NEBF grants from the New England Biolabs Foundation support small, community-led projects that protect landscapes, seascapes and cultural diversity. If you work with a registered nonprofit in Ghana, Cameroon, the Andes or Central America, or you are a student or young professional hoping to join one, this is a funder worth understanding.
First, an important point. NEBF grants are not scholarships. The foundation gives grants to organizations, not individuals, and its published restrictions list scholarships, fellowships and internships among the things it does not typically fund. If you want degree funding, see our guide to the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future. If you want to help fund a community conservation project, read on.
This guide explains what the foundation funds, who can apply, how the two-step process works, and how to avoid common mistakes. The information comes from the foundation’s official website as checked on 16 October 2026. Details can change, so always verify on the official site before you apply.
What Is the New England Biolabs Foundation?
The New England Biolabs Foundation (NEBF) supports community-based conservation of landscapes, seascapes and biocultural diversity. It describes itself as a small foundation that gives small grants to grassroots and community-based projects.
Some figures from its Facts and Finances page:
- 81 grant commitments in 2025
- About $1.04 million committed in 2025
- More than $18 million in small grants since 1982
Dividing the total by the number of grants gives an average of roughly $12,800 for 2025. That is my own calculation, not a figure the foundation states, and the site does not give a typical grant range or duration.
Key Benefits: What NEBF Grants Cover
- Small grants for community-based projects. The foundation does not publish a fixed minimum or maximum on the pages I could read. The 2025 average suggests grants in the low five figures, but confirm directly.
- Support for grassroots groups. Many recipients are small local organizations without large funding histories.
- Preferred approaches. The foundation highlights community-led protected area management, native-species ecological restoration, alternative livelihoods such as agroecology, and environmental education that draws on Indigenous and local traditions.
- A path to wider funding. A grant from a respected foundation helps small groups show credibility to other donors.
What NEBF does not typically fund
According to the funding restrictions page:
- Building projects, including endowments, renovations and building reserves
- Conferences and travel
- Disease-specific programs and medical research
- Private schools
- Film, video and book production
- Religious activities
- Day-to-day operating expenses
- Scholarships, fellowships and internships
- Human services organizations
Grants to individuals are not permitted.
Funding Priorities and Focus Areas
The thematic areas listed are:
- Conserving terrestrial and marine biodiversity
- Sustaining cultural and linguistic diversity
- Maintaining ecosystem services
- Supporting food sovereignty
- Sustaining healthy reefs and fisheries
On the North Shore of Massachusetts, the foundation also supports artistic expression projects that raise awareness, promote environmental protection, or foster diversity, equity and inclusion.
Where NEBF Grants Are Available
Projects must be community-based and located in the foundation’s focus areas. The foundation says it cannot consider requests from outside them.
- Central America: Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras
- Andean South America: Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador
- West Africa: Ghana and Cameroon
- United States: the North Shore of Massachusetts
For West Africa, the site names target landscapes: in Ghana, the Weto Landscape and Togo Plateau (in the southern part of the Togo-Atakora Mountains) and the Black Volta Basin in the Upper West region, and in Cameroon, the highland landscapes of Southwest Cameroon. Check the West Africa page to see whether your project area fits.
Who Are NEBF Grants For? (Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Students)
The foundation funds nonprofit organizations, so students apply indirectly. Here is how each group can realistically take part.
Undergraduate students. You cannot apply as an individual. You can volunteer or intern with a local conservation nonprofit, learn how grant-funded projects work, and help the organization prepare its inquiry. Note that NEBF does not fund internships as such, so you would be helping your organization, not receiving funding.
Graduate and master’s students. You can work with a registered nonprofit in a focus region, for instance by helping design a community project, collect baseline data or write the inquiry. The organization applies, not you personally.
Postgraduate and PhD students. If your fieldwork is in Ghana, Cameroon, the Andes or Central America, you can partner with a community-based group that applies. The foundation’s published restrictions say it does not fund medical research or disease-specific programs, and its emphasis is on community-based action rather than academic research alone.
Early-career professionals and community leaders. If you run or work for a nonprofit in the focus regions, you are the core audience. If you don’t have an organization, think about whether you could form or join one before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Based on the foundation’s published pages. Confirm on the current official pages before applying.
Who can apply
- Nonprofit organizations that hold charitable status in their respective countries
- Organizations that operate on a not-for-profit basis and pursue a mission that benefits local communities
- Not individuals, since grants to individuals are not permitted
What kind of project
- Community-based and located in one of the focus areas listed above
- Aligned with the thematic priorities (biodiversity, cultural and linguistic diversity, ecosystem services, food sovereignty, reefs and fisheries)
- Not in the “not typically funded” categories
Process rules
- Submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) first
- Do not submit a full proposal unless staff invite you. The site is explicit on this
- If your proposal is denied, you may submit a new request one year after the original application date
What I could not confirm
I could not read the Step 1 (LOI) and Step 2 (proposal) pages, the funding-restriction details on indirect costs, or the rules on fiscal sponsors and universities. The restrictions page does not address them, so ask the foundation before assuming either way.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
The process has two stages, and you cannot skip the first.
Step 1: Check your fit
Confirm that your organization has charitable status, your project is community-based, and it sits in one of the focus countries or regions. Then check the “not typically funded” list.
Tip: If you’re unsure about your location or project type, email the foundation before drafting. Their contact email is info@nebf.org.
Step 2: Read the Step 1 LOI guidelines
The foundation publishes LOI guidelines on its How to Apply pages. I couldn’t access the details, so read them carefully on the official site.
Tip: Treat the guidelines as your checklist. Answer exactly what is asked, in the order it is asked.
Step 3: Submit your letter of inquiry within the LOI window
Letters of inquiry are accepted only during set windows (see the timeline below). Submission goes through the foundation’s online grant portal.
Tip: Don’t submit on the final day. Portals can be slow, and an internet failure in Accra or Yaoundé shouldn’t cost you the round.
Step 4: Wait for staff feedback
LOI decisions are sent at least one month before the proposal deadline. Only invited applicants should submit a full proposal.
Step 5: Submit a full proposal (invited applicants only)
If staff invite you, you will complete the Step 2 proposal by the published deadline.
Tip: Use staff feedback from the LOI stage. If they asked you to clarify the community role or narrow the scope, show clearly that you did.
Step 6: Board review and decision
Directors meet twice a year to review proposals, and applicants are notified of decisions shortly afterward.
Step 7: If funded
The site has a “Next Steps If Funded” page covering what happens after an award. Read it before you apply so you know the reporting expectations.
Ready to apply? Apply for NEBF grants here
Required Documents Checklist
The exact LOI and proposal requirements are on the foundation’s Step 1 and Step 2 pages, which I could not read in full. Based on what the foundation states and what is typical for small-grant LOIs, get these ready:
- Proof of your organization’s charitable or nonprofit status in your country
- A clear description of the community, location and landscape or seascape involved
- A project summary with goals, activities and expected results
- An outline budget (direct project costs, not day-to-day operating expenses)
- Details about your organization’s mission, leadership and track record
- A portal account for the online application
- Contact details for a staff member who will check email regularly
Treat this as a starting list, then compare it with the official guidelines.
Important Deadlines and Timeline
The foundation currently lists two rounds:
| Round | LOIs accepted | Proposal deadline (invited only) | Funding decision by |
| Round 1 | 15 Nov 2026 to 8 Jan 2027 | 15 Feb 2027 | 30 Apr 2027 |
| Round 2 | 15 Jun to 15 Jul 2027 | 2 Sep 2027 | 1 Nov 2027 |
- Round 1 opens in about a month. As of 16 October 2026, you have time to prepare.
- Round 2 is marked “UPDATED” on the site, so check it again closer to the date.
- The 2026 round is closed. The page says there was only one round in 2026, so don’t assume the number of rounds stays fixed.
- The site does not state a time zone for the LOI deadline. Submit at least a day early.
- LOI decisions arrive at least one month before the proposal deadline.
- Reapplying after a denial is allowed one year after the original application date.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying as an individual. Grants to individuals are not permitted.
- Treating it as a scholarship or internship fund. These are explicitly excluded.
- Submitting a full proposal without an invitation. The foundation says not to.
- Applying from outside the focus areas. The foundation cannot consider these requests.
- Asking for operating costs, buildings, conferences or travel. These are not typically funded.
- Writing a research proposal instead of a community project. The emphasis is on community-based action.
- Missing proof of charitable status.
- Waiting until the last day of the LOI window.
- Reapplying too soon after a denial.
- Vague community role. Say who in the community does what.
Insider Tips to Improve Your Chances
These are practical suggestions, not official rules.
- Put the community first. Show that local people are leading the work and making decisions, not just receiving benefits.
- Name the landscape. If you work in the Weto Landscape or the Black Volta Basin in Ghana, or in highland Southwest Cameroon, say so specifically.
- Match the preferred approaches. Community-led protected area management, native-species restoration, agroecology and culturally grounded education are all named by the foundation.
- Keep it small and focused. This is a small foundation, so a lean, realistic budget will look more credible than an oversized one.
- Show how culture and nature connect. The foundation’s focus on biocultural diversity means language, tradition and knowledge matter alongside ecology.
- Explain what happens after the grant. Funders like projects that can continue without constant outside support.
- Contact staff early. The process is designed around conversation, with staff reviewing LOIs before inviting proposals.
- Look at Recent Grants. The foundation lists recent awards on its website. Study the size and style of funded projects.
- Use the waiting time well. While you prepare, see our guides to Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants and TDARFAC grants for other conservation funders.
Frequently Asked Questions About NEBF Grants
Are NEBF grants scholarships?
No. They are grants to nonprofit organizations. The foundation lists scholarships, fellowships and internships among things it does not typically fund.
Can individuals apply?
No. Grants to individuals are not permitted.
Who can apply?
Organizations that hold charitable status in their country, operate on a not-for-profit basis and pursue a mission that benefits local communities.
Which countries are eligible?
Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras; Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador; Ghana and Cameroon; and the North Shore of Massachusetts. The foundation cannot consider requests from outside these areas.
How much can I get?
The foundation does not state a typical range on the pages I could read. It gave about 81 grants totaling $1.04 million in 2025, an average of roughly $12,800. Confirm directly.
How long do grants last?
Not stated on the pages I could read.
Can a student apply?
Not as an individual. Students can help a nonprofit prepare an application or work on a funded project.
Can universities apply?
The restrictions page doesn’t state this. Ask the foundation.
Do I submit a full proposal straight away?
No. Submit a letter of inquiry first. Only submit a full proposal if staff invite you.
How many rounds are there?
Two are listed for 2027. The page says there was only one round in 2026, so this can change.
What if I’m denied?
You may submit a new request one year after the original application date.
How do I contact the foundation?
By email at info@nebf.org, by phone at +1 978-998-7990, or by mail at 240 County Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
NEBF grants won’t pay your tuition, and they aren’t for individuals. But if you are part of a community-based nonprofit in Ghana, Cameroon, the Andes or Central America, they offer a rare chance to get recognized funding for locally led conservation.
Before Round 1 opens:
- Confirm your organization’s charitable status.
- Check your project against the focus countries and the “not typically funded” list.
- Read the official LOI guidelines carefully.
- Draft your inquiry early and get feedback from someone outside your project.
- Submit well before the LOI window closes.
Ready to start? Apply for NEBF grants here
If you’re not invited this time, use the experience to strengthen your idea and try again. A clear, community-led plan is valuable whatever the outcome.
A note from the author: This guide is based on the New England Biolabs Foundation’s official website as of 16 October 2026. Deadlines, rounds, priorities and requirements can change, and I may have missed updates. Please double-check everything on the official website before you apply.