African Elephant Conservation Fund (15.620)
African Elephant Conservation Fund (Assistance Listing 15.620) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $22.5 million in 54 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $416,519 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $390,833. Half of the 54 awards fell between $266,100 and $500,033, and they ranged from $46,368 to $998,696.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$22.5 million
- Grant awards54
- Typical award$390,833
- Awarded in FY 2025$17,935
- Size rank1,273 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $2.3 million in fiscal 2021 to $17,935 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1273rd largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 95% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 6 states and territories.
What the program funds
The objective of the fund is to perpetuate healthy populations of African elephants, to assist in the conservation and protection of the African elephant by supporting the conservation programs of African countries and 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
Applications may be submitted by any African government agency responsible for African elephant conservation and protection and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience in African elephant conservation.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds provided under this program support projects that will enhance programs for African elephant research, conservation, management, or protection by— (1) developing in a usable form sound scientific information on African elephant habitat condition and carrying capacity, total elephant numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality; or (2) assisting efforts to— (A) ensure that any taking of African elephants in the country is effectively controlled and monitored; (B) to implement conservation programs to provide for healthy, sustainable African elephant populations; or (C) to enhance compliance with the CITES Ivory Control System.
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.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Variable amounts. Generally, $100,000 - $250,000/year for each project.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Safeguarding elephants and strengthening community self-reliance to mitigate human-elephant conflict in the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem, Tanzania.Fiscal Year2026: No new projects were funded in FY26.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, African Elephant Conservation Fund (15.620) awarded $22.5 million across 54 grant awards, an average of $416,519 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Conservation Society | New York | 5 | $1.9 million |
| Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt Von 1858 E.V. | 5 | $1.8 million | |
| Southern Tanzania Elephant | 3 | $1.7 million | |
| Conservation Lower Zambezi | 3 | $1.6 million | |
| Frankfurt Zoological Society - U.S., Inc. | District of Columbia | 4 | $1.6 million |
| Tsavo Trust | 2 | $1.4 million | |
| Elephants Alive | 2 | $1.1 million | |
| Traffic International | 3 | $1.1 million | |
| African Parks Foundation of America | New York | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Cornell University | New York | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Big Life Limited | 2 | $1.1 million | |
| Space for Giants | 2 | $982,996 | |
| Oelo | 2 | $860,465 | |
| South Luangwa Conservation Society | 3 | $835,405 | |
| The International Wilderness Leadership Foundation Inc | Colorado | 2 | $675,683 |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources | District of Columbia | 1 | $664,951 |
| Panthera Corporation | New York | 1 | $500,044 |
| Mountains and Plains Institute for Lifelong Learning and Service Inc. | Colorado | 1 | $406,317 |
| Wild Landscapes, Inc. | Tennessee | 1 | $397,271 |
| Fauna & Flora International | 1 | $389,396 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 80% of the money, colleges and universities 6.0%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 40 | $18.0 million | 80% |
| Other | 11 | $3.1 million | 14% |
| Colleges and universities | 3 | $1.4 million | 6.0% |
By state
3 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are New York, District of Columbia and Colorado.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 11 | $4.6 million |
| District of Columbia | 6 | $2.5 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Tennessee | 1 | $397,271 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $335,124 |
| Illinois | 1 | $285,888 |