Colorado Field Ornithologists is devoted to the study, conservation, and enjoyment of Colorado's birds. Since 1999, CFO annually funds research and conservation projects that will have a lasting benefit to Colorado birds and the habitats upon which they rely. CFO also provides scholarships for youth and students to attend scientific conferences or birding camps to promote the education of the next generation of bird enthusiasts, researchers, and conservationists.
Research Grants
CFO makes grants to individuals or organizations to fund programs and projects that will have a lasting benefit to Colorado birds, and the habitats upon which they rely. CFO provides grants for projects up to $2000. CFO grants can either fund a full project or be applied as matching funds for larger grants benefitting Colorado birds.
Eligibility: CFO grants are open to individuals and organizations that fit the following criteria:
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- Conducting avian research in Colorado or species that use habitat in Colorado for either breeding or migrating.
Limitations: CFO grants cannot be applied to the following costs:
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- Institutional overhead/indirect costs.
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- Researcher salaries (stipends for field assistants are permitted)
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- Requests for equipment where use goes beyond the scope of the project (such as cameras, spotting scopes, and office equipment) are usually not permitted and require specific justification.
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- If applicants are concerned about any budget items, they should contact CFO Grants & Scholarship Committee for clarification.
Reporting Requirements:
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- Write a summary report at the end of the grant.
- Present the results of their funded research in the Science Session at a CFO convention (encouraged but not required).
- Publication of a full-length science article about the research in Colorado Birds by grant recipients is always welcome and encouraged.
2025 Grants
Deadline Extended: December 31, 2024
Submission: Email the complete PDF to grants@cobirds.org
Notification of funding decision: March 31, 2025
Joe Roller Memorial Grant & Travel Scholarship
In honor of long-time Colorado birder Joe Roller, the Joe Roller Memorial Fund supports each year's top-ranked research grant. The Joe Roller Memorial Fund also supports one youth travel scholarship a year. The fund was initially funded through donations to Scott Somershoe's 2021 Green Big Year, a carbon-free birding initiative, and is sustained through the investment of the original funds and additional donations.
Research spotlight: Sara Padula
Comparing the genetics of spatial cognition in two species of food caching chickadees
Sara Padula was the recipient of a 2023 CFO research grant. Sara is a PhD student working in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Taylor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her project involves using a feeder array of eight identical radio frequency identification-enabled (RFID) feeders. This feeder system forces chickadees to use their spatial memory to retrieve seeds. She assessed spatial as well as reversal learning and memory in Mountain Chickadees (MOCH) and Black-Capped Chickadees (BCCH). Her results demonstrate that the feeder system can successfully test the spatial memory of chickadees. Future directions include relating chickadees’ spatial memory abilities with their underlying genetic variation. By continuing to collect data using these methods Sara and her colleagues will be able to shed light on how complex traits, such as spatial memory, evolve. This knowledge can be used to better predict how species reliant on their spatial memory will respond to altered environments due to climate change.
Student Travel Scholarships
The CFO Student Travel Scholarships provides financial help to young birders to attend summer camps, workshops, conferences, and training programs that introduce them to science and nature through the study of birds.
Scholarships typically range from $200-$500 and the amount of funding given each year is limited. Unused funds must be returned to CFO.
Eligibility
- Must be a student enrolled in school (including homeschooled), college, or university.
- Must reside in the state of Colorado or be applying to attend a Colorado Field Ornithologists event.
Submission Timeline
- Rolling deadline but please submit at least 8 weeks prior to the event you wish to attend.
- Review and notification will occur within 4 weeks of the application being received.
CFO requires that recipients report back on their experiences by writing a short summary, preferably with photos, for Colorado Birds: The Quarterly Journal of Colorado Field Ornithologists and/or to be posted on the CFO website.
If you have questions, please contact us at grants@cobirds.org .
Colorado Birding Challenge Conservation Grants
The Colorado Birding Challenge is a fun, county-based birding and conservation event organized by Colorado Field Ornithologists each year. The objectives of the Challenge are to engage birders in a fun day of finding and learning about Colorado's birds, to provide support for the expanding programs and work of Colorado Field Ornithologists, and to raise funds for an important conservation initiative.
Past Challenge conservation initiative grant recipients have received from $20,000 to $40,000, depending on how much is raised by the Challenge, to support the important work to conserve Colorado birds and their threatened habitats. Organizations and individuals with conservation projects impacting Colorado birds and their habitats are invited to submit proposals.
2025 Deadline: TBA
