Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice | 24 531

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 531

The Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) is a joint funding effort led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, designed to move conservation work beyond theory and into measurable, on-the-ground results across the United States. The core aim is to support conservation research in organismal biology, ecology, and evolution that does not stop at generating knowledge, but is intentionally built to inform and drive real conservation actions or technology-based solutions that advance biodiversity conservation. A central expectation is that proposed projects will be rooted in conservation science and carried out through genuine partnerships between academic researchers and conservation organizations, with both sides playing meaningful roles in shaping and delivering the work.

A defining feature of PACSP, and what separates it from many other NSF opportunities, is the requirement for a clear, specific connection between basic research questions and the implementation of conservation-focused activities. In other words, proposals need to show how the science being pursued directly translates into conservation decisions, interventions, or tools that can be applied in practice. The most competitive projects are expected to include ongoing evaluation of biodiversity outcomes, such as tracking changes in populations, habitat quality, ecosystem function, or other relevant conservation indicators over time. This emphasis often aligns well with adaptive management, where actions are treated as testable strategies, results are monitored, and approaches are adjusted based on what the data show. PACSP also encourages projects that take a convergent approach linking climate change or other human-driven environmental pressures with conservation goals and the health of ecosystems and organisms, reflecting the reality that biodiversity protection increasingly requires working across interconnected stressors.

Beyond scientific and conservation outcomes, PACSP expects teams to situate their work within broader societal impacts. Depending on the project, this can include engaging non-academic collaborators, connecting results to communities or stakeholders, and ensuring that the benefits of the work extend beyond the immediate research team. This is not framed as optional window dressing; it is part of the program's view that conservation is inherently applied and social, and that lasting outcomes often depend on collaboration, adoption, and relevance to real decision contexts.

Funding under PACSP is structured to support both the science and the implementation pieces of a project in a coordinated way. For proposals that are recommended for funding, NSF will support the research scope, while the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation will fund the conservation implementation component. The opportunity is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number 24-531; CFDA 47.074) within the science and technology and other research and development category. The original closing date listed is December 19, 2024, with an estimated 16 awards anticipated, although no award ceiling is specified in the provided listing.

Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to certain U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities located in the United States that are directly associated with education or research. Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education are also eligible, including two- and four-year institutions such as community colleges, applying on behalf of their faculty. If a proposal would route funding to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the applicant must clearly explain why work at the international site is beneficial and why the activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus. The listing also notes that applicants should review Paul G. Allen Family Foundation eligibility requirements, indicating that foundation participation may introduce additional fit or eligibility considerations for the conservation component.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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