Our interest is in furthering the support of established conservation programs that:
1) Encompass a strong in situ component
2) Promote education, awareness, and training
3) Demonstrate a marked benefit to local communities, regional/national NGO's (non government organizations), or governments that directly impact the survival of species and/or habitat preservation

Evaluation Criteria:
1) Project clearly benefits species and habitats of interest to DWCF (i.e. endangered or threatened species reflected in our collection or of critical importance to AZA, IUCN, etc.)
2) Project narrative addresses field initiative, education initiative, and conservation impact.
3) Investigators cooperate with or obtain support from other organizations and/or communities.
4) Program is designed to be scientifically valid, with goals and objectives clearly defined.
5) The principle investigator affirms that the welfare of the animals identified in this study is not compromised. Specifically, the principle investigator affirms that:

• Capture/restraint techniques minimize stress and the potential for physical injury or psychological harm
• Immobilization/anesthesia is done under the direct supervision of a veterinarian or other trained professional
• Exposure to noxious stimuli and presumptive negative effects are minimized with administration of anesthetic and/or analgesic agents where appropriate

Application is by invitation only. A letter or e-mail of inquiry is required for consideration:

• Projects of $20,000 or less preferred
• Proposals must be from or in conjunction with a US 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, although international partnerships are encouraged
• An email or letter of inquiry to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund should include the name and the contact details of the organization conducting the program as well as the name of the collaborating U.S. 501(c) (3) non-profit organization if they are not the same. It should contain a brief overview of the project(s), taking into consideration the areas of interest and evaluation criteria detailed previously but does not need to be more than two paragraphs long. The inquiry can be emailed to conservation@dwcf-rfp.com or mailed to the following address:
  
  Conservation Initiatives
  Walt Disney World
  P.O. Box 10000
  Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

IN CASES OF TRUE CRISIS
Emergency funding is also provided in times of environmental or conservation crisis or need. Each year the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund sets aside dollars in a Rapid Response Fund to respond to crises. These awards are capped at $5,000 and can be applied for throughout the year. Here are examples of the types of projects supported in the past:

• Sent funds to help the International Fund for Animal Welfare locate, rescue, rehabilitate, and find homes for pets left behind after Hurricane Katrina
• Sent staff and supplies to Yucatan, Mexico, to rear 400 flamingo chicks whose nests were abandoned by the adults due to a stalking local jaguar (Dallas Zoological Society coordinated)
• Purchased a radio collar to help track a bull elephant in hopes of apprehending poachers who recently killed two other bulls (African Wildlife Foundation)
• West Nile Virus: we are supporting the work of the American Bird Conservancy and AZA in developing an appropriate vaccine for captive and endangered birds

For a complete list of Rapid Response Fund awards to date, please click here.

To apply for a DWCF Rapid Response Fund Award, please click here and follow the instructions under Rapid Response Program.