Fondation Segré

Charity Number: CUSTOM_7D8E4A71

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately €500,000+ (via Conservation Action Fund alone)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available (84 grants awarded from multiple calls 2021-2025)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Grant Range: €7,000 - €50,000 (via Conservation Action Fund); larger grants available via direct application
  • Geographic Focus: International (Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East)

Contact Details

Head Office:

Alpenstrasse 15, CH-6302 Zug, Switzerland

Phone: +41 41 729 42 79

Email: info@fondationsegre.org

Geneva Office:

Quai du Mont-Blanc 3, CH-1201 Genève, Switzerland

Phone: +41 22 716 09 35

Application Enquiries: applications@fondationsegre.org

Website: https://www.fondationsegre.org

Note: Fondation Segré is not currently accepting unsolicited concept notes or proposals until further notice.

Overview

Fondation Segré was established in 1996 as a Swiss foundation (formally registered in 2013, CHE-399.917.759) dedicated to protecting global biodiversity. While initially having a broad scope covering humanitarian, scientific, educational, artistic and environmental projects, conservation of nature and biodiversity emerged as its predominant focus. The foundation has evolved into a global leader in conservation, committing resources to ambitious, impactful and innovative projects for the conservation of threatened species and their habitats and the restoration of degraded ecosystems. In 2020, the foundation allocated in excess of €7.5 million to 35 projects and initiatives worldwide. Founder and Chairman Dr. Claudio Segré has stated: “I am concerned about the increasing number of challenges our vulnerable planet is facing but I am also encouraged by the growing interest in conservation.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund (2021-2026)

A five-year initiative funded by Fondation Segré and co-managed by IUCN Save Our Species:

  • Conservation Action Grants: €7,000 - €50,000 for on-the-ground conservation action to improve the status of threatened animal species and their habitats. Maximum duration of 12 months. Applications typically open through periodic calls for proposals with fixed deadlines.
  • Research Support Grants: Up to €7,000 for young scientists enrolled in academic institutions to conduct research improving knowledge on threatened species and their role in natural ecosystems.

Direct Funding (Outside Conservation Action Fund)

For larger strategic projects, Fondation Segré accepts applications directly (when open):

  • Grant amounts negotiable based on project scope
  • Funded major initiatives exceeding €50,000
  • Longer-term partnerships with established conservation organizations

Application Methods: Fixed deadlines for Conservation Action Fund; direct applications currently paused until further notice.

Priority Areas

Fondation Segré pursues its mission through six strategic conservation priorities:

  1. Long-term viability of wild populations - Control factors affecting their decline
  2. Critical habitat protection - Support efforts to maintain, restore and protect critical habitats and functional ecosystems
  3. Captive breeding and reintroduction - Support captive breeding of endangered species and their reintroduction into the wild
  4. Sustainable resource use - Foster sustainable use of renewable natural resources, notably forests, water, and rangelands
  5. Legislative improvements - Improve efficacy and implementation of national and international legislation on biodiversity conservation
  6. Education and training - Support educational activities, particularly specialized training of technical staff

Focus Species: Threatened animal species (terrestrial, freshwater and marine) listed as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), or Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Recent calls have included thematic focus areas such as reptiles, freshwater species, and ungulates.

Geographic Priority: Developing regions of Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East.

Favored Approaches:

  • Concrete on-the-ground conservation action
  • Projects benefiting multiple threatened species and their habitats
  • Local and national civil society organizations, including indigenous and community-based organizations
  • Projects with clear theories of change, especially for wildlife trade interventions
  • Community engagement with attention to underlying incentives

What They Don't Fund

Excluded Activities:

  • PhD or pure research projects (research only accepted as part of broader conservation projects)
  • Standalone awareness-raising, education, alternative livelihood or research activities (must be part of broader conservation project)
  • Plant and fungus species (animals only)
  • Projects outside designated geographic regions
  • Government and government-affiliated entities (not eligible for direct grants)

Other Restrictions:

  • Current IUCN/Fondation Segré employees or close relatives cannot apply
  • International NGOs must minimize overseas costs (indirect costs, salaries, international travel) with clear justification
  • Subspecies or subpopulations with different Red List status than parent species not considered
  • Applicants with ongoing SOS grants cannot apply for the same project location
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Governance and Leadership

Foundation Board:

The six-member board manages and represents the foundation and approves annual accounts:

  • Dr. Claudio Segré - Founder and Chairman
  • Dr. Claude Martin - Vice-Chairman
  • Prof. Luigi Boitani - Board Member and General Director
  • Jeffrey James Blumberg - Board Member
  • Simon Nicholas Stuart - Board Member
  • Raphaël Kanza - Board Member
  • Luc Hafner - Board Member

Special Scientific Adviser:

Professor Tim F. Flannery

The foundation also maintains an Advisory Committee and Management team.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Fondation Segré is not currently accepting unsolicited concept notes or proposals until further notice.

Standard Application Process (when open):

  1. Preliminary Concept (max 2,000 words) - Include objectives, activities, rough budget and timeframe. Reviewed for consistency with foundation priorities with support from independent experts if necessary.
  1. Full Proposal - If concept approved, applicants invited to submit full proposal using foundation templates for project description, budget and logical framework.
  1. Expert Review - Full proposal sent to at least two independent experts chosen by the foundation.
  1. Board Approval - Proposal reviewed by Foundation Board for formal approval.
  1. Contract - If approved, terms defined in contract specifying timing, disbursement dates, prerequisites, and reporting obligations.

Conservation Action Fund Applications:

Submit through IUCN Save Our Species portal during open call periods. Applications typically involve online forms with specific templates and requirements.

Decision Timeline

Direct Applications: Entire process normally takes no more than 2 months from preliminary concept submission to board decision.

Conservation Action Fund: Review process and final decision expected to take minimum of 3 months following the call deadline.

Notification Methods: Email notification to applicants.

Success Rates

Between 2021-2025, the Conservation Action Fund awarded 84 grants across all calls:

  • Asia: 33 grants
  • Africa: 25 grants
  • Latin America and Caribbean: 24 grants
  • Europe and Middle East: 2 grants

The fund evolved from targeting “all animal species” in 2021 to more focused taxonomic scopes in subsequent calls (reptiles, freshwater species, ungulates), resulting in increased chances of success for applicants and more manageable selection processes. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applications is publicly documented. Applicants with ongoing SOS grants cannot apply for grants at the same project location but may apply for different locations.

Application Success Factors

Priority Considerations:

  1. Local Leadership - Projects presented by local and national civil society organizations, including indigenous and community-based organizations, are favorably considered.
  1. Multi-Species Impact - Projects providing benefits to multiple eligible threatened species and their habitats are viewed favorably in the selection process.
  1. Clear Theory of Change - Applications addressing illegal wildlife trade and including indigenous peoples or local communities should include clear thinking on the logical sequence likely to lead to reduced poaching, with attention to underlying incentives and how the project intervention changes these.
  1. Concrete Action - Projects must implement concrete conservation activities on the ground, not just research, education, or awareness-raising in isolation.
  1. Cost Efficiency - For international NGOs, overseas costs must be minimal and clearly justified.

Recent Funded Projects Include:

  • Protecting key species in Akagera National Park (Rwanda)
  • Tackling illegal pangolin trade in Malawi
  • Strengthening protection of Salonga National Park (DRC)
  • Improving security in Bili-Uélé Protected Area Complex (DRC)
  • Protecting the Cardamom Rainforest Landscape (Cambodia) with Wildlife Alliance
  • Wildlife crime prevention in five tiger reserves of Karnataka (India) with Wildlife Trust of India
  • Elephant scout camp construction in Sumatra with FZS
  • Conservation work ranging from Lowland Forest Day Gecko in Mauritius to Saint Lucia racer
  • Innovative strategies using drones for Mauritian Flying Fox protection

Success Indicators:

  • Strong track record of conservation results
  • Partnerships with local communities
  • Clear measurable outcomes
  • Cost-effective approaches
  • Innovation in conservation methods
  • Long-term sustainability planning

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Be local or partner locally: The foundation strongly favors local and national CSOs and indigenous organizations. International NGOs should partner with local entities and minimize overseas costs.
  • Focus on action, not research: Pure research, education, or awareness projects are not eligible. These activities must be embedded within broader conservation action projects with tangible on-the-ground impact.
  • Multi-species benefits stand out: Projects benefiting multiple threatened species and their habitats receive favorable consideration in the competitive selection process.
  • Species status matters: Only work with animals (not plants/fungi) listed as VU, EN, or CR on the global IUCN Red List. Subspecies or population-level listings don't count.
  • Geographic targeting: Currently not accepting unsolicited applications, but when open, focus on developing regions (Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East).
  • Demonstrate clear causality: Especially for wildlife trade projects, show clear theory of change explaining how your intervention addresses root causes and changes community incentives.
  • Be patient but not too patient: Decision timelines are relatively quick (2-3 months), but applications are only accepted during specific open periods. Monitor their website and IUCN SOS portal for calls.
  • Start small via Conservation Action Fund: If you're a small organization or young researcher, the Conservation Action Fund offers more accessible entry points (up to €50,000 for conservation, €7,000 for research) compared to direct foundation applications.

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