Applications are now being accepted for the latest edition of the Play for Nature funding initiative, designed to assist civil society organizations involved in preserving biodiversity. This opportunity is specifically intended for groups working to protect endangered species and their natural habitats, and who are in need of financial backing to implement impactful conservation efforts.

The program supports two main types of environmental projects. The first focuses on in-the-field conservation efforts, such as habitat restoration, wildlife tracking, or other practical measures to safeguard species at risk and the ecosystems they depend on. The second type targets initiatives that combine environmental protection with sports activities—projects that leverage sporting events to rally support, raise public awareness, and actively involve local communities in efforts to preserve threatened wildlife.

Grants awarded through this program typically fall between €5,000 and €15,000. To be eligible, proposed initiatives must concentrate on the protection or advocacy for species or habitats listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. These initiatives must demonstrate a clear and central focus on biodiversity protection and must include active engagement with local populations through educational programs, awareness campaigns, or direct community involvement in the execution of the conservation activities.

The sports element of the project must serve as more than a backdrop—it must actively contribute to the project’s overall environmental goals. This could mean organizing new sporting events with a conservation purpose or partnering with existing events to help amplify the project’s reach and impact. Only organizations that have been legally registered for at least three years, and whose conservation efforts directly relate to a threatened species, will be considered. Additionally, funding requests must not exceed half of the organization’s total annual operating budget.

Proposals that lack a meaningful connection to biodiversity preservation, or those requesting funding for unrelated administrative expenses or care facilities without a plan for species reintroduction, will not be supported.

This call presents a unique chance for conservation-focused nonprofits to obtain critical funding while also encouraging the integration of sport as a creative and powerful tool for environmental education and public engagement.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity