Application Deadline:
14 November 2025
About Organisation
Wild Animal Initiative is committed to advancing scientific understanding that improves the welfare of wild animals. While most of the world’s animals live in natural environments, little is known about their quality of life or the factors that contribute to their suffering. The organization aims to bridge this critical gap by accelerating the growth of wild animal welfare science—a field dedicated to understanding and enhancing the well-being of wild species. Through funding, mentorship, and global collaboration, Wild Animal Initiative supports innovative research that identifies, measures, and addresses challenges affecting wild animal welfare. By empowering scientists and institutions to explore these issues, the organization strives to ensure that human actions toward wildlife are both ethical and evidence-based. Its mission is to create a world where science and compassion intersect to help wild animals live better lives.
About the Grant
The Wild Animal Initiative’s Challenge Grants program funds pioneering research projects that address critical and underexplored questions in wild animal welfare. Designed to catalyze breakthroughs in this emerging field, these grants target projects that exhibit high relevance, innovation, and scientific rigor. Each round of Challenge Grants is organized around specific themes that reflect priority research areas for advancing understanding of wild animal well-being. The program encourages proposals from experienced principal investigators whose work can open new research pathways not typically supported by other funding bodies. Projects may be standalone studies or may extend existing research by incorporating a wild animal welfare dimension. With grant sizes ranging from USD 50,000 to 100,000 and project durations of up to five years, the program supports long-term, impactful research. Funding primarily covers direct research costs such as materials, supplies, and equipment, though stipends or salaries may also be included when clearly justified within project goals.
Who can Apply?
The Challenge Grants are open to experienced principal investigators affiliated with recognized research institutions such as universities or government agencies. Projects may involve early-career collaborators, including postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, who can also apply for the WAI Fellowship—a mentorship and stipend program for researchers pursuing long-term careers in wild animal welfare science. Eligible proposals may include standalone projects or add welfare-related components to ongoing research not currently funded by Wild Animal Initiative. If fieldwork is part of the project, applicants must ensure that collaborators are residents of each country where the research takes place. NGOs managing such projects must be legally registered in those respective countries. The grants prioritize funding for direct research costs—like supplies, materials, and equipment—but may also support justified expenses such as stipends or salaries when essential to achieving project outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to submit realistic budgets, as proposals will not be rejected based solely on cost without prior consultation.
How to Apply?
Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest by November 14, 2025. The organization encourages researchers to review the grant themes and seek feedback on their project ideas or proposal drafts at any stage of preparation. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals after the initial review. Feedback and guidance are available throughout the application process.
Application Deadline
Expressions of Interest for the Challenge Grants must be submitted by November 14, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
