Turtle Conservation Fund

As one of its main functions, TCF administers a turtle conservation and research grants program. Awards are granted to organizations or individuals for specific conservation or research projects dealing with highly endangered tortoises or freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles, with either partial or full support as funding allows.

Priority for funding is given to projects that focus on tortoises or freshwater turtles that are already highly threatened according to the IUCN Red List criteria, either Critically Endangered or Endangered, or which may be highly threatened but not yet officially classified as such on the Red List. Award recipients enter into contractual agreement with either Conservation International, Chelonian Research Foundation, or Chester Zoo to produce the proposed work (these three non-profit organizations serve as TCF’s financial umbrella organizations). Award recipients are also encouraged to publish at least partial results of the supported research in the international scientific turtle journal, Chelonian Conservation and Biology, published by Chelonian Research Foundation.

TCF Awards at the present time are approximately in the $2000 to $5000 range per project, with two funding cycles annually. Total disbursement has averaged between $30,000 to $50,000 per year to date, and is growing as the TCF grows.

Visit the Turtle Conservation Fund to learn more and download an application.