People's Trust For Endangered Species

Charity Number: 274206

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M
Geographic Focus: Colombia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Mongolia, Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam ... [2 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £1,802,584
  • Annual Grant Giving: ~£178,000 (estimated from £8m over 45 years)
  • Success Rate: 25-30% (Conservation Insight Grants: ~5-6 funded from ~20 Stage 2 applications)
  • Decision Time: 6-8 months (applications reviewed, Stage 2 assessed by trustees in October)
  • Grant Range: £3,000 - £20,000 (depending on programme)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, UK overseas territories, and countries not classified as high-income by World Bank

Contact Details

Website: www.ptes.org

Email: enquiries@ptes.org | grants@ptes.org (for grant-related queries)

Phone: 020 7498 4533

Pre-application Support: Free online Conservation Evidence Workshop available to help applicants design projects and find evidence

Overview

Founded in 1977, People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is an international conservation charity working to protect animals and their habitats. With total income of £1.8 million and a team of 18 staff supported by 5 trustees and approximately 10,000 volunteers, PTES has awarded £8 million to conservation projects over 45 years, supporting over 200 species in over 60 countries—from red squirrels in Scotland to snow leopards in Mongolia. PTES focuses on generating scientific evidence that facilitates species conservation, prioritizing work on endangered, critically endangered, and extinct-in-the-wild species as classified by the IUCN. The organization emphasizes evidence-based conservation interventions and practical habitat management work with clear conservation outcomes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Conservation Insight Grants (Worldwide)

  • Amount: £3,000 - £10,000 per year for up to 2 years (maximum total £20,000)
  • Focus: Generate scientific evidence for species conservation worldwide
  • Application: Two-stage process; approximately 5-6 projects funded annually
  • Eligibility: Applicants from UK, UK overseas territories, or countries not classified as high-income by World Bank
  • Priority: Native project leaders working in their own countries
  • Note: Applications paused; next round details to be shared in early 2026

UK Mammal Grants

  • Amount: £10,000 - £20,000 (average £15,000)
  • Focus: Scientific research, habitat management, reintroduction, monitoring, and educational projects for UK mammals
  • Eligibility: Voluntary conservation organisations, scientific researchers, and research consortia
  • Note: Not accepting applications in 2025

Conservation Internship Awards

  • Amount: Up to £5,000 - £7,000 to cover living and project costs
  • Focus: Support early-career conservationists
  • Launched: 2001; has supported over 100 young graduates
  • Note: All funding for 2025 allocated; reopens January 2026

Priority Areas

Species Classification

  • Highest priority: Endangered, critically endangered, and extinct in the wild (IUCN)
  • Also considered: Vulnerable and near-threatened species
  • UK focus: Species on former UK BAP priority list (hedgehogs, dormice, water voles, pine martens, bats)

Project Types

  • Testing conservation interventions to address specific threats
  • Answering key conservation questions enabling critical action
  • Gathering evidence for mitigation work
  • Using scientific evidence to influence local, national, or international policy
  • Developing new species monitoring methodologies

High Priority Research Themes (UK)

  1. Human impacts and mitigation
  2. Habitat availability, loss and modification
  3. Monitoring mammals

What They Don't Fund

  • Bird species (explicit exclusion across all programmes)
  • General habitat management without species-specific focus
  • Projects in high-income countries (except UK and UK overseas territories)
  • Projects without clear evidence-based methodology
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Nida Alfulaij - A conservation leader with over two decades of experience at PTES, previously serving as Conservation Research Manager. Regular media contributor to BBC Inside Science, Sky News, Countryfile, and BBC London News.

Structure:

  • 5 volunteer trustees (unpaid)
  • 18 staff members
  • ~10,000 volunteers

Governance: Charity reporting is up-to-date with the Charity Commission (Charity No. 274206). Trustees assess Stage 2 grant proposals at meetings in October.

Leadership Quote: On wind turbine bat conservation research, CEO Nida Alfulaij stated: “We are delighted that this important research is leading to practical conservation outcomes that will effectively protect bat populations. So while PTES fully supports the development of wind farms as a renewable source of energy, it is vital that we identify ways to ensure that wind farms are not a threat to the native wildlife PTES is working so hard to conserve.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Conservation Insight Grants - Two-Stage Process:

  1. Stage 1: 3-page pre-application form reviewed by PTES staff
  2. Stage 2: Up to 20 selected applicants invited to submit full project proposal
  3. Approximately 5-6 applications funded from Stage 2

Application Method: Online submission system (when open)

Deadlines: Applications reviewed annually; next round details for Conservation Insight Grants to be announced in early 2026

Pre-application Support:

  • Free online Conservation Evidence Workshop available
  • Helps applicants learn to use evidence databases, test conservation actions, and receive interactive application guidance
  • Email grants@ptes.org with eligibility questions

Decision Timeline

  • Applications undergo initial staff review (Stage 1)
  • Selected Stage 2 proposals assessed by trustees at October meeting
  • Estimated total timeline: 6-8 months from initial submission to final decision
  • Notification method not specified in available sources

Success Rates

Conservation Insight Grants:

  • Approximately 25-30% success rate at Stage 2 (5-6 funded from ~20 invited)
  • Overall success rate likely 5-10% considering all initial applications
  • High competition due to international scope and rigorous evidence requirements

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in available sources. For specific guidance on reapplication, contact grants@ptes.org.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Factors

Evidence-Based Methodology

"Providing evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention you plan to carry out will significantly improve your chances of receiving funding for your project. If you are planning on trying something new (a new action/implementation method or one that hasn't been tested for your species), detailing how you plan to collect evidence for the effectiveness of the action, is critical."

Key Priorities:

  • Consult Conservation Evidence website before applying
  • Demonstrate methods have been tested and proven effective, OR
  • Clearly describe how interventions will be tested
  • Show plans to share findings widely with conservation community

Priority Given To:

  • Native project leaders working in their own countries
  • Multi-species research (for UK grants)
  • Research unlocking conservation issues with clear, practical implications
  • Projects with experimental design to test interventions

Example Funded Projects

UK Mammal Projects:

  • Assessing impact of roads and roadkill on hedgehog populations (Nottingham Trent University)
  • Investigating road mitigation tunnels for hedgehogs
  • When and where hazel dormice hibernate (University of Exeter)
  • Landscape genetics and population viability analysis for dormouse populations (Manchester Metropolitan University)
  • Optimizing mink control for water vole conservation (University of Aberdeen)
  • Using eDNA from waterways to indicate water vole presence

Language and Approach

  • Focus on “generating scientific evidence”
  • Emphasize “conservation interventions” and “mitigation”
  • Highlight “practical conservation outcomes”
  • Demonstrate understanding of “evidence-based conservation”
  • Reference IUCN classifications and conservation status

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Applying for bird species (automatic rejection)
  • Lacking evidence or clear methodology for testing interventions
  • General habitat management without species-specific focus
  • Applications from high-income countries (except UK/overseas territories)
  • No plan to share findings with wider conservation community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Evidence is paramount: PTES requires robust scientific methodology and proven interventions, or a clear plan to test new approaches. Use the free Conservation Evidence Workshop to strengthen applications.
  • Two-stage process means high competition: Only ~20 applications progress to Stage 2, with 5-6 ultimately funded. Stage 1 applications must be exceptionally compelling and aligned with priorities.
  • Geographic and species restrictions are strict: No birds, no high-income countries (except UK/overseas territories). Know the IUCN status of your target species.
  • Multi-year planning: Conservation Insight Grants support up to 2 years of work. Frame projects as generating evidence that enables future conservation action, not just data collection.
  • Native leadership matters: Priority given to local conservationists working in their own countries demonstrates PTES's commitment to building in-country capacity.
  • Publication and knowledge-sharing required: Applications must demonstrate how findings will be shared widely—this isn't just about funding one project, but advancing conservation practice globally.
  • Plan ahead: With 6-8 month decision timelines and annual cycles, apply well in advance of planned project start dates. Contact grants@ptes.org early with questions.

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References