plant conservation

Wild Futures Grants

Our Mission

The Indianapolis Zoo’s mission is to protect nature and inspire people to care for our world. A cornerstone in advancing that mission is the Zoo’s support of conservation activities that protect species (plants, animals and fungi) and ecosystems. The Zoo extends its reach through financial support and collaborative involvement with various organizations, researchers and conservationists. Their dedicated work aims to safeguard unique species and their environments for the benefit of future generations.

man wading into river, Huzefa Raja
Wild Futures
Small Conservation Grants

This year, the Indianapolis Zoo will launch Wild Futures: Small Conservation Grants, one-time awards of up to $5,000. The Indianapolis Zoo recognizes the value that smaller grants can bring to conservationists. The Wild Futures grants also aim to support students and early career professionals with projects that further conservation.

These awards are open to all applicants affiliated with a non-profit, government agency, university or a foreign not-for-profit equivalent. The Zoo does not offer conservation grants to unaffiliated individuals.

Wild Futures projects can span the entire conservation process, from species discovery or rediscovery to species assessment, planning and action, as well as communication and networking.

Application Guidelines

The deadline for Expressions of Interest has closed.

2025 Grant Recipients

  • Act for Sustainable Actions ACT4SA (Benin)- Strengthening the resilience of local communities and the conservation of the White-Bellied Pangolin in the Hlanzoun swamp forest – $5000
  • Biodiversity Research and Conservation Foundation (India) – Safeguarding the Critically Endangered Dehradun Stream Frog through participatory research, community engagement, and education – $4900
  • Freshwater Research Centre (South Africa) – Rewilding South Africa’s endangered Clanwilliam sandfish: Scaling up conservation releases for population recovery – $4770
  • Gulf of Guinea Biodiversity Centre (São Tomé) – Forest Tales: voices for mollusc conservation in endemic-rich islands – $4950
  • Howard University (Nigeria)- Understanding the Distribution and Conservation Status of Critically Endangered Niger Stingray in Nigeria – $5000
  • Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (Cuba) – Silent Extinction in the Caribbean? Investigating the Fate of the Cuban Blue – $5000
  • RodentPlus Conservation Initiative (Nigeria)- Conserving Praomys obscurus: Understanding population status, threats, and community engagement in Nigeria – $5000
  • The Nature Conservancy (Palmyra Atoll) – Tracking post-release survival, health, and behavior following first wild releases of the Extinct in the Wild Guam sihek – $5000
  • Zoological Society of London (Kenya)- Applying the IUCN Assess to Plan Framework to tropical Swallowtail butterflies – $4976
  • Zoological Society of London (French Polynesia) – Small but mighty: Strengthening Partula Snail Conservation through Rescue, Revitalisation and Release – $5000