BCFO encourages submission of proposals from groups or organizations for financial assistance for bird surveys and other ornithological research. It also wishes to foster greater connections between applicants and the society.

The BCFO has an Education & Conservation subcommittee that reviews grant applications. The Chair is Charles Helm: helm.c.w@gmail.com

The complete BCFO Grant Application Guidelines are available here.

Potential applicants are reminded that:

1. Requests for funding must be for planned, rather than completed projects.

2. Projects must be conducted within British Columbia.

3. Under normal circumstances applicants should be, or be willing to become, members of the BCFO

4. Projects and their results are to be reported in BCFO’s journal, BritishColumbia Birds, or in the newsmagazine, BC Birding

5. In order for BCFO directors to give a timely response to project proposals, deadlines for submission are January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

6. All reasonable requests up to a $2000 limit ($3000 in 2025), and within the financial strength of the organization, will be considered. Larger requests require approval at an AGM.

In addition, the following guidelines are intended to assist potential applicants in preparing their submissions to the BCFO Education and Conservation Committee. Funding decisions are reached by consensus at the discretion of the committee.

An ideal submission would:

– be of a high standard and should follow the Grant Application information on the BCFO website;

– include a statement on the conservation value of the proposed research;

– include an explanation of methodology;

– include a detailed budget outline, listing other confirmed or possible funding sources, including in-kind donations;

– describe a project that is focused and discrete in time and location, with clear start and end points (continuing, multi-year projects are generally not approved);

– be BC-based, or demonstrate a benefit to BC birds;

– indicate a willingness to publish scientific results in the peer-reviewed BCFO journal, British Columbia Birds, and/or general interest articles in the BCFO newsmagazine, BC Birding, and/or to present results to the BCFO membership during an online Zoom session;

– include a summary of how Indigenous input/collaboration will be sought, or how the project might genuinely benefit First Nations.