Grants

If your expedition is sponsored by the CES, we can assist you with grant applications and administering the funds. As a 501(c)(3), grants awarded to the CES are generally exempt from Federal tax. The CES does not charge a fee to administer grants.

Carefully read the requirements for each grant. Links will take you away from the CES website.

Grants from caving organizations - Possibly the easiest to get, especially without non-profit status.

Your local grotto – Just ask. (the Boston Grotto will fund donation requests from it's members for non-recreational caving trips.)

NSS – At least 11 different grants are available.  The NSS has funded The CES expedition in Cuba and Turkey.

International Union of Speleology (UIS) – up to 600 Euro grants are available. The UIS has sponsored the CES’s Cuba expedition.

National Speleological Foundation - “The National Speleological Foundation provides a number of grants annually to promote the acquisition, study, and protection of caves and their contents.”

Cave Conservancy Foundation - “The Cave Conservancy Foundation awards grants for the study of environment projects, public awareness of caves and karst lands primarily in the areas outside of Virginia and West Virginia. The deadline for major grants is March 1st and October 1st.”

Dogwood City Grotto - “The DCG is soliciting grant proposals from any non-profit caving group, organization, or individual, all of which will be given careful consideration.”

The Robertson Association - “We encourage and support 501(c)(3) organizations that represent these interests and offer grants to qualifying organizations to support their projects that further support speleology.” TRA has awarded The CES and John Fioroni grants to purchase a DistoX and for dye tracing the resurgence of Morca Cave, Turkey, respectively.

The Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc (SCCi) - “SCCi accepts grant proposals from non-profit caving groups, scientists, university/college faculty members, and undergraduate-graduate students for conducting research projects at SCCi properties. Funds can only be given to a not-for-profit organization or educational institution. For this year (2019), funding is available to support as many as 3 grants of up to $1,500-$2,000 for (1) geology, geochemistry, or hydrology, (2) biology (zoology and botany) and (3) environmental/archaeological projects.”

Cleveland Grotto Science Fund - “Each year, the Cleveland Grotto (NSS-005) makes available grants for cave-related projects. The Grotto anticipates making three to six grants of various amounts to projects by members of NSS-affiliated grottoes.”

Virginia Cave Conservancy (CVV) - “The CCV funds a variety of projects, including education and outreach endeavors, cave and sinkhole cleanups, purchase of significant properties for protection, original research on the archaeology, biology, geology, hydrology and sociology of cave and karst systems, among others. Grant proposals must be submitted by a project leader through a 501(c)3 or other tax-exempt, non-profit organizations, although the project leader need not be officially affiliated with the organization, such as an office holder or an employee, for example.”

Other sources of funding - These may require non-profit status.

Your or your spouse’s employer – According to Charities.org, 65% of large corporations match an employee’s charitable contribution. Companies may offer a Volunteer Grant Program. Double the Donation explains the details. My wife works for a pharmaceutical company where they match dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per year, offer volunteer 2 grant programs and give two paid days of leave to volunteer at a non-profit. Your HR department can tell you if your company has similar programs.

Target – “To be considered, please provide your request on formal letterhead with your EIN. Public agencies (i.e. public schools, public libraries, etc.) will need to provide a Government Affirmation letter or other IRS-provided letter. Gift card donations are available Feb-Dec, as funding permits. An average donation is $25-50 with the maximum donation of $500 per year, per agency. Target does not donate merchandise. Stores typically take up to 30 days to review and respond with an approval or decline.”

Your local Costco - Provide your request on letterhead with your EIN, and name of the Costco card member. Bring a copy of your non-profit determination letter. Costco reviews donation requests once a month and gives gift cards; $25 denomination only, I think

Petzl Foundation - “The Petzl Foundation has been serving our mountain and vertical access communities that have enabled the company to grow and prosper worldwide. Our priorities are accident prevention, conservation and scientific research.”