Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants support local people who are solving environmental, farming and public health problems in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. If you are a student, researcher or early-career professional from one of those regions, and you are part of an NGO, a university team or a community group with a practical project, these grants could be a real source of seed funding.
Before going further, you should know this is not a scholarship. The foundation does not pay tuition or scholarships, and individuals are not generally listed as eligible applicants. Grants go mainly to organizations. If you want a degree scholarship, see our guides to the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future or the Harvard LEAD Fellowship. If you want to fund a project, keep reading.
This guide covers what the foundation funds, who can apply, how the two-step process works, and how to avoid the mistakes that sink most applications. 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 applying.
What Are Conservation, Food & Health Foundation Grants?
The foundation (often shortened to CFH Foundation) says its mission is to protect the environment, improve food production and promote public health in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East.
It funds applied research, pilot projects, new initiatives, training and technical assistance. It generally does not fund programs that are already running. It prefers under-funded issues and places, and aims to give seed money that helps grantees attract larger funders later.
Its priorities across all areas include projects that can advance the field, build local capacity, be replicated elsewhere, influence public opinion and policy, and benefit people beyond the immediate project.
Key Benefits: What the Grants Cover
- Project funding. There is no fixed minimum or maximum. The foundation says most grants are expected to fall between $25,000 and $50,000 per year.
- One- or two-year grants. Second-year funding depends on a satisfactory progress report, an interim financial report and a work plan.
- Seed money. The goal is to help you prove your approach so you can attract bigger funding.
- Direct project costs. Budgets should include direct costs only. The foundation prefers local expenses and may cover a small share of travel if it is integral and reasonable.
- Early-career research support (rare). The FAQ says the foundation prefers to fund research costs for early-career or emerging professionals from low- and middle-income countries who work on priority issues and show leadership potential. It describes these as relatively rare.
What is not covered
- Overhead and indirect costs
- General operating support
- Buildings, large equipment, water systems, pumps, wells and other capital projects
- Humanitarian aid, missionary work and direct social services (such as feeding programs)
- Microenterprise, ecotourism, economic development and livelihood projects
- Publications and media
- Social science research (the focus is applied natural and health sciences)
- Primary medical care at clinics or hospitals
- Tuition, scholarships and university student training
- Expenses incurred before the grant is awarded
Who Are These Grants For? (Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Students)
The foundation funds organizations, so your route depends on your stage.
Undergraduate students. You can’t apply as an individual. But you can contribute to a project run by a university department, a student-led NGO or a community organization. Volunteering with a local conservation or health group now builds experience for later.
Graduate and master’s students. You may be able to be part of a project led by a university or research institution (colleges, universities and academic institutions are listed as eligible organizations). Talk to your supervisor about whether your fieldwork could fit a pilot project with a clear local benefit. Note that the foundation does not offer training support for university students or fund tuition.
Postgraduate and PhD students, and early-career researchers. This group has the clearest opening. The FAQ mentions research funding for early-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries working on priority issues with leadership potential, though it calls such grants relatively rare. Be realistic and contact the foundation to ask how this works.
Community leaders and NGO founders. If you run or work for an NGO, a community-based organization or a coalition, you are the core audience. Note that the foundation does not fund start-up organizations with limited track records.
Eligibility Criteria
The list below is drawn from the official guidelines and FAQs. Confirm against the current guidelines before applying.
Who can apply
- Most organizations that can show non-governmental status or a charitable purpose, including NGOs, nonprofits, civil society and community-based organizations, and colleges, universities and academic institutions
- Local, state and regional organizations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East
- Organizations in upper-income countries, if they work with local partners in those regions
- Government agencies and religious organizations may be project partners but cannot receive direct funding
Where
- Projects must be based in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Middle East.
- Post-Soviet states and Balkan states are not supported.
Project type
- Applied research, pilots, new initiatives, training and technical assistance in conservation, food or health
- Projects that generate local or regional solutions, advance local leadership and professional development in the sciences, build local organizational capacity, and address real challenges in the field
- Projects with impact beyond one village; projects with mainly local impact are not funded
- Project outputs, including intellectual property, should be public, not for private gain
Limits
- One concept application per organization per funding round (and the guidelines say one proposal per organization per calendar year)
- A grant cannot exceed 25% of your organization’s total operating budget
- Proposals must be in English
- Applications go through the online portal only. Fax and email are not accepted
The Three Program Areas
Conservation
Biodiversity protection and natural resource preservation, climate change mitigation, building the scientific and technical capacity of local conservation groups, engagement among scientists, communities and decision-makers, and partnership with indigenous communities.
Food
Sustainable agriculture, small-scale farmer capacity, farmer-led research, affordable pest and disease control for important local crops, indigenous food sovereignty and knowledge systems, and new extension, education and technology-transfer methods.
Health
Special emphasis on reproductive health and family planning, integrated with other health promotion. The foundation favors community-level prevention and strengthening public health systems over clinical care. It also covers mental and behavioral health, pollution and environmental health, zoonotic and neglected tropical diseases, and nutrition.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
The foundation uses a two-phase system: a short concept application, followed by a full proposal for invited applicants only.
Step 1: Check that your project fits
Match your idea to one of the three program areas and test it against the “not funded” list. Does it have impact beyond one community? Is it applied, not purely social science? Is the budget direct costs only?
Tip: If your plan includes building a well, a clinic or a training course for farmers, rethink it.
Step 2: Check your organization
Do you have a track record? Is the grant under 25% of your operating budget? Are you an NGO, community group, university or similar? If you’re a student, identify the organization you’ll apply through.
Tip: Don’t invent an organization at the last minute. The foundation says it does not fund start-ups with limited track records.
Step 3: Preview the concept questions
The How to Apply page links to the concept application questions so you can read them in advance.
Tip: Draft answers in a separate document first. Portals can time out.
Step 4: Register on the online portal
Sign in or create an account. Applicants without a U.S. tax ID are told to enter 12-1234567 as the Tax ID, because the system doesn’t accept international tax numbers.
Tip: Register days before the deadline, not hours.
Step 5: Enter the access code and start the application
From your dashboard, click “Apply” and enter the access code CFHgrants. The site says no code is emailed automatically. If you have applied before, click “Applied” to apply again.
Step 6: Submit your concept application
Only one application per review cycle. If a deadline falls on a weekend or U.S. holiday, it moves to the next business day.
Tip: Make the concept clear to a non-specialist: the problem, your approach, who benefits, why your team, and how the work will spread beyond the project.
Step 7: Wait for the decision on a full proposal
The foundation says you will be notified within a month of the concept deadline whether you are invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 8: Submit the full proposal (if invited)
The full proposal is due about a month after invitation (see the timeline below). Fax and email are not accepted.
Step 9: Receive the award and report
If funded, you will receive reporting templates with the grant letter. Interim and final reports are required.
Ready to apply? Apply for the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants here
Required Documents Checklist
The concept stage mainly consists of answering online questions. The full proposal guidelines list the exact attachments, which can change yearly. Be prepared with:
- Answers to the concept application questions, written in English
- Your organization’s details: legal or charitable status, mission and track record
- Your portal account and the tax ID entry (12-1234567 if you don’t have a U.S. number)
- A direct-costs-only budget (no overhead or indirect costs)
- A clear statement of project goals, timeline, local partners and expected results
- For full proposals: the forms and attachments listed in the current guidelines
- For reapplicants: the full form and all attachments again, because reviewers may not remember past work
I could not confirm the full attachment list, so check the current proposal guidelines.
Important Deadlines and Timeline
The foundation runs two cycles a year. The website lists dates without years, so confirm the exact year on the site.
| Milestone | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 |
| Online application opens | October 15 | May 1 |
| Concept application deadline | December 22 | June 15 |
| Proposal invitation issued | January 15 | July 15 |
| Full proposal deadline | February 15 | August 15 |
| Grant awards | July 1 | December 1 |
- Today is 16 October 2026, so the October to December window has just opened. If the dates repeat this year, you have until 22 December.
- Weekend and holiday deadlines move to the next U.S. business day.
- Inconsistency to note: the How to Apply page says awards come on July 1 and December 1, while the FAQ mentions payouts in June and December. Verify which applies.
- No decision date is given for the full proposal stage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying as an individual for tuition or a scholarship. The foundation doesn’t fund these.
- Proposing something on the “not funded” list: wells, buildings, livelihood projects, basic farmer training, ecotourism or direct aid.
- Including overhead. Indirect costs are not funded.
- Asking for too much. The grant can’t exceed 25% of your operating budget.
- Being a start-up with no track record.
- Submitting more than one application in a cycle.
- Making the project too local. Show how it can be replicated or influence policy.
- Skipping the preview questions.
- Missing the portal details (tax ID, access code).
- Leaving it to the last day.
Insider Tips to Improve Your Chances
These are practical suggestions, not official rules.
- Lead with the problem and the gap. The foundation prefers under-funded issues and places. Explain why your issue or region is overlooked.
- Show local leadership. The guidelines stress local solutions, local capacity and professional development.
- Think “seed money.” Explain how this grant will lead to bigger funding.
- Build in replication and policy impact. Say who else could copy your work.
- Keep the budget lean and direct.
- Make the output public. The foundation expects intellectual property to be shared.
- Partner up. A university plus a community group can combine credibility and local reach.
- Ask early. For early-career research funding, contact the foundation through its site to check fit.
- Read the reporting rules so you know the commitments before you apply.
- Explore other opportunities while preparing, such as our D-Prize Challenge guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants scholarships?
No. They fund projects, mostly through organizations. The foundation does not pay tuition or scholarships.
Can individuals apply?
Individuals are not generally listed as eligible applicants. The FAQ mentions rare research funding for early-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries. Ask the foundation about it.
How much can I get?
There’s no fixed minimum or maximum. Most grants are expected to be $25,000 to $50,000 per year, and cannot exceed 25% of your organization’s total operating budget.
How long do grants last?
Usually one year, with two-year grants available.
Which countries are eligible?
Projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. Post-Soviet and Balkan states are not supported.
Can universities apply?
Yes. Colleges, universities and academic institutions are listed as eligible organizations.
Can a student apply?
Not as an individual for tuition. Students can take part through an eligible organization or project.
Do I need a U.S. tax ID?
No. Applicants without one enter 12-1234567.
What language?
English only.
How many applications?
One concept application per organization per round.
Can I apply by email?
No. Use the online portal only.
What happens after the concept application?
You should hear within a month whether you’re invited to submit a full proposal.
Can I reapply?
Yes. Grantees may request continued funding, but they must reapply competitively with the full form and attachments.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants aren’t for everyone, but if you have a practical, locally led project that fits conservation, food or health, they are worth a serious look.
This week:
- Read the current guidelines and the “not funded” list.
- Confirm your organization or partner is eligible and has a track record.
- Preview the concept questions and draft your answers.
- Create your portal account early.
- Submit before the concept deadline.
Ready to start? Apply for the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation grants here
If you don’t get invited this round, use the feedback and the next cycle to strengthen your case. A clear, well-evidenced project plan is useful whatever happens.
A note from the author: This guide is based on the foundation’s official website as of 16 October 2026. Deadlines, guidelines, forms and eligibility rules can change, and I may have missed updates. Please double-check everything on the official site and in the current guidelines before you apply. Good luck.