Guidelines for Applicants
Applications for grants are now closed for 2010.
The deadline for receipt of applications will be 9.00 a.m. Monday November 2nd 2009. This is for funds that will be available for use between April 2010 and March 2011. Potential applicants should first read carefully the Guidelines for Applicants, in order to check what types of application are likely to be supported. They should then read carefully the Instructions for Completing the Grant Application Form, in order to obtain advice on precisely what information is required. They should then complete the Online Application Form.
The following information is provided to assist those considering applying for funding for projects and initiatives which may fall within the remit of the Foundation.
1. Either individuals or organisations may apply for grants, however those most likely to be successful will be either small non-commercial organisations, or individuals, or small teams of researchers or conservationists or media producers within larger organisations.
2. Normal grants fall within three categories:
a. standard grants of up to US$50,000, to be disbursed within a 12 -18 month period.
b. small grants of up to $20,000, also to be disbursed within a 12 -18 month period; it is the Board’s policy that a significant proportion of awards should be for small grants.
c. larger grants over $50,000, to be dispersed within a 12 - 18 month period; these however are only rarely awarded, usually for exceptional projects, or to organisations with whom a long-term relationship has been established.
3. Funding is awarded in respect of only one financial year at a time; where projects are likely to extend over two or more years, successful grant holders will need to re-apply for funding for successive years, which can not be guaranteed, even where the project design makes it highly desirable e.g. from a scientific or conservation point of view.
4. Applicants should bare in mind that, given the Foundation’s desire to assist as many projects as practicable, even within categories applications for smaller amounts are more likely to be successful than applications for larger ones.
5. SOSF does NOT normally support the annual salaries (full-time or part-time) of researchers or of other individuals working on projects. The costs of short-term employees or the extra costs of an individual’s participation in a project may however be eligible.
6. Joint funding of a project by SOSF with another funding agency is welcomed, but not essential.
7. Grants are awarded each year for projects concerned with one or more of the following:
a. Research into the conservation biology and requirements of marine species that are either under serious threat, or constitute a critical marine resource.
b. Conservation initiatives focussed directly on the protection of marine species or habitats of international or national significance.
c. The undertaking of activities, including the production of a book or film or of other materials, directed at promoting the education of young people or the awareness of the wider public concerning critical marine environmental issues.
8. The Board considers it highly desirable that research or conservation projects (i.e. those falling primarily within categories a) or b) above) should also incorporate significant public awareness and environmental education activities.
9. The Board has also decided that, for the time being, priority will be given to research or conservation projects (i.e. those falling primarily within categories a) or b) above) concerned with promoting knowledge and protection of threatened species of sharks and rays, the populations of most of which have been reduced to less than 10% over recent decades.
10. Nevertheless, each year the Foundation will support a small number of projects addressing other high priority marine conservation issues, such as the biology or protection of important populations of marine turtles or marine mammals, or research into critical environmental impacts such as coral decline or ocean acidification.
11. SOSF regrets that it is NOT able to pay unspecified overheads to large commercial or non-commercial organisations, although specified administrative and accommodation costs may be met, provided they are essential and properly accounted for.
12. Grant applications are considered on an annual basis. Applications should be received at the very latest by the beginning of November in any year, for funding during the financial year beginning the following April. Thus applications for funds required during the year April 2010 to March 2011 should be submitted by 9.00 a.m. UTC (GMT) Monday November 2nd 2009. Awards will normally be announced during the February following the receipt of applications. Due to the volume of applications received, early receipt of applications is much appreciated, and may result in a highly rated proposal being given a degree of priority.
13. Applications for grants will be reviewed by a minimum of two referees, and considered by the Foundation’s Expert Advisory Committee, who will assess the quality and conservation significance of each application. The final decision on each application is however made by the Board of the Foundation.
14. Grant holders will be required to submit a brief progress report by September 1st in any year in which they hold a grant, a further progress report by February 1st of the following year, and a final report on the year’s project activity by May 30th of that year. A financial report accounting for the use of the funds during the previous financial year is required by June 30th.
15. On rare occasions small awards may be made as a matter of urgency outside this timetable. This might be for example where individuals of a rare species are under imminent threat, or critical conservation equipment requires repair, or an unexpected opportunity arises from which a critical conservation cause might greatly benefit. Individuals or organisations who believe they might have such a case may contact the chief scientist for further advice.
16. It is the policy of the Foundation to provide, where practicable, a degree of continuing guidance and support to the projects which it has decided to support. Accordingly, it is a condition of grants awarded by SOSF that grant holders welcome officers of the Foundation to visit their projects. Such visits would be organised at the convenience of the grant holder, and at the expense of the Foundation.
17. It is also the policy of the Foundation to take all opportunities available to promote public awareness of marine conservation projects and issues. Accordingly, it is also a condition of grants awarded by SOSF that grant holders provide information for publication in the press or on the web, that they allow SOSF to photograph, film or report on the work of the project, and that SOSF is given priority in the making of any documentary film focussing on the project. It is however understood that details of the research should not be publicised where this might jeopardise publication in the scientific literature.
18. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 above, the Board of the Foundation is supportive of awarding funding for continuation or follow-up projects, where a previous or earlier stage project has been notably successful.
19. Grants are awarded subject to the applicant or their organisation agreeing a simple contract valid under the laws of Switzerland.
20. Applicants requiring additional guidance or advice may contact the Foundation’s chief scientist, Dr. Rupert Ormond, via the e-mailing facility incorporated into the web-site.
Download a PDF version of these guidelines for applicants here.
Download a PDF version of the instructions for completing grant applications here.
Save Our Seas Foundation
September 2009
The deadline for receipt of applications will be 9.00 a.m. Monday November 2nd 2009. This is for funds that will be available for use between April 2010 and March 2011. Potential applicants should first read carefully the Guidelines for Applicants, in order to check what types of application are likely to be supported. They should then read carefully the Instructions for Completing the Grant Application Form, in order to obtain advice on precisely what information is required. They should then complete the Online Application Form.
The following information is provided to assist those considering applying for funding for projects and initiatives which may fall within the remit of the Foundation.
1. Either individuals or organisations may apply for grants, however those most likely to be successful will be either small non-commercial organisations, or individuals, or small teams of researchers or conservationists or media producers within larger organisations.
2. Normal grants fall within three categories:
a. standard grants of up to US$50,000, to be disbursed within a 12 -18 month period.
b. small grants of up to $20,000, also to be disbursed within a 12 -18 month period; it is the Board’s policy that a significant proportion of awards should be for small grants.
c. larger grants over $50,000, to be dispersed within a 12 - 18 month period; these however are only rarely awarded, usually for exceptional projects, or to organisations with whom a long-term relationship has been established.
3. Funding is awarded in respect of only one financial year at a time; where projects are likely to extend over two or more years, successful grant holders will need to re-apply for funding for successive years, which can not be guaranteed, even where the project design makes it highly desirable e.g. from a scientific or conservation point of view.
4. Applicants should bare in mind that, given the Foundation’s desire to assist as many projects as practicable, even within categories applications for smaller amounts are more likely to be successful than applications for larger ones.
5. SOSF does NOT normally support the annual salaries (full-time or part-time) of researchers or of other individuals working on projects. The costs of short-term employees or the extra costs of an individual’s participation in a project may however be eligible.
6. Joint funding of a project by SOSF with another funding agency is welcomed, but not essential.
7. Grants are awarded each year for projects concerned with one or more of the following:
a. Research into the conservation biology and requirements of marine species that are either under serious threat, or constitute a critical marine resource.
b. Conservation initiatives focussed directly on the protection of marine species or habitats of international or national significance.
c. The undertaking of activities, including the production of a book or film or of other materials, directed at promoting the education of young people or the awareness of the wider public concerning critical marine environmental issues.
8. The Board considers it highly desirable that research or conservation projects (i.e. those falling primarily within categories a) or b) above) should also incorporate significant public awareness and environmental education activities.
9. The Board has also decided that, for the time being, priority will be given to research or conservation projects (i.e. those falling primarily within categories a) or b) above) concerned with promoting knowledge and protection of threatened species of sharks and rays, the populations of most of which have been reduced to less than 10% over recent decades.
10. Nevertheless, each year the Foundation will support a small number of projects addressing other high priority marine conservation issues, such as the biology or protection of important populations of marine turtles or marine mammals, or research into critical environmental impacts such as coral decline or ocean acidification.
11. SOSF regrets that it is NOT able to pay unspecified overheads to large commercial or non-commercial organisations, although specified administrative and accommodation costs may be met, provided they are essential and properly accounted for.
12. Grant applications are considered on an annual basis. Applications should be received at the very latest by the beginning of November in any year, for funding during the financial year beginning the following April. Thus applications for funds required during the year April 2010 to March 2011 should be submitted by 9.00 a.m. UTC (GMT) Monday November 2nd 2009. Awards will normally be announced during the February following the receipt of applications. Due to the volume of applications received, early receipt of applications is much appreciated, and may result in a highly rated proposal being given a degree of priority.
13. Applications for grants will be reviewed by a minimum of two referees, and considered by the Foundation’s Expert Advisory Committee, who will assess the quality and conservation significance of each application. The final decision on each application is however made by the Board of the Foundation.
14. Grant holders will be required to submit a brief progress report by September 1st in any year in which they hold a grant, a further progress report by February 1st of the following year, and a final report on the year’s project activity by May 30th of that year. A financial report accounting for the use of the funds during the previous financial year is required by June 30th.
15. On rare occasions small awards may be made as a matter of urgency outside this timetable. This might be for example where individuals of a rare species are under imminent threat, or critical conservation equipment requires repair, or an unexpected opportunity arises from which a critical conservation cause might greatly benefit. Individuals or organisations who believe they might have such a case may contact the chief scientist for further advice.
16. It is the policy of the Foundation to provide, where practicable, a degree of continuing guidance and support to the projects which it has decided to support. Accordingly, it is a condition of grants awarded by SOSF that grant holders welcome officers of the Foundation to visit their projects. Such visits would be organised at the convenience of the grant holder, and at the expense of the Foundation.
17. It is also the policy of the Foundation to take all opportunities available to promote public awareness of marine conservation projects and issues. Accordingly, it is also a condition of grants awarded by SOSF that grant holders provide information for publication in the press or on the web, that they allow SOSF to photograph, film or report on the work of the project, and that SOSF is given priority in the making of any documentary film focussing on the project. It is however understood that details of the research should not be publicised where this might jeopardise publication in the scientific literature.
18. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 above, the Board of the Foundation is supportive of awarding funding for continuation or follow-up projects, where a previous or earlier stage project has been notably successful.
19. Grants are awarded subject to the applicant or their organisation agreeing a simple contract valid under the laws of Switzerland.
20. Applicants requiring additional guidance or advice may contact the Foundation’s chief scientist, Dr. Rupert Ormond, via the e-mailing facility incorporated into the web-site.
Download a PDF version of these guidelines for applicants here.
Download a PDF version of the instructions for completing grant applications here.
Save Our Seas Foundation
September 2009