Ben Fusaro Conservation Grant
The 2025 conservation grants have been awarded. We plan to open the 2026 application on August 1, 2026. Feel free to review the 2025 rubric if you are interested in applying for a 2026 grant.
The 2025 awards were given to: 1) a student group at FAMU (working under the auspices of the FAMU chapter for Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources & Related Sciences) towards the development of a pollinator garden on the central campus, part of a mixed gardens area. 2) Videographer Mykhailo Bigdanov to fund a video documentary about local naturalist Doug Alderson.
Read the 2024 Grant Recipient Reports
Read the 2023 Grant Recipient Report
Read the 2022 Grant Recipient Reports
Download 2025 Grant Application and Rubric
Please submit your materials to apalacheeaudubon@gmail.com with the subject line: 2025 Ben Fusaro Conservation Grant Application
Grant overview: Florida’s Big Bend is one of the most biodiverse regions in the country, nestled among pristine longleaf pine forests, expansive coastal marshes, diverse carnivorous plant bogs and savannas, untamed rivers, and stately hardwood forests. The mission of Apalachee Audubon society is to protect the rich biodiversity of the Florida Panhandle through education, appreciation, and conservation, and we are proud to serve the communities inhabiting these rich ecosystems. We are excited to offer an annual conservation grant to help grassroots efforts that align with our mission. This includes individuals or groups wishing to conduct local scientific research, habitat improvement, and environmental education/outreach.
Application Period: September 1 – October 31, 2025. Grantees will be announced by December 1st.
Grant amount: up to $500
Eligible Applicants: Any individual or group wishing to conduct bird-related research, habitat improvement projects, environmental education/outreach, and community engagement within Leon, Jefferson, Wakulla, Gadsden, Liberty, and Franklin counties.
Grantee Requirements: If awarded, grantees must complete a write-up of their project for our newsletter, the Limpkin Times, and provide content for our social media. Grantees will be required to provide a summary or short presentation at the end of the project during one of our monthly meetings. A representative from the Board will follow-up with the grantee during the completion of the project.
Application and Instructions: Please be sure to review the scoring rubric (included with the application) before submitting your application. Reviewers will use this rubric to score all applications. Applicants must submit:
A project description that includes an overview of the project, its importance, and how outcomes will be measured
A budget and brief budget justification
A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
One letter of recommendation
