The Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_CDAA332C

Annual Expenditure: £1.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.5 million (approximately 200 projects per year)
  • Success Rate: 12%
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months (decisions in April, September, December)
  • Grant Range: Up to $25,000 (with two tiers: $5,000 and $5,000-$25,000)
  • Geographic Focus: International (operates in 150+ countries)

Contact Details

Website: www.speciesconservation.org

Email: enquiries@mbzf.org

Phone: +971 2 632 9117

Address: Floor 26, Al Khatem Tower, Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Online Application Portal: application.speciesconservation.org

Overview

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund was established in October 2008 and became operational in January 2009 with an initial endowment of €25 million. As of 2024, the Fund has allocated over $27 million to global species conservation, facilitating 2,894 projects and playing a crucial role in protecting 1,789 species from extinction across more than 150 countries. The Fund provides small grants (up to $25,000) for direct, on-the-ground species conservation work, focusing particularly on Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Data Deficient species. The Fund's approach centers on the principle that “small but focused interventions on the ground can make a big difference in saving species.” Applications are highly competitive, with approximately 1,500-1,800 applications received annually across three funding rounds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Fund offers two grant tiers, all distributed through a rolling application system with three annual deadlines:

  • Small Grants: Up to $5,000 (applicants receive either the full amount requested or nothing)
  • Standard Grants: $5,000 - $25,000 (highly competitive; smaller requests more likely to be funded as requested)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with three annual deadlines (end of February, end of June, and end of October). The Fund distributes approximately $500,000 per funding round across eight taxonomy groups: Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Fungi, Invertebrates, Mammals, Plants, and Reptiles.

Priority Areas

Species Focus:

  • Critically Endangered species
  • Endangered species
  • Data Deficient species (or unlisted species suspected as highly threatened)
  • “Lost” species that haven't been documented in decades

Type of Work:

  • In situ field conservation (survey work, data gathering, direct action)
  • Species recovery management
  • Conservation training and capacity building
  • Professional development of young/early-career conservationists
  • Work on less charismatic species (cave invertebrates, small mammals, endemic species in localized areas)

Recent Focus Areas:

  • Cave species (invertebrates, amphibians, fish)
  • Small, endemic species in localized areas
  • Less “loved” species such as bush rats, fishing cats, and other overlooked fauna
  • Species rediscovery projects (e.g., Cave Squeaker frog in Zimbabwe, Cropan's tree boa in Brazil)

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications exceeding $25,000
  • Projects not focused on threatened species
  • Applications with clearly incorrect conservation status and no justification
  • Core running costs or administrative overheads of organizations
  • Grants covering only salary or travel expenses
  • Study course costs (generally not supported)
  • Ex situ conservation work (though exceptions may be made in certain circumstances)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Chairman: H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (President of UAE)
  • Deputy Chairman: H.E. Mohamed Al Bowardi
  • Board Member: H.E. Majid Al Mansouri
  • Managing Director & Board Member: H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak

Advisory Board

Since December 2011, the Fund has engaged an independent Advisory Board of international species conservation experts who assess proposals and make funding recommendations to senior management. Each member contributes unique taxonomic and field conservation expertise.

Key Leadership Quote

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and IUCN President, stated about the fund's origins: “In 2008 we learned from you what you needed to help facilitate your species conservation efforts, including timely financial support, often in amounts less than $25,000, for direct species conservation efforts without significant bureaucratic hurdles or red tape.”

On broader conservation priorities, Al Mubarak has noted: “I am truly honoured to have been re-elected President of the IUCN, especially at a moment when nature, climate, and people must be brought together in action.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Application System: Online web-based system only (application.speciesconservation.org)
  • Language: Applications must be submitted in English
  • Currency: All budgets and financial data must be in US Dollars
  • Supporting Documents: Can be sent as email attachments, but the application itself must be online
  • Pre-Application Contact: Not necessary and may complicate the process

Application Deadlines

The Fund operates three annual funding rounds with deadlines typically at:

  • End of February
  • End of June
  • End of October

Late applications are automatically reviewed in the following round.

Decision Timeline

  • Review Frequency: Three times per year
  • Decision Notifications: Typically sent in April, September, and December
  • All applicants (successful and unsuccessful) receive email notification once the review process is complete
  • Timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from deadline to decision

Success Rates

  • Overall Success Rate: Approximately 12% (as of 2019)
  • Application Volume: 1,500-1,800 applications per year
  • Awards per Year: Approximately 200 projects funded annually
  • Key Factor: Smaller grant requests (up to $5,000) are more likely to be funded as requested

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are explicitly invited to reapply. The Fund has an open and encouraging policy towards reapplications. However, the Fund is unable to provide extensive feedback on why applications were unsuccessful—usually due to limited funds and high demand. There are no restrictions or waiting periods for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Fund

Species Justification:

“Work a lot on the justification to choose the specific species you work with, particularly if it is not on the IUCN Red List.”

Scientific Rigor:

“Try to prove all your statements with scientific data and backup to make a more solid case for your strategy.”

Clear Writing:

"Text provided in an application should be kept concise and clear, with clearly stated quantitative goals, aims and methods. Make sure the application is concise and written so that the reviewer can quickly identify the main elements of the projects in terms of what's going to be done and how it's going to be good for the species."

Budget Transparency:

“If your budget exceeds $25,000, be very clear about where the rest of the money will come from and make sure it is directly understood that you will get additional funding.”

No Pre-Contact Needed:

"There's absolutely no need to get in touch beforehand. That often times complicates things."

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Rediscovery of the Cave Squeaker frog (Arthroleptis troglodytes) in Zimbabwe after 55 years
  • Rediscovery of Cropan's tree boa (Corallus cropanii) in Brazil after 64 years
  • 19 grants to fishing cat conservation across its range
  • Multiple grants for cave species (invertebrates, amphibians, fish)
  • Conservation work on small, endemic species like bush rats

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  • Focus on threatened species: Priority given to Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Data Deficient species
  • Field-based work: In situ conservation projects in natural habitats
  • Young conservationists: Professional development of early-career researchers
  • Overlooked species: Less charismatic fauna that don't attract mainstream funding
  • Smaller budgets: Applications requesting $5,000 or less have higher success rates
  • Species-specific approach: Projects must focus on one or more specific species, not broader conservation approaches
  • Scientific evidence: All statements backed by data and research

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Limited funding available (the primary reason—too many good projects, not enough money)
  • Species not threatened or conservation status unclear
  • Budget exceeds $25,000
  • Project not species-focused
  • Application lacks scientific rigor or clear objectives

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Think small and specific: Applications under $5,000 focused on single species have better success rates than larger, broader projects
  • Embrace the unloved: The Fund actively supports conservation of less charismatic species and those in specialized habitats (caves, small endemic areas)
  • Provide scientific evidence: Back every claim with data; this is a scientifically-driven fund that values rigor
  • Be concise and clear: Reviewers assess hundreds of applications—make yours easy to understand with quantitative goals
  • Don't be discouraged by rejection: With a 12% success rate and an open reapplication policy, persistence is welcomed and encouraged
  • Focus on in situ work: Field-based conservation in natural habitats is the priority; ex situ work rarely funded
  • Young conservationists welcome: The Fund prioritizes professional development of early-career researchers—don't be intimidated if you're just starting out
  • No need for relationship building: The Fund explicitly states that pre-application contact is unnecessary and may complicate matters—let your application speak for itself

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