Overview

IBA Research and Conservation Grants (RCG) are awarded to help support bear conservation, education projects, and research. Emphasis is given to projects that demonstrate significant positive effects for bear species, populations, and areas of the world with the highest conservation needs.

Funds for these grants have been made available by The John Sheldon Bevins Memorial Foundation and other generous donors. Information on other IBA Grants Programs can be found here>>>

Research and Conservation Grants Committee

RCG proposal review and grant management is administered by the IBA Research and Conservation Grants Committee:

Dr. Frederick C. Dean, Chair (USA – Alaska), deansfs-at-alaska.net
Dr. Julia Bevins (U.S.A. - Alaska), juliabevins-at-mac.com
Dr. Shyamala Ratnayeke (U.S.A. and Sri Lanka), sratnaye-at-utk.edu
Dr. Jörg Rauer (Austria), georg.rauer-at-baer.wwf.at
Gordon Warburton (U.S.A. - North Carolina), warburg1-at-charter.net

Application Requirements

Proposal Deadline

All proposals must be received before midnight on 31 December of the current year. Proposals received after that date will be held over for the next year's review.

Proposal Summary Information

Purpose: Research and Conservation Grants are intended to benefit biologically sound bear conservation and management efforts, emphasizing assistance to situations with critical need.

Types of Projects Considered: IBA wants to support well-designed projects, either research or conservation-oriented. Research should ultimately support conservation efforts; conservation projects should be strongly based on good science and also well-linked to local and regional communities. Conservation projects may involve a wide range of efforts, including protection, management, education, habitat preservation, training of local workers, etc. Proposals may be used for the following:

• Funding portions of studies;
• Support of graduate students working on bear projects;
• Publication of significant findings on bear biology or management; and
• Preparation or publication of public information and education projects about bears

For proposal review, the RCG Committee will also consider priorities established by the IUCN Bear Specialist Group and its Expert Teams, the likelihood of alternate funding, project feasibility, and the qualifications of the investigators conducting the work.

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply, including undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students; researchers; educational institutions; conservation organizations; and government agencies. Applications for projects in developing countries with threatened bear species or populations are strongly encouraged. Undergraduate students and independent workers are encouraged to seek sponsorship or collaboration with an appropriate university, agency, or organization.

How to Apply: Applications for grants must be in English and be received by the Committee chairperson no later than 31 December for projects to be conducted during the next calendar year. Applications should be less than 4 pages in length, but additional pages containing budgets, endorsements, and other supporting documents may be attached. Three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant and project are strongly encouraged. Please send references as electronic attachments (M.S. Word format or PDF files).

The application must include a description of all items requested on the RCG Grant Application Form. Grant proposals will be strengthened if commitments for partial funding from other sources can be demonstrated in the proposal.

Amount of Grants: Typically, awards are less than US$5,000/year. The minimum grant is US$500, and the maximum grant is US$10,000/year. No more than US$15,000 may be granted to the same project over a 3 year period.

Conditions: All grant recipients agree to provide a written report of accomplishments to the RCG Committee by June 1 of the year following that in which grants are awarded. Reports should be sent electronically or mailed; if mailed, please include a  CD copy. 

For multi-year grants, a progress report will typically be required by the end of December before funds are disbursed for the next year. Annual progress reports and final reports sent to the RCG Committee must include an accounting of how funds were expended. Unused funds must be returned to the IBA, and no significant change in the proposed use of grant monies may be made without authorization from the RCG Committee Chair. Awards made by the RCG Committee may be modified or cancelled if funds are not available.

Grant recipients agree to acknowledge the support of the IBA and, when appropriate, the John Sheldon Bevins Memorial Foundation in any publications or educational materials resulting from the project. Submissions of progress summaries to the editor of International Bear News are also encouraged. These summaries may be submitted at any time and should be sent directly to the News editor with a copy to the RCG Committee.

Resubmission of Proposals

Proposals must be re-evaluated for subsequent funding after the first year.  While applicants are encouraged to resubmit for sequential funding, continued funding cannot be ensured. If resubmitted proposals continue to rank highly among those reviewed, budgets should be re-adjusted.  In addition, if the proposal content has few changes, please request referral to references submitted previously as a means of reducing the work involved in submission for committee members. 

Proposal Submission Requirements

• Proposals may be submitted at any time, and will be held for the annual review. Reviews begin shortly after the beginning of each calendar year.
• Proposals should be submitted electronically via attachment, if possible.  Proposals should be submitted in MS Word®, Adobe PDF®, or in plain ASCII text. Please do not use WordPerfect® format.  Be sure to review page requirements listed on the RCG Application Form.
• We recommend using the RCG application form as a guide in preparing proposals.

Applications:

Download the PDF application form here>>>

• Proposals and applications should be sent electronically to Frederick Dean.  A “read-receipt” is recommended to ensure receipt of your proposal.  Contact Fred Dean for assistance if necessary.
• If internet access is not available, please send applications to:

Dr. Frederick C. Dean, Chair
Chair - IBA Research and Conservation Grants Committee
810 Ballaine Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-6606, USA
Tel: (907) 479-6607
Fax: (907) 479-3907
E-mail: deansfs-at-alaska.net

A follow up phone call is suggested to ensure receipt.