The Boring Fund

The Boring Fund 2025 is a conservation technology grant initiative led by WILDLABS, in partnership with Arm and hosted by Fauna & Flora International. This funding program emerged in response to the conservation tech community’s concerns that foundational but unglamorous work—such as infrastructure maintenance, data curation, and training material development—is chronically underfunded. First launched in 2024, The Boring Fund received an overwhelming 227 applications for only five available grants, which revealed substantial global demand, particularly from under-resourced regions including Africa, Asia, and South America. In 2025, the Fund is returning with expanded support and a total funding pool of $80,000, continuing its commitment to making the conservation tech ecosystem more resilient and equitable. The Fund specifically targets projects that are often dismissed as low priority but are crucial for the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of conservation technology efforts. These include community management, cybersecurity, knowledge transfer, documentation, maintenance of existing tools, data mobilization, training materials, self-directed learning, and technical debt management. Of note, funding is not available for developing new features or components; applicants seeking such support are advised to explore the WILDLABS Awards program. By focusing on "boring" but essential work, the fund aims to enable communities to scale, document, and stabilize technologies critical to their missions. Applicants may request up to $12,500, though the fund encourages requests for smaller amounts if appropriate. Funded projects must begin by October 2025 and complete all activities and spending by May 2026. Awardees will not only receive financial support but will also gain visibility through WILDLABS and Arm’s communication platforms. This includes participation in virtual events, publication of case studies and interviews, and media support to share results with the broader community. The application process is open as of 2 July 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 19 August 2025. Applications must be submitted in English and conform to the formatting guidelines outlined on the dedicated Boring Fund Launch Page. Selection will occur between August and September 2025, with recipients announced in September. The judging panel consists of the WILDLABS team and external reviewers and will evaluate projects based on application quality, feasibility, relevance to conservation technology, and alignment with the fund's goals. The fund particularly encourages applications from underrepresented groups to promote diversity and inclusion in the field. Eligibility is open to individuals aged 18 or older, organizations, and teams globally, provided applicants are not involved in the review or selection process. Employees of the sponsoring organizations may apply if not directly engaged in judging. Projects must be original, lawful, and must not infringe on third-party intellectual property. Applicants retain full ownership of their intellectual property but grant WILDLABS, Fauna & Flora, and Arm a limited license to publicize funded projects. Applicants are required to complete the official application form, available via the WILDLABS website. Questions should be directed to the awards@wildlabs.net contact, and those interested in supporting the fund’s future expansion may reach out to talia.speaker@wildlabs.net. Additional guidance, including terms and a preview of application questions, is accessible via the Further Information page and Discussion Thread on wildlabs.net.