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World Wildlife Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$100.9M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

World Wildlife Fund Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $100,900,249 (FY2024)
  • Total Grants Awarded: 323 grants (FY2024)
  • Decision Time: 1-2 months (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: $1,500 - $30,000 (individual programs vary)
  • Geographic Focus: Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, and select international priority areas

Contact Details

Headquarters:
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1193

Phone: 1-800-960-0993

General Grant Inquiries: [email protected]
WWF GEF Conservation Grants: [email protected]

Website: https://www.worldwildlife.org

Overview

World Wildlife Fund Inc (EIN: 52-1693387) has been a leading conservation organization for over 60 years, working to save the world's great ecosystems and address climate change. In fiscal year 2024, WWF deployed $402 million in program spending, with conservation program and policy spending reaching a record $249 million—a 4% increase over FY23. The organization distributed over $100 million in grants across 323 awards in 2024. WWF's flagship Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program, established 30 years ago, has supported more than 4,300 individuals and organizations worldwide. In 2024, WWF awarded a record 70 fellowships to conservation scientists and practitioners across 23 countries. The organization focuses on six key areas: climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, and wildlife. Under the leadership of President and CEO Carter Roberts, WWF operates through a combination of field programs, policy initiatives, and strategic partnerships with businesses and communities to advance conservation goals globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Russell E. Train Fellowships
Up to $30,000 per year for up to 3 years
Supports individuals pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in conservation and related fields. Fellowships cover stipend and research expenses. Marine-protected areas fellowships include up to $140,000 for stipend and research expenses over two years, plus up to $17,500 for indirect costs at host institutions. Application deadline: December 18 annually by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. Applications submitted through online portal.

Forest Restoration Grants
Up to $15,000 per year
Available to community-based organizations in eligible countries including Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Congo, Suriname, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Application deadline: typically March 30, with notifications by early May. Rolling basis in some cases.

Environmental and Social Impact Grant
Up to $15,000
Provides competitive financial support to teams and institutions working in Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar focusing on enhancing capacities to address environmental and social impact assessment capacity building needs. Application deadline: March 30, with notifications by early May.

Professional Development Grants (PDGs)
Up to $2,000
Support for mid-career conservationists and former Russell E. Train fellows/scholars for short-term, non-degree training including short courses, certificate training, or conferences. Typical grants range from $1,500 to $7,500. Training must take place at least 60 days after application deadline.

Alumni Grants
Up to $3,500
Available to former Russell E. Train fellows or scholars for continued professional development.

Arctic Community Wildlife Grants Program
Up to $25,000 per project per year
Supports conservation, stewardship, and research initiatives focusing on coastal Arctic ecology, community sustainability, and priority Arctic wildlife. Applications accepted on rolling basis and reviewed quarterly.

Priority Areas

  • Climate Change: Addressing climate as one of the most destabilizing forces, supporting climate resilience and mitigation projects
  • Forests: Supporting forest restoration, community-based forestry, and protection of tropical forests ($26 million in FY24)
  • Wildlife: Protecting endangered species and habitats ($32 million in FY24)
  • Oceans: Marine conservation, protecting coral reefs, and sustainable fisheries ($14 million in FY24)
  • Freshwater: Conservation of freshwater systems and watersheds
  • Food Systems: Sustainable agriculture and food security integrated with conservation

Regional Focus:
Priority portfolio includes 19 places ranging from the Amazon to the Yangtze, the world's largest and most intact tropical forests, the three most diverse freshwater systems, the most diverse coral reefs on earth, the world's most biologically significant desert, and the world's most productive fishery.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, WWF's grants focus exclusively on conservation and environmental education initiatives within their priority geographies and thematic areas. Projects outside their six key focus areas (climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, wildlife) are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Carter Roberts, President and CEO
Carter Roberts leads WWF's efforts to save the world's great ecosystems by linking science, field and policy programs with initiatives to work with markets and businesses. Roberts has emphasized: "When a landscape or species or community is threatened, any solution will depend on the specific needs of the cultures and the places involved." He has identified "climate change and resource scarcity" as two of the most destabilizing forces in the world and stated, "Nature is our most valuable resource." Roberts has also noted: "We're at a conservation tipping point, and WWF is leading the way in tipping the balance in Earth's favor."

The Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program uses an independent, interdisciplinary panel of experts convened in each country to review applications through a competitive, merit-based selection process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

WWF posts available opportunities, eligibility criteria, and guidelines on their website. Most programs require submission through online portals specific to each grant program.

Application Portals:

Pre-Application Requirements:

  • Study eligibility criteria and application procedures carefully
  • Review Frequently Asked Questions provided for each program
  • For fellowships: must not have received a Train Fellowship or Scholarship in the past (though Professional Development Grant recipients are eligible to apply)
  • Applicants must notify WWF if they are a WWF employee, consultant, or previous EFN grant recipient

Application Methods:

  • Russell E. Train Fellowships: Annual deadline (December 18), online portal
  • Forest Restoration Grants: Fixed deadline (March 30), online submission
  • Environmental and Social Impact Grants: Fixed deadline (March 30), online submission
  • Arctic Community Wildlife Grants: Rolling basis, reviewed quarterly
  • Professional Development Grants: Specific deadlines with requirement that training occurs at least 60 days post-deadline

Decision Timeline

  • Forest Restoration and Environmental & Social Impact Grants: Approximately 1-2 months (March 30 deadline, notifications by early May)
  • Professional Development Grants: Up to 2 months review period
  • Arctic Community Wildlife Grants: Quarterly review cycles

Decision notifications are sent via email to applicants.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The program is described as "competitive" with merit-based selection. In 2024, WWF awarded 70 fellowships across 23 countries and made 323 total grant awards totaling over $100 million, though total application numbers are not published.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants who have previously received a Train Fellowship or Scholarship cannot reapply for those programs. However, Professional Development Grant recipients remain eligible to apply for Train Fellowships. The policy for unsuccessful applicants (those who applied but were not selected) to reapply in subsequent years is not explicitly stated in public materials. For specific reapplication questions, contact [email protected].

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Community Engagement:
WWF prioritizes applicants with a "proven record of promoting place-based commitment to restoration and engaging with local communities and stakeholders in community-based activities." Successful 2024 grantees demonstrated strong local partnerships and community involvement.

Alignment with WWF Priority Areas:
Proposals must target WWF's six key goals: climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, and wildlife. Successful applications demonstrate clear alignment with these thematic areas and WWF's priority geographies.

Diverse Stakeholder Engagement:
WWF looks for proposals that "target diverse audiences involved in addressing social and environmental issues." The 2024 cohort included projects that worked across multiple stakeholder groups including landowners, Indigenous communities, and local government agencies.

Building on Previous Success:
Several grant programs, including Forest Restoration Grants and Environmental & Social Impact Grants, are specifically designed to support organizations that have been previously funded by WWF, allowing them to build on earlier work. This suggests WWF values proven track records and successful prior implementation.

Nature-Based Solutions:
Successful projects deliver "nature-based solutions that enhance community forest restoration" rather than purely technical or research-focused approaches. Examples include Ecuador's Fundación Aliados project restoring 49 acres of degraded pasture with 12,000 native and agroforestry trees.

Measurable Conservation Impact:
Strong applications include specific, quantifiable outcomes. For example, successful 2024 projects specified exact acreage to be restored, number of trees to be planted, and number of community members engaged.

Examples of Successful 2024 Projects:

  • Ecuador (Fundación Aliados): Restoration of 49 acres of degraded pasture with 12,000 native and agroforestry trees in the Ecuadorian Andes-Amazon cloud forest, working with 21 landowners in buffer areas of national parks
  • Peru (APRODE): Conservation of biological diversity through establishment of forest systems with native species for ecosystem recovery with community awareness components
  • Guatemala: Restoration of dry tropical forests and mangroves of the Hawaii Marine Protected Area on the Pacific coast

Application Quality Standards:
WWF emphasizes following instructions carefully and submitting all requested documents with correct formatting within specified timeframes. The program provides detailed FAQs to help candidates understand requirements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic targeting is critical: Ensure your project falls within WWF's eligible countries and priority regions—applications outside these areas will not be considered regardless of merit
  • Quantify your impact: Successful applications include specific, measurable outcomes (acres restored, species protected, community members engaged) rather than general goals
  • Demonstrate community ownership: WWF strongly favors projects led by or deeply integrated with local and Indigenous communities—external organizations imposing solutions are unlikely to succeed
  • Build relationships over time: Many successful grantees are repeat recipients who built on previous WWF-funded work, suggesting that starting with smaller grants and demonstrating success can lead to additional funding
  • Use WWF's language: Frame proposals around their six key areas (climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, wildlife) and emphasize nature-based solutions
  • Start early and follow instructions precisely: Each program has specific eligibility criteria and submission requirements—review FAQs thoroughly and contact program staff with questions before the deadline
  • Consider the fellowship pathway: WWF's Russell E. Train Fellowship program has supported over 4,300 individuals globally and can be an entry point for building long-term relationships with the organization

References

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