WFA’s Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship Grant

WFA’s Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wild Felid Research & Management Association
Amount: US $1,000 - US $2,000
Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Summary

The Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship, established by the Wild Felid Research and Management Association in 2009, supports graduate students researching wild felids in the Western Hemisphere. It awards one to three scholarships ranging from $1200 to $1500, based on financial need and research impact. To date, 38 scholarships totaling over $44,000 have been awarded in memory of dedicated biologists who contributed to wildlife conservation. Recipients are recognized in the WFA's newsletter, the Wild Felid Monitor.

Overview

The Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship The Wild Felid Research and Management Association began awarding the Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship in 2009 to encourage and support graduate-level university students involved in wild felid research. To date, 38 scholarships totaling over $44,000 have been awarded. The scholarship honors dedicated biologists who lost their lives while seeking to understand and contribute to the conservation of wildlife: Dave Maehr, Ian Ross, Rocky Spencer, Eric York, Deanna Dawn, Donna Krucki, and now, Howard Quigley. Scholarships are made possible through grants and donations to WFA. Past contributors have included The Summerlee Foundation, Deanna Dawn’s family, Altria Group, WFA members, and private individuals. Purpose of the Fund The Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship provides financial aid to a graduate-level university student conducting research on one of the Western Hemisphere’s wild felids. Depending on funding, one to three scholarships of $1200 to $1500 each are awarded and recipients are recognized in the WFA’s newsletter, the Wild Felid Monitor. Applications are evaluated based on: demonstrated need for financial aid; participation in a research project that aims to improve our understanding of wild felid biology, management, and/or conservation; and recommendations by professors and supervisors.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. As of July 1 of the application year, applicants also must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree and be enrolled in a graduate program in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management, or a related natural resource field, with a research focus that includes wild felids. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. You must be a student member of the Wild Felid Research and Management Association. You may submit a membership form with payment to WFA when submitting your scholarship application if you are not currently a member.