Redwood Research Grant Application Guidelines

Save the Redwoods League supports applied hypothesis-driven research on the biology and ecology of coast redwood and giant sequoia forests.

Scientist researchers performing field work
Save the Redwoods League Giant Sequoia Forest Fellow, Neida Rodriguez, collecting data in Long Meadow Grove.

Call to Redwood Researchers!

Save the Redwoods League wants to welcome you to submit a pre-proposal to our 2023/24 Research Grants Program. We fund research that deepens our understanding of how to protect redwood forests in a changing environment. Proposals on all topics that advance conservation or restoration science for either coast redwood or giant sequoia forests are welcome, and we strongly encourage submissions for Indigenous-led projects.

This year we are providing a theme — Redwoods and Water — and will give priority to projects that fall under this theme. Some topics we are especially interested in are water use and climate use adaptation in redwoods, fog dynamics and use in redwoods, redwoods access to groundwater, how coastal geology affects water access, and the effects of fire on water use and availability. We are interested in research projects in giant sequoia and in coast redwood.

Research Grant Pre-proposals are due on October 17th, 2023. See Pre-proposal Instructions below for submission information. If your Pre-proposal is selected by our review committee for further consideration, a complete application with the full proposal (to be provided) will be due on November 17th, 2023.

Please contact Dr. Joanna Nelson, Director of Science and Conservation Planning, and Laura Lalemand, Senior Scientist, at [email protected] to discuss how the proposed work may support the League’s conservation mission, as well as ask general questions about the Research Grant Program. Please note that past grant recipients must meet their prior grant obligations to be eligible for funding in the current grant cycle.


Pre-proposal Instructions

  • Please provide a two-page pre-proposal (excluding references) using the template provided here.
  • Create a single pdf of the pre-proposal followed by CVs for the Principle Investigators, and re-name the file as described in the template footnote.
  • Submit the Pre-proposal via email to our review committee at [email protected] by midnight PST on October 17th.
  • Please also include how these funds will be used as start up or catalyst funds and how they will help secure future funding and/or support for this work.

If your proposal is selected for further consideration, you will be notified by October 20th and invited to submit a complete grant application by November 17th.

RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM IMPORTANT DATES
Pre-proposals due October 17th, 2023
Invitations for full proposals October 20th, 2023
Complete application for invited proposals due November 17th, 2023
Grant award notifications sent End of December, 2023
Grant funding availability Prior to March 31st, 2024

Field researcher
Save the Redwoods League Land Stewardship Associate, Sam Yarbrough, collecting fuels data for fuels treatment monitoring at Long Meadow grove.

Application Eligibility

We only accept applications from nonprofit 501(c) organizations* that focus on research and education (this includes researchers from universities and public agencies) as described in 26 USC Section 170(b) (1) (A) [other than clauses (vii) and (viii)] AND from federally or state recognized Indigenous, Native, and Tribal nations and communities (on the condition that the research is solely for educational and/or charitable purposes).

  • Funding requests should be for $30,000 to $50,000 and matching funds are encouraged. 
  • The League does not fund indirect costs (these costs include but are not limited to overhead costs, administration fees, rent, insurance, etc.). 
  • The League will only fund reimbursement costs that are listed in the Grant Agreement Form; reimbursement costs include allowable costs and non-cancelable obligations incurred as a result of proposal performance. 
  • Past grant recipients must have submitted annual progress reports and a final report for all previous League grants in order to be eligible for funding in the current grant cycle. 
  • If your proposal is selected, it is a requirement to use the League’s Grant Agreement Form. Edits to the League Grant Agreement Form are not allowed; any questions regarding edits should be submitted in writing to the League before submitting a full proposal. 
  • All grant agreements must be processed and finalized by July of the following year. If grant agreements are not finalized by July, grant agreements and awards will be terminated. 

*Individuals may qualify for starter grants under Save the Redwoods League’s BIPOC student starter grants program.