Conservation Grant Guidelines

Start-up grants provide initial funding to help newly-launched projects get started at the very beginning of their life, to help them attract larger and/or long-term funding for the duration of the program. One-time grants of up to US$5,000 are available. Recipients are able to apply for second and third year extension grants.

All applicants are required to submit a brief Project Outline, prior to submitting a full application. Your Project Outline should in English, less than 400 words in length, and should contain information under the following headings: Species, Organization, Project Manager, Previous amphibian husbandry experience, Goals, Proposed outcomes, Other funding sources (both requested and received) and the status of a Species Action or Recovery Plan for the species (including authors of the plan). ). Project Outlines for start-up grants from institutions with limited amphibian expertise must include a copy of the report from the Institutional Program Implementation Tool (www.amphibianark.org/program-implementation-tool/) for the species at your institution. The Project Outline should address any shortfalls highlighted within the tool.

Project Outlines will be reviewed and successful applicants will then be invited to submit a full application. Full applications will not be accepted without a Project Outline having been submitted and approved by the review committee.

All grant applications must include the following items. Projects which do not include the requested details and attachments are unlikely to receive funding. Please complete the application checklist to ensure your application is complete.

1. Project title.
2. Names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses of project leaders.
3. Total funding amount requested from Amphibian Ark in US$.
4. Executive summary (300 words or less), including brief background, experience with ex situ amphibian husbandry, threats and current or proposed mitigation actions, methods, goals and anticipated outcomes, with emphasis on actions utilizing AArk funds. Please stress the conservation significance of the work, including the specific conservation need of all species involved (e.g., AArk priority, IUCN threatened or DD, national priority, etc.) and how the work will help address the threats to the species.
5. Budget with distinction between funds requested from AArk and those from other sources, with the latter specified as ‘requested’ or ‘received’ and from where. Clearly identify the role of AArk funding as a proportion of overall project cost. All costs should be in USD$. Budget should be less than one page. See sample below.
6. Timeline of work and intended dissemination of results over the proposed lifetime of the project (i.e., beyond the granting period). See sample below.
7. Scientific citations are not necessary but limited to half page if included.
8. We require two types of supporting letter:

1. All applicants – whether applying as individuals or as employees representing their organizations – must include at least one (preferably two) letter of endorsement from someone at an unrelated organization. That person should be a recognized leader in the field or at least from an internationally known organization.
2. Employees representing their organizations must also submit a letter of institutional support from their employer. This letter is to verify that the employer (1) is aware that the applicant is proposing the project and (2) will provide the necessary resources, time and space to complete the proposed work for the duration of the project. Please address these points, with details of how this will be achieved. One such letter is required for each project leader on the application who has a different employer. See sample in Grant Guidelines.

Essential components

• The applicant should either be managing both the ex situ and the in situ conservation actions or details of current or proposed in situ actions should be referenced.
• Introduction, identifying the main conservation problem, the proposed corrective actions, the anticipated outcomes, and how these relate to the AArk values.
• Methodology. If a completed species action plan is not attached, include a succinct description of the proposed work with enough technical detail for evaluation by experienced reviewers. This section must include information about:
  • recommendations arising from a Conservation Needs Assessment (or other national assessment)
  • any previous in situ or ex situ conservation or research activities with the target species, either by the applicant(s) or by others.
• Working with amphibian species that need to be rescued. Proposals must relate to rescuing species whose threats cannot be mitigated in nature in time to prevent their extinction and which therefore require urgent ex situ intervention to persist. This status should be determined by relevant field experts, e.g., the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) field experts through AArk Conservation Needs Assessment Workshops, or similar national processes. Contact AArk staff (grants@amphibianark.org) if an assessment has not yet been completed. The IUCN Red List can also be used to verify the threatened status. While we appreciate efforts to keep regionally threatened but globally stable species common, our limited funds are restricted to projects involving species that need help at a global level.
• Working with species within their native range country. Unless capacity absolutely cannot be built in the range country in time to prevent imminent extinction, the AArk will not fund projects that remove animals from their range country. In addition, every effort should be made to enable national biologists to lead the program.
• The project must include an ex situ component. While we highly value in situ conservation, research, assessment, and education, our funds are extremely limited and so we must insist that all proposals include an ex situ Note that in situ conservation, research, assessment, and education can be included as valuable components of any good proposal that otherwise focuses on rescuing species ex situ. Check the Species Recommended for Ex Situ Rescue report at http://conservationneeds.org/SpeciesRecommendRescue.aspx for a list of priority species in your country.
• Amphibian husbandry experience. The application should include details of past amphibian husbandry experience, either with the target species, or other amphibians. Please identify which amphibian species you have worked with.
• Field work. As long as your proposal details the ex situ components that are already in place, up to 20% of the funds applied for can be used to support the acquisition of founder animals, however priority will go to proposals in which 100% of the funds are directed to the ex situ facility. Ideally, our support of your ex situ component will help you secure funds for these other components as we tend not to fund components for which other funding could be found. For projects that do not relate to ex situ rescues, consider contacting the Amphibian Survival Alliance (www.amphibians.org/contact/).
• Linking with in situ partners – all ex situ conservation programs should be planned in conjunction with appropriate actions in the field to mitigate threats, rehabilitate suitable habitat for reintroductions or translocations, and protect the habitat into the future. Include information about in situ partnerships, collaborators and conservation actions being planned or underway.
• A draft or completed Species Action Plan for the species, or other planning document which includes reference to the project, specific objectives and timelines for meeting those objectives must be included. The plan should have been developed by a team of all relevant stakeholders, including those working with the species and/or it’s habitat in the wild. Inadequate planning is one of the biggest causes for the failure of amphibian conservation programs, and we expect to see appropriate planning in place prior to a program being implemented. The action plan should include information about major threats to the species, how threats will be mitigated, partnerships with relevant stakeholders, biosecurity, habitat protection, plans for reintroduction of animals back to the wild, post-release monitoring and program exit strategy. A Species Action Plan template is available on the AArk web site, as are existing species-specific action plans for reference. Information about species management groups is available on the AArk web site.
• If your proposed program is to work with an analog species prior to working with a related but more threatened species, your proposal should be for the threatened species, and include details about the selected analog.
• Ensuring institution is properly prepared. All start-up grant applications must include a complete copy of the Program Implementation Tool (www.amphibianark.org/program-implementation-tool/) for the target species. The application should address any shortfalls highlighted within the tool.
• Adhering to recommended biosecurity standards. Regardless of where the rescue population is held, measures must be taken to isolate it from allopatric (non-overlapping) species that might be in the collection as well as from the original threat (e.g., chytrid), except where a valid scientific argument can be made to the contrary. Please refer to our recommended biosecurity standards and include details of your biosecurity plan.
• Succession planning. In the event of a change to project structure (ending of partnerships, staff departure, etc), include information about who will receive and continue to care of the animals. What succession plan is in place in the event of a change to project structure?

Application checklist

Additional funds are available to provide continued support for projects for high priority species that a) have met their stated objectives for previous years, and b) can demonstrate that additional supplemental funds have been secured since the program began. It is expected that husbandry guidelines and a species action plan have been completed. Second-year grants of up to US$4,000 and third-year grants of up to US$3,000 are available.

A Project Outline does not need to be submitted prior to submitting your full application.

• Applicants need not submit a full grant proposal – please include a short summary of progress during the past year, with a clear statement of how objectives from your previous grant application have been met, any updates to the species action plan, and letters of support from additional funders indicating the level of funding obtained during the past 12 months. To receive a third year of funding applicants should follow the same procedure as for the second extension.
• Outline methodology, including a succinct description of the proposed work with enough technical detail for evaluation by experienced reviewers.
• Total funding amount requested from Amphibian Ark in US$.
• Budget with distinction between funds requested from AArk and those from other sources, with the latter specified as ‘requested’ or ‘received’ and from where. Clearly identify the role of AArk funding as a proportion of overall project cost. All costs should be in US$. Budget should be less than one page. See sample below.
• It is expected that husbandry guidelines and a species action plan have been completed, and these should be included with your application.
• Include a letter of support from a recognized leader in the field who has visited the project within the past six months (AArk staff may be able to help arrange this – please contact us for advice, if needed).

Application checklist

Introduction

Summary of progress during the previous 1-2 years

Statement of how objectives from previous years have been met

Methods

Budget

Timeline

Letter of support from a recognized leader in the field who has visited the project within the past six months

Any updates to the species action plan

A copy of the husbandry guidelines

Letters of support from additional funders indicating level of funding obtained in last 12 months

Partial funding to assist attendance at ex situ amphibian conservation-related workshops, especially those which focus on amphibian husbandry, planning and reintroduction. Applicants must have already secured partial funding to attend the workshop. You must already be actively involved in an amphibian conservation project or have well-developed plans and funding in place to implement a new program Grants of up to US$750 are available.

A Project Outline does not need to be submitted prior to submitting your full application.

• Include the name, dates and location of the workshop.
• Outline the funding received or committed to date to attend the workshop.
• Include a summary of the amphibian conservation project you are currently working with, including the species, progress to date, and future plans for the project.
• Describe the benefit of attending the workshop, and how the knowledge gained will be used.

Support for organizations which have previously received an AArk seed or start-up grant, to bring in a designated outside expert to assist with an aspect of their amphibian conservation efforts (e.g. veterinary training, environmental control etc.). Grants up to US$1,500 are available.

All applicants are required to submit a brief Project Outline, prior to submitting a full application. Your Project Outline should in English, less than 400 words in length, and should contain information under the following headings: Species, Organization, Project Manager, Previous amphibian husbandry experience, Goals, Proposed outcomes, Other funding sources (both requested and received) and the status of a Species Action or Recovery Plan for the species (including authors of the plan). Project Outlines will be reviewed and successful applicants will then be invited to submit a full application. Full applications will not be accepted without a Project Outline having been submitted and approved by the review committee.

• Include the name(s) of the proposed mentor(s), the institution(s) they are from, the expertise they will bring to your project and the length of time of their visit. If you need help to find a suitable mentor please contact grants@amphibianark.org.
• Outline the support provided to the mentor by the host institution (e.g. provision of accommodation, food, supporting travel costs etc.).
• Methodology, including a succinct description of the proposed work with enough technical detail for evaluation by experienced reviewers.
• Information about the species being managed, and whether it is native to the country the program is based in.

Support for organizations which are planning an in-person amphibian conservation-related workshop or symposium, especially those which focus on amphibian husbandry, planning and reintroduction. Grants up to US$2,500 are available.

• Include the name, dates and location of the workshop, along with the details of the workshop organizer(s).
• Include a list of the instructors or presenters, and their institutional affiliations.
• Include information about the number of expected participants.
• Describe the scope, format, goals and benefits of the workshop, and how the knowledge gained by participants will be used.
• What does the workshop hope to achieve, and what are the proposed outcomes or products of the workshop?
• How will the effectiveness of the workshop in reaching the goals or producing the desired outcomes be evaluated?
• Outline the funding received or committed to date to support the workshop, along with any other funding which has been requested from other organizations. Include a brief income and expenditure budget which shows the breakdown of the workshop costs, including the items for which funding is being requested from AArk.

Limited funding is available for past recipients of AArk grants throughout the year for emergency situations such as unanticipated major equipment failure in existing ex situ programs. These grants are also available for the emergency rescue of wild populations facing imminent threat of extinction. Please download the Emergency Grants Guidelines or contact grants@amphibianark.org at any time to discuss an emergency grant.