Conservation
John Ball Zoo Society Wildlife Conservation Fund
For twenty years the John Ball Zoo Society’s Wildlife Conservation Fund has helped fund over 100 projects. These projects have helped conserve wildlife and wild places in more than 30 countries.
Many projects funded by the Wildlife Conservation Fund have been education based with an eye to helping communities learn about the wildlife around them. In addition, the fund has lent support to help conserve some of the lesser known taxa such as endangered reptiles and amphibians.
Animals native to Michigan have garnered special attention from the Wildlife Conservation Fund and conservation fund monies have supported projects ranging from installing interpretive graphics at Palomita Reserve in Grand Haven, Michigan to characterizing what bacteria are normally found in salamander habitats in the Great Lakes region.
When John Boyles had the insight in 1985 to start the Conservation Fund here at John Ball Zoo he was truly visionary. Over the years his vision has been turned into a wonderful reality of support for conservation throughout the world.
Apply for a Conservation Grant
Annually, grants are given for one or more of the following purposes:
1. To enhance or assist wild animal preservation, native and exotic, threatened
and endangered, and their habitat management.
2. To enhance or improve captive animal management including environmental
design. Note: Grants are not awarded for exhibit development or graphics
for AZA accredited zoos or zoo in North America.
3. To assist in the development of education programming in concert with
the above purposes.
Click here to learn about the 2008 awardees and their projects. The application process for 2009 Grants will begin in the spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are hard copy applications accepted?
Yes. However, we strongly encourage submission of application and support
materials electronically. If hard copy applications are submitted you must
submit 6 copies of the application and 1 CD of support materials (photos,
etc). Support materials should not exceed 1 MB.
2. Will the fund support development and construction of animal
exhibits and graphics?
No. The fund will not support exhibit development, construction of exhibits
or graphics development for AZA accredited facilities or (in general) facilities
located in North America. We may support exhibit development/graphics in
range countries dependent upon the merits of the application.
3. Does the fund support “overhead” costs?
No.
4. Will the fund support travel?
Travel for the principal investigator and other collaborators are considered
on a case by case basis. Travel for training of teachers, wildlife biologists,
technicians, etc. is funded based upon the merits of the application.
5. Should letters of support be submitted separately?
No. Please include these letters with your application materials. If this
is not possible the letter should clearly state the name of the project
as well as the principal investigator.
6. How much can I expect to receive if a grant is awarded?
Amounts are generally in the range of $500 to $2500 per award.
7. When will grants be announced?
Every effort is made to announce grants by June 1.
8. How will I be notified if I receive an award?
Award recipients are notified via email. Other applicants are notified via
email (if an email address is submitted with an application).
Support Conservation Projects
If you would like to make a donation to help support conservation projects, such as those mentioned above, please go to our Footsteps to the Future Sponsorship page.
