The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden runs the Conservation Action Now (CAN) Grants, a set of competitive small grants of up to $2,500 each. The 2026 round funds invertebrate research and conservation by early career professionals. Applications close at 11:59 PM CST on 13 November 2026.
For graduate students and recent graduates with a small, well-defined invertebrate project, this is one of the few funding lines built around their career stage.
At a glance
| Deadline | 11:59 PM CST, 13 November 2026. Late applications are not considered. |
| Who can apply | Early career professionals: current graduate students (for example MSc, PhD, DVM) or people awarded a graduate degree no earlier than 2021 |
| Funding | Competitive small grants not exceeding $2,500 each |
| 2026 focus | Research and/or conservation of invertebrates |
| Cost to apply | No fee is mentioned on the programme page |
| Official link | okczoo.org/conservation-small-grant-program |
Who can apply for the Conservation Action Now Grants?
The zoo states that grants go exclusively to early career professionals. It defines them as people currently enrolled in a graduate programme, or people awarded a graduate degree no earlier than 2021. The 2026 funding is limited to projects that benefit the conservation of invertebrate species and/or their habitats. The page states no country restriction.
Projects must fit one of three funding purposes listed on the page:
- Conservation education that builds awareness of a programme able to change outcomes for invertebrates or their habitats.
- Scientific research, in situ or ex situ, with a direct impact on an imperiled invertebrate species or habitat.
- Species preservation work: direct care of an imperiled invertebrate species that improves the ability to preserve it in its native habitat.
What you get
Each grant is capped at $2,500. The page sets spending limits: salaries are excluded except for locally hired support staff, travel (air and ground) may not exceed 20% of the award, and funds cannot cover indirect costs, direct mail solicitations, funds reimbursement or annual campaigns. Cheques are not made out to individuals.
Conditions apply if you are funded. The zoo must be recognised in all project publications and given a copy, a project update is due within one year after funds are disbursed, and a final report is due at completion. Recipients may re-apply annually after submitting an update, but further funding is not guaranteed.
How to apply
- Download the 2026 application form (PDF) from the official programme page.
- Complete the form and prepare a letter of commitment. Both must be PDF files.
- Upload both files on the programme page before 11:59 PM CST on 13 November 2026.
The zoo says a confirmation email should arrive within 48 hours, and warns that confirmation can take several minutes to appear depending on file size and location. Questions go to cangrants@okczoo.org. No decision or project start date is published.
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Check your career-stage status first. The qualifying graduate degree must date from 2021 or later, so confirm your date before spending time on the form.
- Match the budget to the rules. Salaries and indirect costs are excluded and travel is capped at 20%, so a budget built around fieldwork supplies and local support staff fits better than one built around your own time.
- Name the species or habitat. The research and preservation purposes both refer to imperiled invertebrates, so say which species, where, and why it is at risk, with sources.
- Upload early. File size and location can slow confirmation, so do not leave the upload to the last hour.
FAQ
Is there an application fee?
The programme page does not mention a fee. Confirm any cost with the organizer before you apply.
Can a mid-career researcher apply?
Not under the stated rules. Grants go exclusively to current graduate students or people awarded a graduate degree no earlier than 2021.
Can I apply again if I am funded?
Yes, after you submit a project update, but the zoo states that additional funding is not guaranteed.
