Supplemental Funding Opportunities
In addition to the core research and travel funds provided through the Fellowship, Smith Fellows (including alumni!) have access to several supplemental funding opportunities to enhance their professional development, collaboration, and community impact. These optional funds are designed to support creative, Fellow-driven initiatives that strengthen the Smith network and advance the program’s mission.
Broadening Participation
The Broadening Participation Initiative supports Fellows in designing and leading projects that expand access to conservation science and practice. These Fellow-driven projects are intended to spark awareness of conservation career opportunities, provide mentorship and connection, and open doors for individuals or communities who have historically faced barriers to participation in the field. Fellows are encouraged to collaborate with one another, and to think creatively about how to use these funds: whether through community workshops, mentoring partnerships, field experiences, storytelling projects, or by engaging others directly in aspects of their research. The key goal is to create meaningful, equitable opportunities for people who might not otherwise have them, while also providing Fellows with an opportunity to strengthen their own leadership and outreach skills.
Regional Meetups
The Regional Meet-Ups Fund helps Fellows and alumni build and sustain connections within the Smith network through place-based gatherings. These events foster collaboration, peer learning, and community among alumni living or working in the same region or sharing similar interests. Fellows and alumni may use these funds to organize events such as mini-retreats, field excursions, conference panels, or informal meet-ups. In addition to funding, the program provides logistical and organizing support to help make these events a reality. The goal of these funds is to strengthen the sense of community across the Smith network and to create space for Fellows to connect, collaborate, and support one another beyond the two year Fellowship.
Explore Projects
Group Projects
The Group Projects Fund supports collaborative efforts among Fellows that advance applied conservation through shared inquiry and innovation. Fellows are encouraged to pursue projects that build on common interests, strengthen partnerships, and generate tangible products or outcomes that contribute to the broader field of conservation science and practice. We have a repository of alumni projects and anticipate that exciting ideas will arise naturally among Fellows with common research interests. In addition to providing funding, we foster this synergy by providing opportunities for meaningful collaborative work during retreats. While the form of the collaborations is open, they generally fall into two major categories: focused projects undertaken by a few Fellows, and large synthetic group projects that often span cohorts. Past projects have ranged from co-authored research papers and symposia to art installations, to collective blogs, reflecting the breadth of creativity and impact within the Smith Fellows network.
Conference Outreach
Conference outreach funding is intended to expand reach of the Smith Fellows program through connecting with prospective applicants, mentors, and reviewers across a variety of disciplines at niche conferences without a staff presence. It is also intended to provide career support and opportunities for current and alumni Fellows. This funding is available to Fellows who both: (a) host office hours for prospective applicants or mentors, AND (b) lead/collaborate on a workshop, interactive session, symposium, or solutions expo on the research-to-practice gap or innovation in conservation solutions.