Small Grants

Overview

WWF-India’s Conservation Catalyst Programme (CCP) awards grants to grassroots organizations and individuals focusing on lesser-known species and habitats. The CCP grant is a catalytic force for addressing pressing issues, such as human-wildlife conflict, conservation of neglected species, and the sustainability of conservation organisations. It goes beyond providing financial support. WWF-India builds capacity for project design, strengthens fundraising, policy and communications capabilities, provides training in topics like stakeholder engagement, and creates peer networks for frontline, grassroots conservationists.

Financial Support

Up to INR 6 lakh/year

Mentorship

Guidance in communications, leadership, networking and fundraising

Goals

Bespoke support in project implementation, assistance in organisational development

Check Back Later for Updates

The grant cycle will reopen next January and will remain open for a month. Applications for the 2026-27 cycle of the programme are now closed.

Stay tuned to this website and WWF-India’s social media handles for updates.

Value Added by WWF-India

Fundraising Support

7 awardees have received additional funding after CCP

In-person Training

Capacity building workshop, camera trap training, camera trap installation

Mentoring

Over 50 project design virtual sessions conducted. Providing internal and external mentors

Capital Assets

50 camera traps provided to CCP awardees!

Communication

Partnership with greenhub: 6 documentaries commissioned

Grassroot Network Established

Network of over 50 people working in grassroot conservation created

Policy Support

15 land-use and impact maps being made by WWF-India for awardees. Meetings with Forest department for policy support

Grant Applications

CCP application opens. You need to fill a simple form to apply.
If selected for the first shortlist, we will ask you for more details on your project. This will include a project budget.
You may be called for an online interaction or interview.
Winners (typically 6-10 grantees per year) will be announced.

Grassroots organizations in India
Projects should focus on lesser-known species and/or habitats, or innovative conservation approaches
We do award exceptional individuals, but organizations are preferred
We do not award very large organizations. This grant is meant for small to medium organizations.

The CCP grant application window typically opens once a year, in January. The opening of the grant is advertised on WWF-India’s social-media platforms and this website. Due to the large number of applications usually received, it is impossible for the team to reply to each applicant. WWF-India reaches out only to the shortlisted applicants.

Current Grantees

2026-27

Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade

Protecting the Malabar Gliding Frog breeding sites in Goa

Andaman Conservancy Foundation

Conserving the Theeklo Stream in Webi Village (Middle Andaman), revered by the Karen community

Kanniyakumari Nature Foundation

Conservation of the grizzled giant squirrel and their dreys in Sirumalai, Tamil Nadu.

Bonding with Animals & Nature Foundation

Saving migratory birds in wetlands of 24 Parganas and Nadia in West Bengal

Kulesh Bhandari

Creating ‘food forests’ in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand

Projects Made Possible

2025-26

Society for Eco-Restoration and Livelihood (SEAL)

Conservation of the Yellow-breasted Bunting: Reviving the breeding grounds and habitat of the Yellow-breasted Bunting, a threatened and lesser-known avian species, in the wetland areas of Ikop pat, Manipur

International Border Area Peoples Welfare Organisation (IBAPWO): Protecting Pangolins along the Indo-Myanmar Border

Implementing community-driven efforts towards the conservation of pangolins, which are threatened by trafficking along the Indo-Myanmar International Border Region, Nagaland

Golden Earth Bioprreserve Foundation (GEBF)

Restoration of the Grassland Habitat of Dhule: Conserving the grassland and scrubland habitats of Dhule, Maharashtra, which support vulnerable species including Indian Wolf, Indian Hyena, and Lesser Florican

Social Awareness and Development Organisation for Women (SAADOW)

Slender Loris Conservation Project: Habitat revitalization of the Slender Loris in the Karanthamalai and Mundamalai Hills of the Eastern Ghats, a nocturnal primate species facing threats due to canopy-cover loss, human-wildlife conflict, and anthropogenic pollution

Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA): Conserving Endemic and Endangered Flora of Pachgani Tableland

Conservation efforts towards protecting and reviving the endemic and endangered flora species of the lateritic rock outcrop of Pachgani tableland, Maharashtra, which face threats due to overtourism and habitat degradation

EcoSanskriti: Himalayan Serow Conservation Project

Community-based approach to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and habitat degradation for protection of the Himalayan Serow around Dharkot, Uttarakhand

Jignasu Dolia: King Cobra Conservation Project

Monitoring and conserving the King Cobra in the forests of Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand, which often have their nesting sites close to human habitation

What Our Grantees Say

Arkajyoti Mukherjee

WINGS, West Bengal

“With support from WWF-India under the CCP initiative, we launched the first species-specific conservation project in South Bengal focused on the vulnerable Indian grey wolf in Paschim Bardhaman. The project led to the identification of three wolf packs and two key movement corridors, generating crucial ecological insights for the region. Building on this success, our organization was subsequently awarded the The Habitats Trust Action Grant and the Wildlife Conservation Trust BEES Grant. The CCP project served as a strong foundation for establishing our organization’s credibility in focused, science-based conservation action.”

FAQS

The duration is one and a half year.

We provide limited repeat grants for exceptional candidates.

This grant is meant for small and grassroots organizations. If you are a large NGO (with an annual budget above INR 60 lakh), large national organization or an academic affiliated with a large organization, then this grant may not be for you.