Imagine a future where the force of people in the fight to save wildlife and their habitats matches the size of the challenge so we can save the life-giving web of biodiversity for generations to come. It’s a future where everyone feels a sense of belonging in nature, and where new solutions, perspectives, and lived experiences are leveraged to help the planet.
This vision is what drives our work at Conservation Nation, where we believe that the future of conservation is inclusion.
The creation of Conservation Nation was borne out of research through which it became clear that there was a critical, unfilled niche in the conservation space for an organization to employ a combination of funding and education expertise to save wildlife by lifting barriers to create a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive community of wildlife champions.
In a survey we conducted among conservationists, 80% reported having to work for free, with almost half of that group working for free for over a year. These barriers hit hardest for people of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, and those from disadvantaged communities.
Our Vision
A thriving planet for people and wildlife sustained by an inclusive and growing network of conservationists.
Our Mission
To diversify the conservation movement by funding and supporting conservationists from underrepresented communities while educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Our Core Values
- Collaboration: Partnering for faster and more efficient impact – not recreating the wheel
- Optimism: Courage to hope
- Belonging: Everyone belongs in nature and in this fight
- Respect: Valuing and honoring diversity and community wisdom
- Adaptability: We’re small, nimble and open
“As an African American male born and raised in the United States, the mission of Conservation Nation resonates deeply with me because I, too, believe we need EVERY voice at the table if we’re going to successfully protect our planet and the species on it for future generations to come. Wildlife conservation is something to which we all must aspire.”— Alonford James Robinson, Jr., Conservation Nation Board Chair
Funding Programs
We offer funding to help save animals and their ecosystems around the world by building a stronger, more diverse wildlife conservation community. We provide conservationists with much-needed small grants, professional development, and networking opportunities to jumpstart their careers and open doors.
- Grants up to $10,000 for wildlife-saving work to conservationists from underrepresented communities (women, people of color, Indigenous peoples, and those from other disadvantaged groups).
- Fellowships to promising wildlife conservationists to fund a year of their salary to help them grow their careers and connections.
Studies show that recruitment frequently occurs through word-of-mouth and informal networks. This makes it difficult for people from underrepresented communities outside of traditional environmental networks to enter and thrive in conservation careers, so we provide professional development support to help our grantees stay, prosper, and lead in conservation. This includes free tailored workshops on fundraising and storytelling, networking opportunities, and mentorships.
“I was really proud when I got the Conservation Nation grant. You know you are doing your best every day, but it’s nice when someone else tells you what you are doing is cool and says, ‘congratulations!’”— Nina Attias, 2022 Conservation Nation Grantee
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nina is a conservation biologist with a Ph.D. in Ecology and Conservation. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florida working on the Giant Armadillo Conservation Program. With the grant from Conservation Nation, Nina is working with local communities and government in the Cerrado savanna in Brazil to promote biodiversity-friendly habitat management to ensure the long-term survival of the vulnerable giant armadillo.
Some of Conservation Nation’s Grantees
Nova (they/them) is one of Conservation Nation’s 2021 grantees, and is an artist, scuba diver, filmmaker, photographer, and environmental educator. With the grant we provided, they were able to complete an apprenticeship with Duncan Brake, one of the leading underwater camera operators in shark conservation. Part of their project was to document the work of Sharks4Kids in Turks & Caicos, establishing a baseline population survey of juvenile lemon sharks to create educational content for the program, and film a mini documentary.
Conservation Nation Fellows
The Chrysalis Fund Internships and Scholarships
Through the Chrysalis Fund, we are helping to further the critical work to save threatened invertebrates and their habitats through scholarships and internships. We provide scholarship funds to college students pursuing conservation careers and subsidize internship opportunities with conservation partner organizations around the country. Our 2022 internship partners: BWEEMS (Black Women in Ecology, Evolution & Marine Science), the Mystic Aquarium, Ecology Project International, and the Pacific American Foundation. Our goal is to provide these students with the experience and access that is required to develop a career in the field.
Education
Our education programs support students from underserved communities and give them equitable access to inspiring role models and fun experiences in nature. These programs are designed to build confidence and inspire students to see themselves as conservation champions, all the way up to pursuing STEM academic and career paths into the field.
Conservation Nation Academy Curriculum for Grades 5-8
Our unique lessons include interactions with Conservation Nation grantees, games that help students determine which conservation careers might best fit their interests, and mindfulness exploration through birding and nature journaling. We are currently in the second phase of our pilot with 50 classrooms in the DC metro area, and our target is to be in 250 classrooms nationwide by Dec. 2024.
We amplify the stories of our grantees and partners, allowing children from traditionally underrepresented groups to see themselves in the shoes of their role models.
- The progressive abandonment of girls in STEM begins after the age of 12 because this is the age when their self-perception of competence and self-confidence in STEM begins to fall.
- We see this play out in the ‘Draw a Scientist’ study: When asked to draw a scientist, 70 percent of 6-year-old girls draw a woman, while only 25 percent of 16-year-old girls do.
Nature-Wise
We are working with author and literacy expert, Caroline Brewer, to train educators and provide collections of nature-inspired books to schools and community organizations. Our outdoor literacy curriculum helps students understand and practice, on creative levels, that humans are part of nature, and we practice literacy from our earliest days. This program offers a world of wondrous possibilities to explore many forms of literacy through connection with the natural world.
Our Work Is Making An Impact
When a student, Ashley, was asked to draw a scientist at the end of a Conservation Nation education program, she drew herself – right down to her sneakers.
“Role models are extremely critical to progressing and persisting in science. When I see someone like me who is successful, I know that I can do it and it gives me something to strive towards. Black women in particular need this in conservation science.”— Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles of the University of Miami and the founder of BWEEMS
(Black Women in Ecology, Evolution & Marine Science)
Learn more about Conservation Nation at conservationnation.org.