Application Deadline:
2 September 2026
About Organisation
The Free Rivers Fund (FRF) is a nonprofit initiative supporting grassroots activists, conservation groups and individuals working to protect free-flowing rivers from dams and hydropower development. Established by river activists, the fund aims to make financial support accessible to smaller initiatives that may struggle to obtain conventional grant funding. FRF supports direct conservation and river-protection actions and has backed projects in countries across several continents. Its approach prioritises locally led action and initiatives where relatively small amounts of funding can make a meaningful difference. The fund supports efforts to preserve rivers in their natural free-flowing condition and strengthen grassroots campaigns defending threatened river ecosystems.
About the Grant
The Free Rivers Fund Emergency Grant provides rapid financial assistance for urgent initiatives working to prevent a proposed dam. Unlike the regular FRF grant, the Emergency Grant accepts applications throughout the year rather than during a fixed annual application period. The fund provides up to €1,000 and is specifically intended for new projects or newly formed initiatives facing an urgent situation where funding could help prevent a dam or hydropower project. Applications can be submitted by individuals, groups or newly formed organisations. The Emergency Grant is designed for direct action and does not generally support standalone media, education or general research projects.
Who can Apply?
The Emergency Grant is open to individuals, groups and newly formed organisations whose project aims to take direct action against a proposed dam. The project must be new and respond to an urgent situation where funding could help prevent the dam or hydropower development. Established organisations should apply through the regular FRF grant programme instead. Applicants cannot use the Emergency Grant for projects previously submitted to FRF’s regular grant programme, dam-removal campaigns, standalone media projects, general science or education projects, or activities unrelated to preventing a dam. FRF currently states that it cannot process applications from Africa.
How to Apply?
Identify an urgent threat from a proposed dam and explain how direct action could help prevent it. Confirm that the project is new and is being led by an individual, group or newly formed organisation. Prepare a concise summary explaining the threatened river, proposed dam, urgent situation, planned action and funding need. Send the information by email to the Free Rivers Fund. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 2 September 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
