The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

What The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund does

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZF, also MBZ Fund) is a private philanthropic endowment established in 2009 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, operating as an affiliate of Erth Zayed and under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Its core function is providing targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives worldwide — supporting projects for animals, plants, and fungi, with priority on critically endangered, endangered, and data-deficient species. Since inception, the Fund has supported more than 3,200 projects across 175 countries, directing over $20 million to 1,300+ species and subspecies, and engaging approximately 10,000 conservationists in the field and 2,000+ conservation allies. The organization is led by Managing Director H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, who also serves as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and was appointed UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28.

The Fund's product surface centers on a portfolio of grant programs. The core offering is Conservation Grants of up to $25,000 each, awarded three times per year via a self-serve online application portal (application.speciesconservation.org) and reviewed by an independent Advisory Board of taxonomic specialists. Adjacent products include the Chairman's Awards for exceptional projects, UAE Local Leaders Grants, the Fonseca Leadership Program / Global Field Grants ($500,000/year backed by GEF to fund early-career conservationists in developing countries), the Youth Grant for Nature, and youth-education products such as the MBZ Maestro Moves game. Supporting digital infrastructure includes the Grant Explorer impact-visualization tool and the Conservation Connect platform co-developed with Prince Bernard Nature Fund in December 2021. The Fund runs a multi-channel communications presence including a blog, newsletter, annual reports, and the Conservation Calls podcast (over 1,000 downloads, 4.9 stars on Spotify).

The business model is that of a charitable endowment rather than a commercial enterprise. Funds deployed to grantees are drawn from the endowment principal and supplemented by strategic corporate partnerships — most notably a three-year agreement with Mubadala Investment Company at $1.5 million annually (Phase 1, 2021-2024, extended as Phase 2, 2025-2028, including a $3 million UAE-led dugong conservation drive), GEF funding for the Fonseca Leadership Program, and Dolphin Energy support for Chairman's Awards. The team is small (approximately 5 employees as of recent reporting), emphasizing low overhead and direct grant disbursement. Operating geographies span the globe with documented projects in the Middle East, East and West Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Name

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Legal name

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Website

https://speciesconservation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is a 2009 Abu Dhabi-based philanthropic endowment providing small grants (up to $25,000) to individual species conservation projects worldwide, having supported over 3,200 projects across 175 countries and 1,900+ species.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Philanthropy / Species Conservation Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)

Keywords

• Species conservation grants
• Wildlife preservation funding
• Biodiversity philanthropy
• Conservation grant programs
• Endangered species protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Endowment: The Fund operates as a significant philanthropic endowment established in 2009. It provides targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives. Revenue comes from the endowment's principal, with grants funded annually to support conservation projects globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is a philanthropic endowment established in 2009 that provides targeted grants (up to $25,000) to conservationists and researchers worldwide for species conservation projects. Grants are awarded three times per year through an online application portal, reviewed by an independent Advisory Board, supporting all animal, plant, and fungi species with focus on critically endangered, endangered, and data-deficient species.

Product overview

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund operates as a conservation philanthropy organization offering a portfolio of grant-based products centered around species conservation. The core offerings include Small Grants (up to $25,000), Chairman's Awards for exceptional projects, and the Global Field Grants (Fonseca Leadership Program, $500,000/year). Additional products include UAE Local Leaders Grants and Youth Grant for Nature. The Fund provides digital platforms including Grant Explorer for impact visualization and Conservation Connect for donor-project collaboration. Media products include the Conservation Calls podcast with 1,000+ downloads. Youth education is supported through the MBZ Maestro Moves game. All products work together to support conservationists worldwide, with over 3,200 projects funded across 175 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Grants (Small Grants) Provides grants of up to $25,000 for targeted species conservation related to all animal, plant, and fungi species, with applications open three times a year to support global initiatives focused on critically endangered, endangered, and data-deficient species.
• Chairman's Awards Prestigious awards granted for exceptional conservation projects, with only two awarded each funding round, providing enhanced funding for the most compelling species conservation initiatives.
• Global Field Grants (Fonseca Leadership Program) A $500,000 per year initiative under the Fonseca Leadership Program, supported by GEF, empowering young conservationists worldwide with financial support for current and future researchers and practitioners in the field.
• UAE Local Leaders Grants Grants supporting conservationists making real impact within UAE communities, part of the Fund's commitment to developing species conservation leaders within the UAE.
• Youth Grant for Nature Grant program enabling young creatives to bring conservation stories to life in their own creative and authentic way, supporting youth-led conservation narratives.
• Grant Explorer An interactive impact tool allowing users to explore and visualize the Fund's supported projects across 175 countries, showcasing over 3,200 projects helping to rescue more than 1,900 species from extinction.
• Conservation Connect Platform An innovative digital platform that bridges the gap between local conservation projects and their supporting donors, enhancing collaboration for grassroots conservation efforts globally.
• Conservation Calls Podcast A youth-developed podcast exploring conservation stories with over 1,000 downloads and 4.9 stars on Spotify, featured on Emirates in-flight entertainment.
• MBZ Maestro Moves Game A fun and engaging game developed with Dolphin Energy featuring projects supported by the Fund, designed to educate youth about conservation in an interactive way.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,200+ conservation projects supported across 175 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Global Environment Facility (GEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2024Supports Fonseca Leadership Program with $500,000 per year funding for Global Field Grants empowering young conservationists worldwide. Grant inspired by Gustavo Fonseca, former GEF Director of Programs.
• Prince Bernard Nature Fund (PBNF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Jointly launched Conservation Connect in December 2021 - an innovative digital platform bridging the gap between local conservation projects and their supporting donors, enhancing the impact of grassroots conservation efforts globally.
• Mubadala Investment CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2021Three-year partnership with Mubadala providing US $1.5 million annually to support endangered flora and fauna in Africa and Asia, focusing on countries where Mubadala has portfolio companies including Guinea, Indonesia, and Thailand. First agreement in the region where corporate and conservation donor entities collaborate to prevent biodiversity loss. Extended into Phase 2 (2025-2028) with UAE launch of $3 million global drive to protect dugongs.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFund is a member of IUCN. Managing Director H.E. Razan Al Mubarak serves as President of IUCN. Fund relies on IUCN Red List as critical indicator of biodiversity health. Most supported species are classified as critically endangered, endangered, or lack sufficient information.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong historical connection - the first SSC meeting in Al Ain in 2008 shaped the direction of the Fund, which was launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress that year. Fund encourages grant recipients to reach out to specialist groups for guidance.
• Dugong and Seagrass Conservation ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal initiative representing first coordinated effort to conserve dugongs and their seagrass habitats. Covers 43 national initiatives across 8 countries (Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu), managed by 26 dedicated local partners. Positively impacted over 200 coastal communities.
• Environment Agency Abu DhabimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle East's largest environmental regulator committed to protecting biodiversity. Fund collaborates closely with UAE environmental NGOs to enhance biodiversity conservation and promote sustainable environmental practices across the region.
• Emirates Nature WWFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey ally for local biodiversity collaboration. For over two decades prominent in environmental conservation throughout MENA region. Collaborates with WWF (present in 100 countries with 5 million members).
• Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2013, SWCCF has contributed $314,515 to support cat conservation projects through the Fund. Partnership model blueprint for species specialists - SWCCF provides top-up funding allowing Fund to support more wild cat proposals and enables continuous project support.
• The National Aquarium, Abu DhabimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with African Aquatic Conservation Fund for West African manatee conservation. Collaboration enables financial support from Abu Dhabi for conservation in natural habitat and builds local capacity for long-term protection.
• Dolphin EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Chairman's Award for conservation projects including iris conservation in Lebanon (Biodiversity Conservation Initiative) and Axolotl project. Corporate support essential for bridging gap between conservation science and real-world impact.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Whitley Fund for Nature: UK-based charity providing small conservation grants and awards to individual conservation leaders in the Global South. Directly comparable grassroots-grant model and award-based program structure.
• Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF): Global biodiversity grantmaking mechanism providing small grants to civil society in biodiversity hotspots. Directly comparable funding model and target grantees (grassroots conservation NGOs in developing countries).
• Global Environment Facility (GEF): Multilateral fund providing grants for global environmental projects including biodiversity. Already a direct funder of MBZF's Fonseca program; comparable as a grantmaking body targeting conservation in developing countries.
• Re:wild: Species-focused conservation organization (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation) with a global grants program and species recovery mandate. Closely comparable mission on preventing extinctions and protecting wildlife through field projects.
• Arcadia Fund: Environmental grantmaking charity funding biodiversity, conservation, and cultural heritage projects worldwide. Comparable as a private philanthropic endowment deploying capital to global conservation outcomes.
• Prince Bernard Nature Fund: Amsterdam-based philanthropic fund focused on biodiversity and species conservation through small grants. Most direct peer — the two organizations jointly launched the Conservation Connect platform and operate complementary grassroots-grant portfolios.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO operating in 100+ countries. Comparable as a partner ecosystem (Emirates Nature–WWF is a Fund ally) and as a conservation funder, but with vastly larger scale, broader programmatic mandate, and field-operating model.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest environmental nonprofit by assets, with global conservation programs including species protection. Comparable as a major conservation funder but operates via direct land/sea management rather than grantmaking.
• National Geographic Society: Large established science and exploration organization with a long-running grants program for conservation research and storytelling. Comparable as a grantmaking institution funding species and ecosystem work, but with a much broader portfolio.
• IUCN: International authority on species conservation status (Red List) and global conservation standards body. Closely allied with the Fund (Managing Director serves as President) and serves as both a partner and the underlying standards framework for grant targeting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mohamed-bin-zayed-species-conservation-fund
• Xx.com/speciesfund
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpeciesConservationFund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund