Some citizen-based monitoring projects can be conducted with minimal costs, but for other projects expenses for equipment, printing,
staff wages, and travel can add up quickly! It can be difficult to find funding for citizen-based monitoring, but there are certainly
options. If your project needs funding, you'll want to do a full search of foundation and government grants, as well as other types
of funding.
Then consider the following opportunities (please note that many will require your project to be associated with a
nonprofit organization):
Direct Funding Opportunities
CBM Partnership Program
WIDNR offers contracts totaling $100,000 each year to projects throughout the state, with a maximum
of $5000 per project.
WIDNR Surface Water Grants
For projects dealing with early detection of aquatic invasive species.
James Dutton Foundation
Regularly funds citizen-based monitoring work.
Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program and Rare Plant Preservation Fund grants both fund up to
$1000 per project. Educators are eligible for grants of up to $500 through the Go Outside Fund and up to $1000 through the
Teachers Outdoor Environmental Education Fund.
Freshwater Future
Offers $500-$3500 grants to projects focused on aquatic and shoreline habitat protection in the
Great Lakes region.
Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
Offers a variety of grants for bird-related research.
CitSci Fund
The US Forest Service offers funding for citizen science projects led by the Forest Service or done
on Forest Service land.
City and County funds
Many local governments have funding available for conservation-related work; check to see if any in
your area fund citizen-based monitoring.
Creative Opportunities
AmazonSmile
0.5% of every purchase made through AmazonSmile (a part of amazon.com) goes to the nonprofit of
the buyer's choice. Registering your nonprofit is easy!
TerraCycle
From granola bar wrappers to empty toothpaste tubes, TerraCycle collects all sorts of waste to be
recycled. When people send in items for recycling, they receive points that can be used to make donations to nonprofits,
including yours.
Crowdfunding
Projects can receive support directly from interested individuals through a number of online funding
sites.
In-kind donations
Many businesses in your area will be happy to donate materials and supplies or offer you a discount
on purchases. Visit, email, or phone companies to request donations of things like food, building materials, and office
supplies.
Local store fundraisers
Some local stores offer opportunities for organizations to receive a small percentage of their
profits on a specific date.
Discounts
Science supply companies and other businesses often offer discounts to school groups and
nonprofits.
Wildlife Acoustics
Their Scientific Products Grants provide award recipients with acoustic bat detectors or bird song
meters.
Places to Look for Funding Opportunities
Environmental Education in Wisconsin
Maintains a list of funding opportunities for environmental education activities.
EPA's Citizen Science Funding Resource
Guide
Compiled in 2015, contains mostly funding related to air quality, but with many general
opportunities as well.
Grant Databases
