About the opportunity
The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to supporting the conservation of imperiled species, habitats, and their surrounding communities through species preservation, research, and education. Through its Conservation Action Now (CAN) program, the Zoo offers competitive small grants in amounts not to exceed $2,500.00 each. In 2026, grants will exclusively fund projects involving the research and/or conservation of invertebrates, specifically targeting early career professionals currently enrolled in a graduate program or those who were awarded a graduate degree no earlier than 2021. Proposals are evaluated based on merit and must align with conservation education, scientific research, or species preservation.
Funding and benefits
- Competitive small grants in amounts not to exceed $2,500.00 each.
- Funding to support invertebrate conservation, research, education, and species preservation projects.
Who can apply?
- Must be an early career professional currently enrolled in a graduate program (e.g., MSc, PhD, DVM) or awarded a graduate degree no earlier than 2021.
- Projects must involve the research and/or conservation of invertebrates and/or their habitats.
Required documents
- Completed CAN Application in PDF format.
- Letter of commitment in PDF format.
When to apply
- Application deadline is November 13, 2026, on or before 11:59 PM CST.
How to apply
- Download the CAN Application form.
- Prepare the completed application and letter of commitment in PDF format.
- Upload and submit the completed documents on the official Oklahoma City Zoo website on or before the deadline.
Additional information
- Salaries are not considered, except for locally hired support staff.
- No more than 20% of awarded funds can be used towards travel expenses (air and ground transportation).
- Funds cannot be used for indirect costs, direct mail solicitations, funds reimbursement, or annual campaigns.
- The Oklahoma City Zoo must be recognized in all project publications.
- Checks will not be made out to individuals.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Early career researchers and graduate students specializing in invertebrate biology, entomology, or related habitats.
- Applicants seeking modest seed funding or field expenses for targeted, in-situ or ex-situ conservation projects.
- Professionals looking to build publication records and institutional partnerships with established conservation organizations.
What should you think carefully about?
- The maximum award amount is capped at $2,500, which may require supplementary funding for larger research scopes.
- Travel expenses are strictly limited to a maximum of 20% of the total awarded funds.
- Checks are not issued directly to individuals, so institutional or organizational financial routing must be considered.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This grant serves as an accessible stepping stone for early career scientists and graduate students to independently fund targeted invertebrate conservation initiatives, build professional publication credentials, and gain valuable field research experience.
Our take
Graduate students and early career professionals focused on invertebrate conservation should seriously consider applying for this targeted $2,500 grant before November 13, 2026, keeping in mind the strict budget restrictions regarding salaries and travel expenses.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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