Rufford Small Grants 2026Get Up to £7,000 for Wildlife and Nature Conservation Projects
Rufford Small Grants fund individual conservation projects worldwide with grants of up to £7,000. Apply before 31 December 2026. Open to all nationalities.
Have a practical idea to protect wildlife, restore threatened habitats or help communities live alongside nature?
- Host
- The Rufford Foundation
- Mode
- Project-based, with fieldwork and conservation activities where relevant
- Age limit
- No specific age limit
- Degree
- No universal minimum degree is stated, but current MSc or PhD students and graduates from the past three years receive priority. Undergraduate students pursuing a BSc or equivalent are not funded.
- Experience
- Designed primarily for people in the early stages of a conservation career
Can you apply?
The programme prioritises applicants who are at the beginning of their conservation careers. Current MSc or PhD students, or people who graduated from such studies within the previous three years, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applicants from other backgrounds may be considered if they meet the programme’s wider criteria. Being enrolled in a degree alone does not make a project eligible.
Your proposal should meet the following conditions:
- The project must have a clear nature conservation focus.
- The work must take place in a country eligible under the current programme rules.
- The proposed activities should deliver practical conservation benefits.
- Projects focusing on a particular species must meet the foundation’s species eligibility criteria.
- The budget should be realistic and closely connected to the proposed work.
- A suitable organisation must be willing to receive and manage any awarded funds.
Applicants should verify their country’s eligibility and review the full criteria before preparing a proposal.
Applying
Applications are submitted online through the official Rufford application portal.
Step 1: Review the eligibility criteria
Check the eligible-country list, project requirements and rules for your proposed conservation work.
Step 2: Develop a clear project proposal
Explain the conservation problem, the activities you intend to carry out, the expected outcomes and how you will assess progress.
Step 3: Prepare a realistic budget
Request funding for eligible project expenses and explain why each cost is necessary. If other funders are involved, review Rufford’s co-funding expectations.
Step 4: Arrange an organisation to manage the funds
Contact a suitable university, NGO or conservation organisation and confirm that it is willing to receive and administer the grant if your application succeeds.
Step 5: Arrange three references
The application requires three references. They must be received within 12 weeks of submission for the application to proceed.
Step 6: Submit the online application
Create an account, complete the application in English and submit it through the official portal. The application should be submitted before the project begins, as the foundation does not fund projects that have already started.
Official application portal: https://apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org/
Common questions
Is the Rufford Small Grant fully funded?
It is a project grant, not a personal scholarship. The foundation aims to support a substantial share of eligible project costs, but applicants must prepare a project-specific budget and follow the funding conditions. Do not assume that tuition, salaries or every personal expense will be covered.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is listed in the official application guidance. Use the official Rufford portal to apply.
Can undergraduate students apply?
Students pursuing a BSc or equivalent are not funded under the programme’s general criteria. Current MSc and PhD students, as well as recent graduates from those programmes, receive priority.
Can I apply if my project is already running?
The foundation states that it will not fund projects that have already begun. Prepare and submit the application before starting the proposed project.
Can the money be paid directly to me?
No. Rufford pays grants to an organisation, such as a university or conservation NGO. Applicants must arrange for an organisation to receive and manage the funding.
How often can I apply?
You can submit only one funding application in any 12-month period. If an application is rejected, you must wait 12 months before applying again.
Full description
Have a practical idea to protect wildlife, restore threatened habitats or help communities live alongside nature? The Rufford Small Grants programme could help you turn that idea into a conservation project.
The Rufford Foundation supports early-career conservationists working on small-scale and pilot projects in eligible emerging and developing economy countries. First-time applicants can request up to £7,000 to support eligible project activities. Applications are accepted throughout the year, so there is no single annual deadline to rush towards.
This is project funding rather than a personal scholarship or unrestricted cash award. Before applying, check the eligibility rules, arrange an organisation to manage the funds and make sure your proposal has a clear conservation benefit.
What Is the Rufford Small Grants Programme?
The Rufford Small Grants programme supports conservation initiatives that need funding to move from an idea into practical action. It is particularly relevant to early-career conservationists who want to address a local environmental problem, conduct fieldwork or test an approach that could benefit biodiversity.
Projects may focus on threatened species, habitat protection, human-wildlife conflict, community education and other activities with a clear nature conservation outcome.
The programme is not intended to fund research that has no evident conservation benefit, conference attendance or expeditions undertaken simply to participate in an event.
How Much Funding Can You Receive?
The programme has four stages of support, designed to help conservationists develop their work over time.
- First Rufford Small Grant: Up to £7,000
- Second Rufford Small Grant: Up to £8,000
- Booster Grant: Up to £12,000
- Completion Grant: Up to £18,000
The first grant is generally the starting point for eligible applicants who have not previously received Rufford funding. Later stages support the development of earlier work and have additional requirements.
These amounts are maximum awards, not guaranteed payments. The amount requested should reflect the actual needs and budget of the proposed project.
What Expenses Can the Grant Cover?
Rufford funding is intended for eligible conservation project expenses. Depending on the project, a budget may include fieldwork, travel within the project area, accommodation and subsistence required to carry out the work, as well as other essential conservation activities.
However, the grant should not be treated as general living support. The foundation does not cover academic tuition fees, and it generally does not fund salaries or international travel. Project costs must be justified in the application and comply with the foundation’s rules.
Important funding condition: The grant is paid to an organisation, such as a university or conservation NGO, rather than directly into an individual’s personal bank account. Applicants must arrange for a suitable organisation to receive and manage the funds before submitting an application.
Can Applicants From India Apply?
India-based conservationists may be eligible, provided the project and applicant meet the foundation’s current requirements.
For example, a suitable proposal could involve protecting a threatened species, conserving a habitat, reducing human-wildlife conflict or working with local communities on a biodiversity challenge.
However, the programme does not automatically fund every environmental or academic research project. Applicants should demonstrate a direct conservation benefit, confirm that their proposed work is eligible and arrange for a university, NGO or another suitable organisation to manage the grant.
What Is the Application Deadline?
There is no fixed annual deadline for the Rufford Small Grants programme. Applications can be submitted at any time of the year.
However, applicants should not assume that funding will be approved immediately. The review process may take several months, and three references are required. Plan your project timeline accordingly and do not begin the proposed project before applying.
Final Thoughts
The Rufford Small Grants programme is worth exploring if you are an early-career conservationist with a well-defined project that can make a practical difference to wildlife, habitats or biodiversity.
Its year-round application window offers flexibility, and the first grant can provide meaningful support for eligible fieldwork and conservation activities. The key is to build a strong proposal, understand the funding restrictions and arrange an organisation to manage the grant before applying.
Check the official criteria and apply here: https://apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org/
All quick facts
- Opportunity Type
- Nature Conservation Project Grant
- Host Institution
- The Rufford Foundation
- Location
- Eligible emerging and developing economy countries
- Duration
- 12 to 18 months
- Age Limit
- No specific age limit
- Mode
- Project-based, with fieldwork and conservation activities where relevant
- Nationality
- Applicants must work in a country eligible under the programme’s current rules
- Minimum Degree Required
- No universal minimum degree is stated, but current MSc or PhD students and graduates from the past three years receive priority. Undergraduate students pursuing a BSc or equivalent are not funded.
- Work Experience
- Designed primarily for people in the early stages of a conservation career
- Application Deadline
- No fixed deadline. Applications are accepted year-round.
- Application Fee
- No application fee is listed in the official application guidance
- Stipend / Salary / Financial Support
- Up to £7,000 for a first Rufford Small Grant, for eligible project costs. This is not a personal stipend.
