Ulysses S. Seal Grant

Ulysses S. Seal Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Minnesota Zoo
Last Updated: September 01, 2025

Summary

The Ulysses S. Seal Grant, offered by the Minnesota Zoo, funds conservation projects worldwide, focusing on wildlife habitat preservation. Since its inception in 2002, it has allocated over $460,000 to over 200 initiatives across 50 countries. The grant honors Ulysses S. Seal, a pioneer in conservation and a founding member of key organizations, emphasizing the importance of species conservation. To qualify, applicants must have a Minnesota Zoo staff member support their project.

Overview

In an effort to extend the Minnesota Zoo’s conservation footprint, the Zoo has a program to help fund conservation projects in wildlife habitats around the world. The Zoo’s Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program awards small grants to projects promoting the conservation of wildlife.  The funding for this program comes exclusively from private contributions. The Ulysses S. Seal Fund honors a man who inspired the Minnesota Zoo to achieve greatness. He served as one of our first board chairs and founded the International Species Information System (ISIS).  He was also the originator and chair of the IUCN’s Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. He believed in the value of all species and worked to conserve as many as he was able. For his extraordinary wisdom and vision, he was showered with medals and awards from zoos worldwide, but it is here at the Minnesota Zoo where his legacy began, and continues in a fund named after him. Funding priority is given to field-based conservation, but worthy zoo-based projects are considered. To receive support, a Minnesota Zoo staff member needs to champion the project. Since its inception in 2002, the fund has awarded over $460,000 to more than 200 projects in 50 countries.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To receive support, applicants must contact a Minnesota Zoo staff member to "champion" the project.