Funding Amount

Up to US $1,000

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

  • Applicant must be current member of AIC.Imaginative or innovative project.
  • Clearly articulated goals and timeline for the project.
  • Usefulness of project to the applicant and/or the conservation field.
  • Qualifications of applicant to conduct project.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Since other FAIC scholarships and grants are available for attending courses, workshops, and seminars, applications for these types of projects are unlikely to be considered for funding.
  • Not eligible: The member requirement means applicants must have an AIC individual membership.
  • Not eligible: Persons receiving member benefits through an institutional membership do not qualify.

Overview

The "Take a Chance" Grant, offered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC), provides up to $1,000 for innovative conservation projects that may lack funding opportunities. Established in memory of Carolyn Rose, this grant encourages creative research and supports applicants who are current AIC members. It aims to foster unique ideas that benefit the conservation field, particularly those that may have a positive impact on underserved communities.

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) offers support of up to $1,000 to help defray costs for innovative conservation research or projects that may not otherwise be funded.
Grant History
The “Take a Chance” fund was established in honor of Carolyn Rose, Chairman of the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History and internationally recognized leader and educator in conservation, who died August 29, 2002 at the age of 53.
Throughout her career, Carolyn Rose often remarked that she was able to investigate ideas and pursue unconventional lines of research because she had the backing and support of a major research institution. As a teacher and mentor for many conservators working today, she encouraged creativity and broad thinking in her students. She also recognized that few people have the opportunity she had to follow an idea either to a successful outcome or perhaps a dead end, and wanted to be able to give others the opportunity to “take a chance” (her words) on an idea, even if it came to nothing. In honor of Carolyn’s spirit of encouragement and of her career, the “Take a Chance” Grant has been established to support unorthodox projects.

Eligibility

Applicant must be current member of AIC.Imaginative or innovative project.Clearly articulated goals and timeline for the projectUsefulness of project to the applicant and/or the conservation field.Qualifications of applicant to conduct project.Plan to disseminate outcomes of project (whether project is successful or not).Appropriateness of budget; financial need may be considered.
You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Applicants must be current members of AIC

Ineligibility

Since other FAIC scholarships and grants are available for attending courses, workshops, and seminars, applications for these types of projects are unlikely to be considered for funding.The member requirement means applicants must have an AIC individual membership. Persons receiving member benefits through an institutional membership do not qualify.

What Foundation for Advancement in Conservation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
6
Total given
$204K
Median grant
$44K
Range
$6,363–$58K
  • By dollars: Massachusetts 28%, California 25%, Illinois 22%. Top recipient cities: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Example grants

  • Northeastern University · Boston, MA

    Cultural heritage grant

    $58K

  • Newberry Library · Chicago, IL

    Conservation fellowship

    $44K

  • Cincinnati Art Museum · Cincinnati, OH

    Conservation fellowship

    $44K

  • Your Neighborhood Museum · Los Angeles, CA

    Conservation fellowship

    $44K

  • Balboa Art Conservation Center · San Diego, CA

    Conservation grant

    $8,000

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Professional development

Categories

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