SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund

Organizational profile:

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund (the Fund) was established as a non-profit private foundation in 2003 - created to raise support for grassroots conservation projects that are truly making a difference. The Fund’s mission is to work with purpose and passion on behalf of wildlife and habitats worldwide, encouraging sustainable solutions through support of species research, animal rescue and rehabilitation and conservation education. The Fund works with organizations, individuals and experts in the U.S. and around the world to identify the most pressing challenges facing wildlife. The Fund then awards grants to projects focused on protecting wildlife, people and places in ways that are sustainable and long-term. In collaboration with the SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove parks, the Fund also works to increase global awareness of wildlife and inspire everyday actions that can help animals survive and thrive.

Since its creation, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has awarded well over $18 million in conservation grants to over 1200 organizations. The Fund's grantees include world-renowned conservation organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Wilderness Foundation Africa, Panamerican Conservation Association, and National Audubon Society. In addition, the Fund supports lesser-known grassroots groups that are committed to protecting and preserving wildlife and wild places in their own community. Currently, the Fund provides over $1 million each year to conservation programs aligned with key focus areas (rescue & rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection, species research).

Financing Instrument: Grants

Project scale:
Although there is no limit to the size of the application request, most grants range between $10,000 to $25,000 USD.

Recipient countries regions/country groups: Global

Recipient categories: non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and schools and universities

Eligibility Criteria:
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund accepts applications from non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and schools and universities. Organizations can be U.S.-based or international. The Fund only supports projects that align with its priorities.

Application guidelines:

• Applications must be submitted online via the Fund’s website.
• The grant application becomes available on or around October 1st of each year. Grant applications received by November 30 are considered for support in the first two quarters of the following year (ex. applications received by November 30, 2017 will be reviewed and recipients selected to receive funding by June 30, 2018). Applications received from December 1 to April 30 will be considered for support in the last two quarters of the year.
• However, for the two years from 2021 to 2023, the Fund will pause its standard granting program and will not be accepting new grant applications. The Fund will continue to support conservation projects globally, however, with a focus on funding pre-selected projects. The Fund anticipates resuming a refined version of the open-application granting program in 2023.
• Please direct any questions and communication to the Fund’s mailbox swbgfund@seaworld.com.