Deadline: 31-Jan-22
The Denver Audubon is pleased to launch the Lois Webster Fund Program to support Colorado non-game wildlife research, conservation and education projects that lead to the conservation of these non-game species.
The purpose of LWF grants is to encourage initiation of targeted projects. As part of this start-up, the grantee is expected to provide leadership and coordination to obtain additional funding and to involve others.
The LWF relies on the contributions from generous donors to enable researchers to find answers to questions important for conservation; to engage learners of all ages in research; and to educate about Colorado non-game wildlife and helping provide information about techniques for restoring habitats and populations of beloved Colorado non-game wildlife.
Duration
The LWF intends to fund at least one project per year. While LWF will consider funding a project for more than one year, each year funding will only be awarded for the current year.
Eligibility Criteria
- The LWF intends to serve as a catalyst for and to partner with other organizations (conservation organizations, other nonprofit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions/schools, businesses and others) promoting Colorado wildlife research and education projects.
- Projects with multiple partners are preferred.
- The LWF expects that most projects will focus predominantly on either research or education, but is particularly interested in proposals that include some elements of both and lead to conservation outcomes.
Requirements
- The grantee must be affiliated with a local, state, or regional nonprofit organization, an academic institution or government agency. One individual is to serve as the contact person with the LWF.
- There must be at least one additional organization contributing to the project, and more are preferable.
- The project manager must be qualified to carry out the proposed project and have a demonstrated interest in the subject.
- The grantee must provide a brief, not to exceed one page, mid-season report by July 31, 2022.
- A final report must include the project title, date of report, names/location of the grant’s manager and organization, project objectives, what was done, results, what has been learned from the project, conservation implications for the particular species or habitat focused on, and a financial report (showing income and expenses for the project).
- An article aimed at the general public of approximately 300 to 400 words in no smaller than 11 font size that describes the project and includes all the components listed in #5 above, excluding the financial report.
- Grantees will be available to give a presentation on the project to a LWF/DA audience.
- The LWF funds are not to be used to cover indirect costs or overhead of the sponsoring organization(s).
- If circumstances require a change in the project outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the LWF and the grantee, the grantee must notify the LWF as soon as possible.
- If, for any reason, the project is postponed from the dates proposed in the grant application, the grantee must return their LWF funds by no later than September 1, 2022 and may reapply the next year, though a renewal of funding is not guaranteed.
Review Criteria
- The importance of the problem, the need for/urgency of the project, and how the project will address identified problems.
- The validity of the science method(s) and/or education approach being proposed.
- The qualifications of the project manager.
- The number and commitment of partners in the project.
- The proposed budget and amount of other funding raised.
- Evidence of support for the project from authorities in the field, including letters of recommendation concerning the capabilities of the project manager/team.
- The potential for the project to influence management of populations and/or habitat in a way that effects conservation of vulnerable species or biological communities.
- The specific plans for disseminating findings to relevant audiences with as wide a reach as possible.
- Only Colorado non-game wildlife research and/or education projects will be considered.
For more information, visit https://denveraudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2022-LWF-Guidelines-and-Application.pdf