California Desert Research Fund
Preference given to projects with smaller budgets or those not previously funded by the Foundation.
Preference will be given to students enrolled at a southern California-based university while conducting their research. However, students from out-of-state institutions are also eligible for funding.
Support graduate student scientific research that contributes to the awareness and conservation of desert parks, wilderness, and other natural open spaces in the California desert areas in Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Imperial Counties.
Complete the application (found at http://www.thecommunityfoundation.net/grants/grantsSchedule.html) and submit 5 copies before the deadline.
Applications should be accompanied by:
- a letter from the supervising faculty member indicating his/her support of the proposed research, its merits for funding by the California Desert Research Fund, and the ability of the applicant to conduct the research and meet established deadlines;
- a letter from the agency or reserve site (as appropriate) authorizing use of the pertinent public lands or reserve for the proposed research; and
- a copy of current curriculum vita for the applicant(s) (two pages maximum).
Research should be in the wildlands of the California desert.
Overhead charges and/or indirect costs are not allowable.
Awardees must submit a progress report to the Community Foundation six months after the receipt of the award and a final report at the end of a year.
Because of limited funds, smaller funding requests and budgets that demonstrate an efficient use of funding will be favored.