Grants Committee

The AAZK Grants Committee will support keeper involvement in conservation and research as well as professional development opportunities such as attending conferences, workshops, and educational courses.

Mission
The AAZK Grants Committee strives to promote and advance the role of animal care professionals in the field of conservation, research, and professional networking for AAZK members.

Vision
The AAZK Grants Committee envisions an enhanced opportunity for the AAZK membership to pursue their conservation, research, and professional development goals through awarded grants.

Purpose

The AAZK Grants Committee shall support keeper involvement in conservation and research as well as professional development opportunities such as attending conferences, workshops, and educational courses.

Qualifications
Full-time keepers/aquarists in zoological parks and aquariums, who are professional members of AAZK in good standing, are eligible to receive individual grants. Researchers other than zoo keepers may participate in the funded studies. The principal investigator, however, must be a keeper/aquarist.

The AAZK TFYM Restoration Grant and AAZK Bowling for Rhinos Conservation Resource Grant are available to AAZK Conservation Partners, AAZK Institutional Members and non-member applicants who hold Federal Non-profit status within the US, or are an International Registered Charity. The applicant for these AAZK Grants shall be under the direct employ of the applying entity.

Restrictions

AAZK will not fund any invasive biological studies, or any study that may cause an animal undue or prolonged discomfort or harm.

Allowable expenses include equipment, supplies and other costs such as library fees, computer time, etc. Expenses that are not allowed include telephone costs, animal purchases, and wages for research participants. Grant recipients shall be reimbursed for research expenses upon presentation of receipts. Only in unusual circumstances, and only with AAZK Board approval, shall grant recipients be advanced funds. In such cases receipts shall be required upon purchase.

Failure to comply with any of these regulations may result in the revocation of the grant at any time.