[Nhcoll-l] California Collection Project Grants

[Watkins-Colwell, Gregory]

Through the kind generosity of the California Institute for Biodiversity and the State of California, the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) has approximately US$300K to award in support of saving at risk collections relating to the geographical area of California. In this time of rapid environmental change and declining wild biodiversity, it is essential that collections be secured and maintained for the future.
The funding is available to rescue specimens and samples, process backlogs and accession specimens, repair collections infrastructure, and otherwise secure biodiversity specimens and associated materials/data.

Project Details

  *   Provides funding for larger (e.g. >$10,000) efforts to support costs incurred rescuing collections, addressing collection backlogs, or otherwise securing biodiversity specimens and associated materials/data.
  *   Funds may be used to purchase supplies and storage equipment, support interns or personnel, conduct pest management, and related activities. Digitizing or species descriptions can be included only as a small portion of the overall project.
  *   All taxa and disciplines are eligible. Priority is given to specimens collected in California or adjacent geographies, and collections must have a significant California focus: funds may secure non-California specimens in California collections, or California specimens in non-California institutions.
  *   Project awards must be made to eligible organizations: typically universities, museums, non-profits, or public institutions. Interested individuals are encouraged to work with a fiscal sponsor who can receive funds.
  *   Priority is to be given to efforts that secure a large number of high-quality specimens and associated metadata. However, even lower quality specimens or those with incomplete data should be preserved.
  *   Priority is given to efforts that center representation and meaningful participation of underserved communities, or otherwise advance inclusion of populations that have not had recent access to funding.
  *   Priority is to be given to current SPNHC members. If you are not a current member you can join here.<https://spnhc.wildapricot.org/join-us> Grant recipients are encouraged to publish or present on completion of their projects at the annual SPNHC Conference or in Collection Forum.


Grant monies available are listed below, applications should include one or more category:

  *   Student placements to a maximum of $10K per individual
  *   Capital grant support to a maximum of $30K per application*
  *   Equipment / Supplies grant to a maximum of $10K per application
  *   Training and travel support to a maximum of $5K per application
Depending on the number of applications we received and the amount of funding requested by each organization, we hope to award between 5 - 10 grants.

*The Capital Grant support is intended to support more substantive elements of a project such as cabinets or building infrastructure, but equally it can support salary costs under short term contracts / freelance work / consultancy.



Key Dates:
The deadline for grant applications is March 28th 2025 (11:59 PM California time) and final decisions will be made by the end of April 2025.  Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application and funds disbursed to successful applicants in May 2025. Projects need to be completed and all funds spent by the 10th January 2026.
Grant recipients are required to submit a progress report on their projects and spending to SPNHC by 1st September 2025 and a final report on completion of the project by 1st March 2026.
Grant applications should be submitted through the Common Grants Application Portal. First-time users register here<https://www.commongrantapplication.com/register.php?refOrgId=154177&refProgId=929&refProgType=all>. Returning users login here<https://www.commongrantapplication.com/login.php?refOrgId=154177&refProgId=929&refProgType=all>. Further guidelines and information about what is required to submit an application can be found on the SPNHC website<https://spnhc.org/california-collection-project-grants/>.
Please contact us if you plan to submit multiple applications. For additional information or grant proposal questions, please contact us via email: cclassi at spnhc.org<mailto:cclassi at spnhc.org>.  For technical questions using the platform, please contact info at commongrantapplication.com<mailto:info at commongrantapplication.com>.
We look forward to receiving your grant applications!


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Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell
Sr. Collection Manager, Herpetology and Ichthyology
Division of Vertebrate Zoology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-9806
YALE PEABODY MUSEUM
Main Office: 203-432-3791;  West Campus: 203-737-7568; Fax 203-432-9277

Package shipping address:
Greg Watkins-Colwell
Division of Vertebrate Zoology
YALE PEABODY MUSEUM
170-210 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511 USA
203-432-3791
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