Turtle Conservation Fund Grant

The Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) supports critical research and conservation projects for endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles. With funding between $1,000 to $5,000, TCF prioritizes projects addressing species listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered by the IUCN. Smaller seed grants of up to $1,000 are also available for pilot initiatives. TCF aims to foster survival and recovery of these species through targeted funding and strategic partnerships.

The Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) is a strategizing and funding partnership coalition of leading turtle conservation organizations and individuals focused on ensuring the long-term survival of tortoises and freshwater turtles.
As one of its main functions, TCF administers a turtle conservation and research grants program. Awards are granted to organizations or individuals for specific conservation or research projects dealing with highly endangered tortoises or freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles, with either partial or full support as funding allows.
Funding Priorities
Priority for funding is given to projects that focus on tortoises or freshwater turtles that are already highly threatened according to the IUCN Red List or the TFTSG Provisional Red List, as either Critically Endangered or Endangered, or which may be highly threatened but not yet officially classified as such on the Red List. TCF Awards are approximately in the $1000 to $5000 range per project (with full or partial funding depending on full project costs), and smaller seed grant projects are also encouraged (up to $1000 each) to support pilot conservation initiatives for tortoise and freshwater turtle species that are currently either IUCN Red Listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered (or on the TCF Priority Species list–see below), or species that may become priority species with an increase in the state of knowledge about the status of their populations or the threats they currently face (principally species currently classified on the Red List Data Deficient or not yet assessed [Not Evaluated]).
TCF Priority Species
The following species of tortoises and freshwater turtles have been prioritized by TCF to be considered for funding support (listed here).
Most Priority Species and subspecies listed here have been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) by either the IUCN Red List or provisionally CR by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). A few are assessed as Endangered (EN).
Additionally, several species are considered Data Deficient (DD) by either the IUCN Red List or the TFTSG provisional list, indicating their population status is unknown due to a lack of information (see the Appendix at the end of this document). In order to gain a better understanding of their status, proposals regarding these are also solicited.
Importantly, any other species not currently listed here can be considered for TCF funding, as long as a convincing rationale for support is provided.

Ineligibility

We do not support work on marine turtles.Proponent and their project collaborators may not collect, obtain, or distribute any turtles or other wildlife, whether live animals, parts or derivatives, for possession, transport, export, import, or sale, in breach of applicable laws and regulations, during any phase of the supported project.TCF does not provide support for indirect organizational overhead expenses associated with administration of grants, and will not fund requests for such indirect costs.