Memorial Grants

The Neotropical Grassland Conservancy (NGC) offers Memorial Grants to promote impactful research focused on the conservation of grasslands in Latin America. These grants represent a key component of NGC’s mission to support science-based efforts in safeguarding neotropical grassland biodiversity. Memorial Grants are named in honor of individuals who dedicated their lives to nature and scientific inquiry, and each award supports a unique conservation objective reflective of the honoree’s legacy. The Memorial Grants are unrestricted, one-year awards that can be used for both direct and indirect research expenses, including salaries. Applicants are expected to clearly articulate how their work will contribute to grassland conservation efforts. These grants are competitively awarded based on scientific merit, potential for conservation impact, and alignment with the NGC mission. The application process is straightforward, but it is essential that proposals directly address their relevance to grassland ecosystems. Eligible applicants are Latin American researchers who are affiliated with a university, museum, or conservation organization. A preference is extended to those who have previously participated in NGC’s Student Grant or Equipment Grant programs and have submitted final reports. All applications are reviewed by a panel consisting of external experts and NGC board members. Final funding decisions are made during NGC's annual board meeting. Several memorial grants are available under this program. The Peter Rittenhouse Kellogg, Jr. Memorial Fund Grant provides up to $10,000 for projects with lasting conservation value. The Halsey M. Marsden Memorial Research Grant awards $5,000 to projects with a strong focus on prairie and grassland preservation. The Sue Wijdenes Memorial Research Grant also provides $5,000 for new tropical grassland research, particularly by scientists launching fresh initiatives. Lastly, the Derald G. Langham Memorial Research Grant supports plant-based grassland studies with a $2,000 award. The deadline for applications is March 1st of each year. This is an annual opportunity, and applicants are encouraged to submit complete proposals well in advance of the deadline. Notification of awards follows the annual board meeting. All funded researchers are expected to adhere to reporting requirements if applicable and may become eligible for future NGC support through other grant programs.

Ensure proposals show clear conservation impact and alignment with NGC’s mission.