Wildlife and Habitat Programs

Wildlife and Habitat Programs is sponsored by Charlotte Y Martin Foundation-IMA. This program specifically funds wildlife and habitat initiatives, making it a strong fit for organizations working in direct wildlife conservation, climate, and environmental protection.

The Charlotte Martin Foundation The Charlotte Martin Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to enriching the lives of youth and preserving and protecting wildlife and habitat. To advance our mission, the Charlotte Martin Foundation focuses grantmaking in two areas. Our next open grant cycle will take place in Spring 2026; see key dates below under “Know Your Timeline.

” In early 2025 the foundation’s board members wrote a letter recommitting to our priorities; you can read it here . If you are planning to apply for a grant in any of our upcoming cycles, it may be helpful to watch the recording below of a virtual information session we held in Spring 2023. Additional recordings from 2023 and 2025 can be found on our YouTube channel , and future sessions will be announced here and on our mailing list .

Learn what we are looking for in programs that we fund. Relevance : We continually seek information regarding significant opportunities in our region and in our focus areas to ensure that we are responding to current needs and opportunities. Community Engagement : We seek to foster community engagement in protecting wildlife and habitat and in engaging youth skills to build directly on community needs and strengths.

Focus on Place : Grounded in the Northwest, we fund in urban, rural and tribal communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington where people work to improve the places that they live. Expand Opportunity : We give special consideration in our grantmaking to benefit and expand opportunities for underserved populations in our region.

In our funding of youth and wildlife, we have further refined our focus in the following areas: Increasing Opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and Rural Youth: Increasing racial equity and diversity for youth ages 6-18. BIPOC led nonprofit organizations with diverse leadership and staff are the focus of our grant-making.

Organizations based in rural communities, as well as organizations serving LGBTQIA+ youth, are also a priority for our foundation. Programs that create opportunities in areas of education, cultural expression and athletics, including but not limited to: Increasing access to and the creation of diverse cultural experiences.

Improving school-based and out-of-school learning opportunities in areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and other areas. Increasing early college awareness and access to post-secondary education. Increasing access to sports and diversifying sports programs.

Promoting Biodiversity in a Changing Climate: Conservation efforts that consider the impacts of climate change when selecting areas for protection. Engaging a community of citizens, scientists, and conservationists in educating the public about biodiversity and climate change.

Restoring important lands for biodiversity, focal species, and landscape connectivity, including but not limited to: Assessments to identify species and communities at risk, including strategies to work toward ecosystem resilience. Identification of barriers to migration and mitigation measures to enhance landscape connectivity. Adaptive restoration strategies based on predicted species range expansion and contraction.

Promoting the biodiversity of the marine and freshwater environments. Here are the steps to take to apply. Our Current Grant Deadlines: Spring 2026: Open May 1st; Close June 1st; Decisions by July 30th Stay Informed: Join our Mailing List .

Read the Youth and Wildlife and Habitat focus area descriptions Review the types of costs we do not fund Read the Frequently Asked Questions page Gather information for the application Wait until the opening date of our next funding cycle. You can save a draft of your application at any time. To return to your draft simply log back in and complete your submission at a later date.