Disney Conservation Fund

Disney Conservation Fund supports organizations working with communities to save wildlife, inspire action, and protect the planet. Since 1995, Disney Conservation has directed more than USD 141 million and the expertise of its teams toward conservation efforts. The Protect, Connect and Restore Corridors and Migratory Pathways grant opportunity is the fund's only open call for conservation-related funding proposals in 2026 and offers two-year grants for community-based work involving wildlife corridors or migratory pathways across terrestrial, aquatic, and ocean habitats. The opportunity supports two funding categories. Protection, Connection, and Restoration grants support efforts to protect, connect, and/or restore wildlife corridors or migratory pathways, including air, land, and water or ocean-based corridors, with a maximum request of USD 150,000 for a two-year term. Innovation grants support new technologies or approaches that advance protection, connection, or restoration, including innovations in habitat or wildlife monitoring and community engagement in conservation, with a maximum request of USD 50,000 for a two-year term. Funds should support strategies and operations associated with the corridor or pathway program presented in the application and may also support general organizational operations consistent with the funder's stated restrictions. The fund prefers no more than 25 percent of grant funds to be directed toward overhead. Salaries, tuition, benefits, travel, infrastructure, reasonable conservation-focused media work, and justified ex-situ components may be considered. Funding may not be used to benefit a Government Official directly or indirectly or to influence an act or decision by a Government Official. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with United States 501(c)(3) status or must apply through a valid United States 501(c)(3) intermediary collaborator. Organizations must meet The Walt Disney Company global charitable giving guidelines and must lead projects or programs focused on protecting, connecting, and/or restoring wildlife corridors or migratory pathways. Organizations must have been established for at least one year and must have annual income that equals or exceeds the requested grant amount for at least the last year. Non-United States organizations are eligible only through a United States 501(c)(3) intermediary partner. Organizations with an active Disney Conservation Fund grant may submit a different project if they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements. Each organization may submit a maximum of three inquiries, while a United States 501(c)(3) intermediary may support up to three submissions per non-United States organization. Applicants first submit an inquiry through the CyberGrants platform using Bonterra Nonprofit Hub credentials and invitation code DCF2026. An invitation is not required for the inquiry stage. Inquiries were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, UTC-4:00, on May 23, 2026. The most competitive inquiries were to be invited in early July 2026 to submit a full proposal, with invited full applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, UTC-4:00, on August 1, 2026. A detailed budget is required as part of the application process, and United States organizations provide a W-9. Submission of a W-8 by non-United States organizations is optional for 2026. Late proposals are not considered, and Disney Conservation Fund or CyberGrants support is not available after 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the full-application deadline. Applications are reviewed by Disney employees with relevant expertise. Priority consideration is given to programs proposing feasible activities and effective, ethical science over the two-year period, with evidence of scientific rigor, impact evaluation plans, relevant collaborations, additional funding sources, required permits, and appropriate alignment with current conservation guidance. Programs should involve local people in decisions, conservation efforts, and benefits through Free and Informed Prior Consent or a similar approach where applicable. The fund also prioritizes conservation of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species and their habitats, alignment with Disney priorities, and appropriate animal welfare practices. Locations are considered globally, with priority given to regions where The Walt Disney Company has business operations such as offices, theme parks, resorts, or tours. Grant decisions and distributions are scheduled for December 2026. Each award has a two-year term, with a final report due in December 2028, with the exact date available in CyberGrants. Grantees are expected to report tangible outcomes related to species and/or habitat protection, connection, restoration, and other relevant project outcomes, and an expenditure report is required at the end of the grant term. Storytelling updates and resources may also be requested ahead of Earth Month each spring. Questions about eligibility, Disney priorities, application status changes, or account issues may be directed to Disney.conservation@disney.com. The source does not establish a recurring annual application cycle for this specific opportunity; future Disney Conservation Fund opportunities are described as being in development and will be posted as available.

Prioritize feasible activities, effective and ethical science, scientific rigor, measurable impact, relevant collaborations, additional funding sources, permits where applicable, community co-development, endangered or threatened species and habitat conservation, and appropriate animal welfare practices. Align with current connectivity, rewilding, or reintroduction guidance where relevant. Priority is given to locations aligned with Disney business operations. Keep overhead preferably at or below 25 percent, justify large-cost items, and consider the recommended USD 5,000 travel budget for possible capacity-building participation.