Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund (15.619)
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund (Assistance Listing 15.619) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $23.0 million in 66 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $348,465 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $298,763. Half of the 66 awards fell between $123,808 and $470,300, and they ranged from $5,781 to $2.2 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$23.0 million
- Grant awards66
- Typical award$298,763
- Awarded in FY 2025$91,434
- Size rank1,266 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $743,747 in fiscal 2021 to $91,434 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1266th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 91% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.
What the program funds
The objective of the fund is to assist in the conservation of rhinoceros and tigers by supporting the conservation programs of nations whose activities directly or indirectly affect rhinoceros and tiger populations, or the CITES Secretariat, and to provide financial resources for those programs.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Any organization or individual with demonstrated experience in tiger or rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, Rhinoceros sondaicus, or Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) conservation.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds provided under this program support projects that will enhance programs for conservation of rhinoceros or tigers by assisting efforts to—(1) implement conservation programs; (2) enhance compliance with provisions of CITES and laws of the United States or a foreign country that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros or tigers or the use of rhinoceros or tiger habitat; or (3) develop sound scientific information on that species’ habitat condition and carrying capacity, total numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality. Yes. Funds provided under this program will not be used for: the purchase of firearms or ammunitions; buying of intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country in which the activity would occur. Funds may not be used to provide material support or resources to individuals, entities, or organizations of countries that have been identified by the Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism. The countries currently identified are: Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
The program announcement and application instructions for this program can be found at Grants.gov website.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Variable amounts. Generally $75,000 to $750,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: One award was modified in FY25.Fiscal Year2026: No new projects were funded in FY26.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund (15.619) awarded $23.0 million across 66 grant awards, an average of $348,465 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save the Rhino International | 6 | $4.9 million | |
| Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt Von 1858 E.V. | 3 | $2.0 million | |
| Wildlife Conservation Society | New York | 10 | $2.0 million |
| Aaranyak | 6 | $1.7 million | |
| The International Rhino Foundation | Texas | 3 | $1.6 million |
| Fauna & Flora International | 2 | $1.4 million | |
| National Trust for Nature Conservation | 3 | $1.1 million | |
| Panthera Corporation | New York | 4 | $988,212 |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 1 | $685,702 |
| Tsavo Trust | 1 | $542,857 | |
| Centre for Wildlife Studies, Inc. | Maryland | 1 | $495,915 |
| Wildlife Asia Limited | 1 | $485,484 | |
| Wildlife Trust of India | 1 | $483,876 | |
| Frankfurt Zoological Society - U.S., Inc. | District of Columbia | 1 | $472,543 |
| Wildlife Institute of India | 1 | $463,569 | |
| World Wildlife Fund, Inc. | District of Columbia | 3 | $399,492 |
| Freeland Foundation | 1 | $336,343 | |
| Traffic International | 1 | $335,498 | |
| Endangered Wildlife Trust (IT6247) | 1 | $309,315 | |
| Wildlife Conservation Society - India | 1 | $301,168 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 77% of the money, colleges and universities 6.1% and individuals 0.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 42 | $17.6 million | 77% |
| Other | 20 | $3.9 million | 17% |
| Colleges and universities | 3 | $1.4 million | 6.1% |
| Individuals | 1 | $30,785 | 0.1% |
By state
2 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are New York and Texas.