Raptor Research Foundation: Grants for Animals and Wildlife

OVERVIEW: The Raptor Research Foundation awards grants to individuals involved in the study and conservation of raptors.

IP TAKE: The Raptor Research Foundation awards six awards each year at its annual conference to individuals involved in various aspects of raptor research and conservation. Grants range from $125 to $2,500. The foundation posts application materials and guidelines for each prize on its program pages. Applications are due by June 30 of each year and recipients are announced at the organization’s annual conference in the fall.

PROFILE: In 1965, a group of people concerned with the status of the declining Peregrine Falcon population founded the Raptor Research Foundation. By 1974, RRF had about 600 members, and today, it has nearly 1,000 members worldwide, including leading raptor specialists, “scientists, educators, wildlife managers, conservationist, students and amateur raptor enthusiasts.” The foundation’s primary goal is “the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors.” It runs an annual conference that brings experts and researchers together to share research findings and where it announces the annual recipients of six separate grants and awards. The foundation also recognizes outstanding work in the field of raptor research and service to the foundation with non-monetary awards at its annual conference. Monetary awards include the following:

The Dean Amadon Grant is a $2,000 grant awarded to an individual “working in the area of distribution and systematics (taxonomy) of raptors.”

The Leslie Brown Memorial Grant is awarded in amounts up to $2,500 and provides “financial assistance to promote the research and/or the dissemination of information on African birds of prey.

The Stephen R. Tully Memorial Grant is a $1,000 prize awarded in support of “research and conservation of raptors especially to students and amateurs with limited access to alternative funding.”

The William C. Andersen Memorial Awards are given to “the best student poster and oral presentations at the annual RRF meeting.” The award consists of $125 for the poster recipient and $325 for the paper recipient. Each recipient also receives free RRF membership for one year.

The James R. Koplin Travel Award offers up to $500 in travel expenses for “a student who is the senior author and presenter of a paper or poster to be presented at the RRF meeting.”

Established in 2020, the Oscar Beingolea Raptor Research Grant supports raptor research in Latin America and prioritizes “projects that bring attention to poorly known species, systems, or questions and those that include a conservation and/or community engagement component.” A single grant is awarded annually in the amount of $1,000.

The Raptor Research Foundations grants total about $7,500 a year and are awarded in amounts ranging from $125 to $2,5000. Selection is made by members of the organization’s board. For additional information about past awards, see the foundation’s individual awards pages.

Application materials for specific awards are attached to each of the award pages on the Raptor Research Foundation’s website. All application materials are due on June 30, and awards are announced at the foundation’s annual conference each fall. General inquiries should be submitted to the foundation via email.

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