The program provides grants of up to about $25,000 per project per year for conservation, stewardship, and research initiatives that focus on coastal US Arctic ecology, community sustainability, and priority Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, ice seals, belugas, bowhead whales, and Arctic seabirds in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas and adjacent coastal areas. Grants are intended to address community concerns and achieve meaningful outcomes for the conservation of Arctic wildlife and the people who depend on them.
Those interested in utilizing these funds are encouraged to apply at any time. The application process has been streamlined and designed to accommodate a variety of communication styles to ensure that prior experience with proposal-writing will not be a limiting factor for any applicant.
Projects are intended to have a 1-year duration and must demonstrate the following, in one of the target geographies mentioned above:
- tangible outcomes for ecosystems, wildlife, or their habitats
- involvement and relevance to Alaskan coastal communities
- relevance to WWF's Arctic conservation priorities, as outlined in regularly updated calls for proposals
The ACWG program is open to US-based applicants from all backgrounds and fields, including community groups, Tribal councils, co-management bodies, governments, universities, independent research entities, and non-governmental organizations. We value diversity and welcome applications from all on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed quarterly.
To apply, download and fill out this form, and then email it to ACWG@wwfus.org or fax it to 907-921-7554. Alternatively, you can apply online here.