Galapagos Conservation Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,470,979 (charitable activities expenditure 2024)
• Total Income: £1,838,023 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: Variable - from small grants for early-career researchers to multi-year programmes
• Geographic Focus: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (exclusively)
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation/partnership-based

Contact Details

Website: www.galapagosconservation.org.uk

Email: gct@gct.org

Phone: 020 7399 7440

Address: Unit G02, The Print Rooms, 164-180 Union Street, London, SE1 0LH

Overview

Founded in 1995, Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) is the only UK-registered charity dedicated exclusively to the conservation and sustainable development of the Galapagos Archipelago. With nearly 30 years of experience and an annual income of £1.8 million (2024), GCT funds projects, research, and education initiatives through carefully selected partnerships with local scientists, NGOs, and community groups in Ecuador. The charity operates through a collaborative model, working with partners including the Galapagos National Park Directorate, Charles Darwin Foundation, University of Exeter, and local communities. GCT is governed by a Board of up to 14 voluntary Trustees and employs 14 staff members. Under CEO Dr. Jen Jones, a marine biologist who joined GCT in 2011, the organization has accelerated its impact, achieving its best fundraising year in 2024 with 87p in every £1 raised going directly to conservation work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Co-Galapagos Initiative

A flagship community-led programme that funds local projects addressing social, economic, and ecological issues in harmony with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The programme:

• Provides direct funding to local community project ideas
• Focuses on underrepresented groups including women, youth, and highland farmers
• Completed 5 community-led projects in 2022
• Offered 12 paid internships for local young people in 2022

Early Career Researcher Support

GCT funds Masters and PhD students conducting conservation research relevant to Galapagos, including recent support for:

• Denisse Dalgo (marine iguana research)
• Henry Moreau-Smith (University of Exeter - plastic monitoring methods)
• Georgie Savage (University of Exeter - pollution assessment tools)
• Gislayne Mendoza Alcívar (bird health monitoring)

Multi-Year Conservation Programmes

GCT commits significant funding to major conservation initiatives, including:

• Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos: Multi-million pound, multi-year programme
• Floreana Island Restoration: Supporting reintroduction of 12 locally extinct species
• Mangrove Finch Project: Working to save Critically Endangered species from extinction
• Galapagos Whale Shark Project: Over £100,000+ since 2014 (100+ sharks tagged)

Priority Areas

GCT funds work across five key conservation themes:

• Conserving Endemic Species: Species-specific studies, population monitoring, and recovery programmes
• Controlling Invasive Species: Eradication programmes, biosecurity measures, and prevention strategies
• Marine Conservation: Marine reserve protection, whale shark research, and ocean pollution mitigation
• Conservation Through Education: Local education initiatives, curriculum development, and awareness campaigns
• Sustainable Development: Economic diversification, community resilience, and locally-led conservation

Strategic Partnerships

GCT primarily works through established partnerships rather than open grant applications. Key partners include:

• Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) - custodians of 97% of the Archipelago's land area
• Charles Darwin Foundation - scientific research and ecosystem restoration
• University of Exeter - Pacific Plastics: Science to Solutions network
• Fundación un Cambio por la Vida (FUNCAVID) - Co-Galapagos community programmes
• King's College University of Cambridge - Co-Galapagos research partnership
• Local NGOs, community groups, and individual researchers in Ecuador

What They Don't Fund

GCT has a highly specific geographic focus and does not fund:

• Conservation work outside the Galapagos Archipelago
• Projects not aligned with their five priority conservation themes
• Organizations or individuals without clear connections to Galapagos conservation
• General operating costs for organizations outside their established partner network

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Led by Chair Charmian Caines and Vice-Chair Marta Tufet (who chairs the Programmes and Grants Committee). Marta Tufet is Executive Director of the UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR). Other trustees include Patricia Zurita (CEO of BirdLife International and first woman from a developing country to lead an international conservation organization), plus Claire Blenkinsop, Sandra Charity, Amy Liddy, Martin Saywell, Jane Tozer, Sally Uren, Niall Watson, and Vanessa Zampiga. All 10 trustees serve voluntarily with no remuneration.

Senior Leadership Team

• Dr. Jen Jones, CEO: Marine biologist with expertise in plastic pollution. Joined GCT as an intern in 2011 and became CEO in 2023. She states: “The need to protect Galapagos and many other vulnerable places in the world is increasingly urgent in the face of the biodiversity and climate crises.”
• Claire McKinley, Finance Director
• Connor Moore, Development Director
• Sarah Hutchison, Head of Programmes

Programmes and Grants Committee

Chaired by Vice-Chair Marta Tufet, this standing committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees, overseeing GCT's grant-making and programme decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Galapagos Conservation Trust does not have a public grant application process.

GCT operates through a strategic partnership model where the organization:

• Identifies conservation priorities through their Programmes and Grants Committee
• Actively seeks out and develops partnerships with organizations and researchers already working in Galapagos
• Funds projects that fill gaps in scientific and socioeconomic knowledge
• Works collaboratively with established partners including governmental organizations, academic institutions, local NGOs, and community groups

For the Co-Galapagos community programme, projects are channeled through local partner organizations (FUNCAVID and others) rather than through direct applications to GCT.

Getting on Their Radar

While GCT doesn't accept unsolicited applications, the following approaches may help organizations and researchers connect with them:

For Researchers:

• GCT has strong ties with University of Exeter and supports Masters/PhD students conducting Galapagos-relevant research
• Early career researchers working on Galapagos conservation have received funding, suggesting opportunities for those with academic connections
• Present research at conferences where GCT has representation (e.g., UN Ocean Decade Conference, Pacific Leaders' Summit)

For Organizations:

• GCT describes collaboration as “in our DNA” and works with local and international NGOs
• Contact their Programmes and Policy Manager (Lucía Norris) or Head of Programmes (Sarah Hutchison) to explore partnership opportunities
• Demonstrate alignment with GCT's five priority conservation themes
• Show evidence of existing work in Galapagos with local partners or authorities

For Community Groups in Galapagos:

• Connect with Co-Galapagos partner FUNCAVID (Fundación un Cambio por la Vida)
• Engage with Galapagos National Park Directorate, GCT's key partner in nearly every project
• Participate in local conservation networks where GCT is already active

General Contact:

Email gct@gct.org or call 020 7399 7440 to discuss partnership opportunities. Focus on how your work fills gaps in conservation knowledge or addresses priority needs in Galapagos.

Application Success Factors

Since GCT operates through strategic partnerships rather than competitive applications, success in securing funding depends on different factors than traditional grant-making:

Demonstrated Galapagos Connection

All funded work must have direct relevance to the Galapagos Archipelago. GCT exclusively focuses on this ecosystem, and any partnership must demonstrate clear conservation impact in the Islands.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Dr. Jen Jones emphasizes that GCT is “at a pivotal point to have more impact than ever, with experience, evidence and connections coming together.” Projects should align with GCT's evidence-based approach and strategic conservation themes (endemic species, invasive species, marine conservation, education, sustainable development).

Collaborative Approach

GCT values collaboration highly - it's described as “in our DNA.” Dr. Jones notes: "We can find solutions to problems that we couldn't find separately." Organizations that demonstrate willingness to work collaboratively with GCT's existing partner network are more likely to develop successful partnerships.

Local Empowerment

Particularly for community-based work, GCT prioritizes “putting the local community at the heart of conservation” through initiatives like Co-Galapagos. Projects that empower local Galapagos residents, especially underrepresented groups like women and youth, align with GCT's approach.

Scientific Rigor and Evidence

With partnerships including University of Exeter, Charles Darwin Foundation, and support for early-career researchers, GCT values scientific evidence. CEO Dr. Jen Jones has a Ph.D. in marine biology and emphasizes evidence-based conservation.

Filling Conservation Gaps

GCT describes their approach as “delivering programmes that fill gaps in scientific and socioeconomic knowledge.” Projects addressing previously unmet conservation needs are particularly valued.

Long-Term Commitment

Major programmes like Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos (multi-million pound, multi-year) and the Galapagos Whale Shark Project (supported since 2014) demonstrate GCT's preference for sustained, long-term partnerships over one-off grants.

Examples of Funded Work:

• 510 Darwin's finches released on Floreana Island (2024)
• 11 critically endangered mangrove finch chicks successfully fledged
• Over 9,000 items of waste removed through community clean-ups
• 64 adult tortoises tracked across 3 islands
• Development of UV insect zappers to prevent inter-island insect spread

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - GCT identifies and approaches partners rather than accepting proposals. Traditional grant applications will not succeed.
• Partnership-based model - GCT works through established relationships with organizations already active in Galapagos. Building credibility in the Galapagos conservation community is essential.
• Geographic exclusivity - GCT only funds work in the Galapagos Archipelago. No exceptions to this geographic focus have been identified.
• Community-led initiatives may access funding through Co-Galapagos via local partner FUNCAVID rather than directly through GCT.
• Early-career researchers have received support, particularly those affiliated with University of Exeter or conducting research aligned with GCT's priority themes.
• 87p in every £1 goes to conservation - GCT maintains low overhead (£224,570 fundraising costs vs £1,470,979 charitable activities in 2024), indicating efficient deployment of resources.
• Collaboration is core - Organizations demonstrating ability to work with GCT's existing partners (Galapagos National Park, Charles Darwin Foundation, University of Exeter) are most likely to develop successful partnerships.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Truell Conservation Foundation
• Synchronicity Earth
• BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
• The Halpin Trust
• Exodus Travels Foundation
• THE RUFFORD FOUNDATION
• JOHN LYON'S CHARITY
• Tower Hill Trust
• The Octopus Foundation
• The Jephcott Charitable Trust

References

• Galapagos Conservation Trust website - About Us, Our Team, Governance: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/about-us/
• GCT Trustees page: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/trustees/
• Co-Galapagos programme information: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/our-work/projects/co-galapagos/
• Partnerships and Collaborations page: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/about-us/our-partners/partnerships-collaborations/
• Celebrating Our 2024 Successes: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/celebrating-our-2024-successes/
• GCT Impact page: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/our-work/our-impact/
• Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 1043470: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1043470
• “Introducing our new CEO” - Dr. Jen Jones appointment: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/introducing-our-new-ceo/
• GCT Annual Reports and Accounts: https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/about-us/annual-reports-and-accounts/