SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund: Grants for Animals and Wildlife
/OVERVIEW: The SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund supports wildlife conservation across the world and invests in species research, habitat protection, conservation education and animal rescue and rehabilitation.
IP TAKE: The Sea World Bush Gardens Conservation Fund has pauses its main grantmaking program until at least 2023, but it will continue to make animal criis grant on an as-needed basis. Past grants have ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 and have supported a broad range of organizations, including large, international conservation groups and local wildlife rescues. Grantmaking is global in scope.
PROFILE: Since 2003, the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has sought to support and protect animals and wildlife. The fund was established as a way to help guests of SeaWorld become involved with wildlife conservation, and it functions mostly as a clearinghouse that aggregates and distributes small donations from members of the public. Past grantmaking has been global in scope.
The fund’s recent conservation priorities include species research, animal rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education and habitat protection. Past grantees include large, international animal conservation outfits, as well as smaller, local groups working with wildlife. Recent grants have gone to Rising Tide Conservation, Mexico’s Vaquita CPR, the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project an Kouprey Express Mobile Environmental Education Unit. Additionally, the foundation offers a number of “animal crisis grants” throughout the year to organizations that need emergency funding following natural or man-made catastrophes. Past grantees include the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, which received a grant to increase ranger patrols in critical areas after the illegal killings of four mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000; however, the board occasionally considers proposals beyond that range. The fund operates without an endowment and does not receive any revenue from investment income, but it also spends little to no money on overhead as board members are volunteers. As a result, the vast majority of donations the fund receives go directly towards grantmaking for organizations on the ground.
This funder has paused its “standard grantmaking program” until at least 2023, but it will continue to make animal crisis grants on an as-needed basis. The fund is not currently accepting unsolicted proposals. Grantseekers may contact the fund via email with general inquiries.
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