to its members for cave-related studies in natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities.	Not published	Up to $2K
Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology Award Grant Association for Women Geoscientists · Foundation Not published · $1K The Association for Women Geoscientists is proud to offer the Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology Award, a $1000 cash prize for an exceptional female undergraduate pursuing paleontology.	Not published	$1K
Palaeontological Association Research Grants Palaeontological Association · Foundation Not published · Up to £10,000 The Palaeontological Association Research Grants offer up to £10,000 GBP to support innovative palaeontological research projects. Eligible applicants must be Association members with a PhD and a proven research track record.	Not published	Up to £10,000
Palaeontology Association: Small Grants Scheme Palaeontological Association · Foundation Not published · Up to £1,500 The Palaeontology Association offers the Small Grants Scheme to support research, travel, and fieldwork in palaeontology.	Not published	Up to £1,500
SVP Field Training Award Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · $2K The SVP Field Training Award supports students and early career paleontologists needing field training in vertebrate paleontology.	Not published	$2K
Jordan Sawdo Memorial Outreach & Service Grants Western Interior Paleontological Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Outreach/Service Grants by the Western Interior Paleontological Society aim to enhance the accessibility of paleontological resources through educational programs and community outreach.	Not published	Up to $1K
Toomey Foundation Grant Program The Toomey Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Toomey Foundation Grant Program invites proposals from qualified not-for-profit organizations for research in archeology, astronomy, or paleontology.	Not published	Varies
Post-Doctorate Research Grants: W. Storrs Cole Memorial Research Award Geological Society of America Foundation · Foundation Not published · $7K – $10K The W. Storrs Cole Memorial Research Award, offered by the Geological Society of America (GSA), supports innovative research in invertebrate micropaleontology.	Not published	$7K – $10K
Paleontological Society International Research Program ( PalSIRP) - Sepkoski Grants Paleontological Society · Foundation Not published · $1K The Paleontological Society International Research Program (PalSIRP) offers small grants of up to $1,000 for paleontologists from Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Central and South America, and various island nations.	Not published	$1K
Edwin H. and Margaret M. Colbert Prize Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · $1K The Edwin H. and Margaret M. Colbert Prize is awarded at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s Annual Meeting to recognize exceptional student poster presentations.	Not published	$1K
Paleontology Society Educational Support Program Grant Anza-Borrego Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $250 The Paleontology Society Educational Support Program provides funding to support educational and research initiatives in paleontology within the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park region.	Not published	Up to $250
Deep Time Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Grant Smithsonian Institution · Foundation Not published · Up to $145K The Deep Time Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers a two-year research opportunity in Paleobiology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, starting in early 2025.	Not published	Up to $145K
AAPS: A. Allen Graffham Paleontology Research Grant Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences · Foundation Not published · $1K The A. Allen Graffham Paleontology Research Grant, administered by the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences, provides $1000 annually to support researchers publishing on specimens collected by AAPS members.	Not published	$1K
FYSSEN Foundation: Research Grants Fondation Fyssen / Fyssen Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to €100,000 The FYSSEN Foundation offers research grants aimed at enhancing our understanding of behavior and cognition through interdisciplinary projects in fields such as neuroscience and anthropology.	Not published	Up to €100,000
Dan and Hope Rigel Educational Grant Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Dan and Hope Rigel Educational Grant supports high school educators in promoting geology and paleontology education.	Not published	Up to $1K
The Richard Estes Memorial Grant Society of Vertebrate Paleontology · Foundation Not published · Varies The Richard Estes Memorial Grant supports graduate student research in nonmammalian vertebrate paleontology, honoring Dr. Richard Estes' significant contributions to the field.	Not published	Varies
Norman Newell Early Career Grant Paleontological Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Norman Newell Early Career Grant supports paleontologists who completed their Ph.D. within the last five years and are members of the Paleontological Society.	Not published	Up to $5K
Gary S. Morgan Student Research Award Grant Florida Paleontological Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Gary S. Morgan Student Research Award, provided by the Florida Paleontological Society, aims to enhance understanding of Florida's paleontology through innovative research.	Not published	Up to $1K
RGGS Postdoctoral Fellowships Grant American Museum of Natural History · Foundation Not published · Varies The RGGS Postdoctoral Fellowships at the American Museum of Natural History support postdoctoral researchers in diverse scientific fields including Anthropology, Zoology, and Paleontology.	Not published	Varies
J. Thomas Dutro Jr. Student Award Grant Paleontological Research Institution · Foundation Not published · $500 The J. Thomas Dutro Jr. Student Award, presented by the Paleontological Research Institution, recognizes the significance of systematic research in paleontology.	Not published	$500

Showing 1–24 of 38

Paleontology grants by the numbers

How deadlines work

Stated cycle, no date yet: 1 3%
No deadline published: 37 97%

Funders with the most active paleontology grants

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 9 active
Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences 3 active
Paleontological Society 3 active
Western Interior Paleontological Society 3 active
Association for Women Geoscientists 2 active
Geological Society of America Foundation 2 active

21 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 38 active paleontology grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 10, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum.

About paleontology grants

Paleontology grants fund fossil research, fieldwork, collections, and education for students, early-career researchers, and institutions. Funders include the National Science Foundation for fundamental research, the National Geographic Society for field projects, the Jurassic Foundation for dinosaur paleontology, and the Paleontological Society for research, outreach, and education. These awards are especially valuable for students and researchers with limited funding.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow paleontology grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do paleontology grants award?

Of the 38 paleontology grants Grantable lists as of October 10, 2026, 24 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $1,000, and the middle half fall between $1,000 and $3,000. The largest is $145K. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most paleontology grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (9), Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences (3), Paleontological Society (3), Western Interior Paleontological Society (3), and Association for Women Geoscientists (2). In all, 21 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are paleontology grants due?

Of 38 grants listed, 1 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date and 37 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for paleontology?

Paleontology grants fund field research, fossil collection and curation, lab analysis, and education and outreach. The Jurassic Foundation awards grants for dinosaur paleontology research, the National Geographic Society funds field projects, and the Paleontological Society offers research, outreach, and education grants. NSF supports broader research and graduate fellowships relevant to paleontology and earth science.

Who funds paleontology research?

Funders include the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Jurassic Foundation, and the Paleontological Society, along with university and museum-affiliated programs. The Jurassic Foundation focuses specifically on dinosaur paleontology and prioritizes students and researchers with limited funding, while National Geographic emphasizes early-career field researchers. Match your project to each funder's scope and career-stage focus.

Are there grants for students and early-career paleontologists?

Yes. The Jurassic Foundation awards research grants to students, postdoctoral researchers, and scientists with limited funding, and NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports graduate students in STEM fields including paleontology. The Paleontological Society also offers student-oriented research and education grants. Because many awards are modest, applicants often combine several sources to fund a single field season or project.

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