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NSF 24-531: Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF 24-531

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

U.S. National Science Foundation offered grants to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 16 awards worth $16.0 million in total. It is no longer open on Grants.gov.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 7, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.

Key dates

PostedJune 6, 2025
Archived by Grants.govJune 7, 2025

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. - See below for Paul G. Allen Family Foundation eligibility.

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (the foundation) are continuing their partnership to support this program, to be administered by NSF, supporting conservation science and science-informed conservation practice in the United States. The objective of the PACSP Program is to support conservation research that investigates organismal biology, ecology, and/or evolution and is designed to contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based activities and/or technology solutions to advance biodiversity conservation. We seek proposals that involve the implementation of conservation activitiesbased on conservation science principles via academic-conservation organization partnerships. The strongest projects will involve ongoing assessment of biodiversity outcomes, for instance via an adaptive management framework, that inform both scientific understanding and conservation actions. A significant distinction between the PACSP program and other NSF programs is that proposals to this program must make clear and well-defined connections between basic research questions and the implementation of conservation focused actions. The Program's focus is on conservation goal-related research that will directly translate to on-the-ground biodiversity conservation efforts. Proposals that adopt a convergent approach between climate and/or other anthropogenic environmental change, conservation, and the health of ecosystems and the organisms therein are especially encouraged. Proposals are also expected to incorporate project outcomes within the context of broader societal impacts and, as appropriate for the research proposed, engage non-academic partners in collaboration. For proposals recommended for funding, NSF will fund the proposed research scope and the foundation will fund the proposed conservation component of the project.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Who has won Biological Sciences grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Biological Sciences (47.074) awarded $4.2 billion across 6,885 grant awards, an average of $609,810 per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
Battelle Memorial InstituteOhio8$381 million
Arizona State UniversityArizona57$108 million
Cornell UniversityNew York85$85.6 million
University of FloridaFlorida100$70.6 million
Michigan State University FoundationMichigan105$67.9 million

Top states: California ($471 million), Ohio ($463 million), New York ($288 million), Massachusetts ($180 million), Texas ($176 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is NSF 24-531 still open?

No. It is no longer open on Grants.gov. A newer notice is open: NSF 27-500, closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left).

Who can apply for Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice?

U.S. National Science Foundation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice?

Closed. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

About $16.0 million in total across about 16 awards.

Who has won Biological Sciences grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Battelle Memorial Institute, Arizona State University, Cornell University. The program made 6,885 awards worth $4.2 billion in that time.

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