Conservation Grants Overview

Prothonotary Warbler - Photo Earl Harrison

Conservation Grant Recipients

Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Applicant Winners! These conservation projects will be funded by Columbus Audubon in 2026. We are thrilled to be supporting these exceptional projects:

Wildlife in Wetlands: A Seasonal Story Trail at Sawmill Wetlands. Organization: Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)

Bird-Friendly Westerville: Building Backyard Bird Sanctuaries and Education Outreach. Organization: Sustainable Westerville

In addition, we will be funding a project out of the Dick Tuttle Memorial Fund for the following:

Tracking the Journey: Expanding Motus Migration Monitoring Along Ohio’s I-70 Corridor. Organization: Clark State College

Thank you to everyone who applied. Our conservation grant application is available annually and will open again in the fall of 2026. 

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Columbus Audubon offers a Conservation Grant program to support the conservation of Ohio’s native bird species. Since its start in 2013, our Conservation Grants program has awarded over $40,000 in grants.

Columbus Audubon accepts a new round of competitive grant applications every fall. Those wishing to apply for a grant need to fill out a grant application.  

Purpose of Columbus Audubon Conservation Grants
The purpose of these grants is to support the conservation of Ohio’s native bird species through habitat management efforts, habitat protection (through easements or acquisition) and scientific research. Preference will be given to projects that occur within central Ohio, have an outreach component, and support National Audubon Society’s Bird-Friendly Communities initiative.

We are also looking for projects that do not primarily cover salaries, and that do not cover overhead costs. The Bird-Friendly Communities initiative is aimed at helping people to make bird-friendly lifestyle choices in their homes, backyards, and communities.

Qualifications and Additional Information

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, businesses, clubs and organizations not registered as 501(c)(3), educational institutions, and individuals. Grant requests can be made for up to $5000 for 501(c)(3)non-profit organizations and educational institutions, and up to $2500 for businesses, clubs and organizations not registered as 501(c)(3), and individuals.

Conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats has been a vital part of the mission of Columbus Audubon for over 100 years. In this spirit, Columbus Audubon offers a conservation grant program to support the conservation of Ohio’s native bird species.

The Conservation Grant Program offers financial support for innovative habitat management, habitat protection, and scientific research projects, especially in central Ohio. Funding is open to non-profit organizations, businesses, clubs, educational institutions, and individuals.

Grant proposals are now being accepted for 2027 projects. The deadline to submit is December 18, 2026.

To apply for a Columbus Audubon Conservation Grant, download and complete a grant application in Microsoft Word format.

Submit Completed Grant Application

The Conservation Grant Program is supported by fundraising efforts such as the Birdathon. To all members who support these fundraisers: thank you. Your contributions are put to good use.

You can contact the Conservation Grants Team using the form below. If you are submitting a Conservation Grant Application, please be sure to attach it.

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