Prince Bernhard Nature Fund
/OVERVIEW: The Prince Bernhard Nature Fund funds nature and wildlife conservation projects in developing countries, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
IP TAKE: This funder was established by the founder of the WWF specifically to support smaller, grassroots movements that do not often win funding from larger, more prominent foundations. Grantseekers should also note that this funder prioritizes saving threatened and endangered species. Conservation efforts aimed at more stable species may not have much success with PBNF.
This is a great funder to know if you’re small and grassroots. However, your proposal won’t get much traction if your organization is located in or serves the developed world. This funder prioritizes global giving in tropical areas in its conservation and wildlife work. As of 2022, the fund is no longer accepting applications for funding, so networking will be key here.
PROFILE: The Prince Bernhard Nature Fund (PBNF) was established in 1994 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Prince Bernhard was also the Founding President of the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), but he established his own private foundation to “focus on the smaller grassroots organisations that have difficulty finding funding elsewhere.” PBNF supports “initiatives worldwide towards the conservation of endangered species (flora & fauna) or initiatives that in other ways promote the conservation and wise use of nature and our natural resources.” Prince Bernhard was involved in the creation of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and also played a crucial role in the creation of nature preserves in Nepal, India, Poland and Ivory Coast.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
While the PBNF does not name specific grantmaking programs, its website indicates a broad interest in biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, environmental sustainability and the sensible use of natural resources. The foundation seeks grassroots, locally-led projects with an “applied component,” meaning not purely research-based, and also prefers to “act as a catalyzer of larger initiatives, and link its project support as much as possible to larger themes and organizations.” Because of its local focus, PBNF does not support programs that address more general global concerns such as “climate change, deforestation, malnutrition, poverty etc.”
Grants for Animals and Wildlife
PBNF’s primary goal is to “help save critically endangered flora and fauna.” The foundation prioritizes funding applicants based on the urgency of the target species’ conservation status. The species in question must be at least Vulnerable, with a “higher priority when the species is classified as Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR).” The foundation will not fund conservation efforts for species that are Near Threatened (NT) or Least Concern (LC). Animal and wildlife organizations receiving PBNF support in the past include the Wildlife Research and Conservancy Society, which was awarded a grant for its assessment of the future of Asian elephants; and the Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust, which received funding for its work teaching Zambian children the value of wildlife conservation.
Grants for Marine and Freshwater Conservation
While not a stated priority, PBNF has frequently supported programs targeted at the conservation of marine and freshwater species. Past projects include LAMAVE Research Institute’s Philippines Sharks and Rays Conservation, MantaWatch’s initiative to promote responsible manta ray tourism in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, Herp Conservation Ghana’s efforts to save the whistling frog, once thought extinct, and MarAlliance’s project to establish sustainable artisanal fisheries in Cabo Verde.
Important Grant Details:
The foundation limits grant amounts to $20,000 or €20,000 maximum. To learn more about the types of organizations PBNF supports, explore its Projects page. Grantseekers should note that PBNF primarily funds programs based in “tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.” Organizations based in developed countries are a low priority.
PBNF is not currently accepting applications for funding and has paused some grantmaking prgrams. Check the fund’s website periodically for updates.
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