You did it! You completed the GIS & Community Conservation Externship with National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, you built your resume, you gained new skills, new peers, friends, and mentors. Now, what comes next?
Externs who completed the program with Successful or Outstanding completion are invited to submit an application for Seed Project Funding from National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy!
National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy have been inspired by the research, passion and creativity of the Fall 2026 externs. So many of you have developed big, bold ideas, and demonstrated a real passion to make an impact within your community.
We would like to support your community conservation project ideas through seed funding, intended to help you take action within your community. Funds of up to $2,000 per project will be awarded to externs in January 2027. We aim to fund a range of projects focused on a variety of geographic locations, perspectives, and approaches to community conservation with a geospatial lens. Projects should be focused on raising awareness and implementation initiatives that are feasible within a 6-month timeframe rather than large-scale infrastructure projects. This funding opportunity is designed to get you started and serve as a stepping stone for larger projects in the future. Please see below for a detailed timeline. We look forward to reading your proposals, and thank you for your time and commitment to conservation!
You can expect to follow this timeline:
Applications go live on November 2, 2026
Application closes November 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
Application review until mid December 2026
Applications for the seed funding project program will be reviewed from late November - mid December.
Fund distribution in January
Students selected to receive seed funding will be announced by late December. Funds will be distributed to selected students in January 2027.
Post funding check-ins
There will be a kick-off call in January, a first check-in call in March, a second check-in call in May, and final presentations in July. Projects and initiatives must show significant progress (not necessary to be completed) by July 31, 2027.
Remote Externships Currently Available With The Following Partner Companies
We will evaluate your proposal based on the following criteria:
- Strength of your StoryMap in communicating a conservation issue and highlighting proposed solutions.
- Potential for impact of your project on local communities and/or the environment.
- Detail of your project scope and plan for the 6-month period (and beyond).
- Achievable outcomes in a short timeframe and with the available funds (don’t try to take on too much! You can always continue your initiative after the initial project wraps up).
Project Recommendations:
- Feasibility: Your project should be realistic and achievable within a six-month timeframe and with the available funding of up to $2,000. We encourage initiatives that can be easily managed and have a clear, tangible impact.
- Community Involvement: Successful projects will actively involve community members, local organizations, and other stakeholders. Demonstrating strong local support and partnerships will strengthen your application.
Examples of Past Projects:
- Coral Reef Health Assessment in Bali, Indonesia: A project using hydrophones to collect and analyze coral sounds across five different sites, aiding in the restoration and conservation efforts. The seed funding facilitated in-depth research and inspired further grants, including one to create a film about divers in Indonesia.
- Beach Clean-Up Initiative in Sri Lanka: A project that has mobilized a community group of over 75 members and organized two monthly clean-ups collecting over 175 kg of trash. It also included a campaign that raised awareness about plastic pollution and plans to launch an Instagram account to promote eco-friendly lifestyles.
- Marine Protected Area (MPA) Conservation in Trinidad and Tobago: Collaboration with park and government officials led to the installation of a dumpster and signage outlining MPA rules at Bon Accord Lagoon. A website was also created to provide more information about the park.
- Aquaponics Implementation in Kigali, Rwanda: Aimed at halting the decline in fish populations by testing aquaponics in a controlled environment. The project successfully set up remote pumps and sensors and expanded the area covered with free land provided by the African Leadership University.
