The Explorers Club Washington Group’s Exploration and Field Research Grants Program was established to encourage young men and women to add to the body of knowledge of the earth, its people and the universe through exploration and field research. Examples of disciplines appropriate for support are anthropology, archaeology, botany, ecology, entomology, geography, geology, glaciology, ichthyology, linguistics, oceanography, ornithology, and similar disciplines.

Grants are available to graduate students who are enrolled in a college or university in the local area (Washington, DC; Virginia; West Virginia; Maryland) and who are under the supervision of a qualified scientist or educator. The activity may occur anywhere in the world. It should be emphasized that those expeditions supported will be for scientific purposes, in accordance with the Explorers Club’s stated objective, “to broaden our knowledge of the universe”.

The grants are intended to provide supplemental funds to support fieldwork or closely related endeavors, and generally range from three to six thousand dollars. While the awards are small, former grantees have successfully used their awards to collect preliminary data leading to other awards or to augment support for items not covered elsewhere. Allowable items include travel to specialized facilities or field research locations, purchase of supplies, rental of field or research facilities, field assistant services, study participant compensation, and similar items. Funds may not be used for stipends, tuition, textbooks, journals, language training, allowances for dependents, travel to scientific meetings, publication costs, reproduction, or indirect costs. Childcare costs will be considered on a case by case basis.

The ECWG gives awarded funds directly to the student grant recipient. Any further arrangements necessary for purchases of equipment or payment of services, such as field assistance, childcare, etc., are the responsibility of the grantee. Grantees must submit a report of the activity and a statement of expenses at the end of the award period. Publications based on work supported entirely or in part by the ECWG should credit the Explorers Club Washington Group’s Exploration and Field Research Grants Program. Copies of the publications resulting from the project should be forwarded to the Explorers Club Washington Group. A letter of agreement to these terms between the ECWG and the recipient must be signed prior to the award.

Applications must be received using Explorers Club Washington Group’s standard forms, available below. Forms may be submitted by email to: ecwggrantscommittee@gmail.com and must be received by February 2, 2025 by midnight. Incomplete applications, applications not using the standard forms, or applications received after this date will not be considered. Awards are expected to be announced by March 31, 2025.

Who May Submit:

Any graduate student enrolled in a college or university in the local area (Washington, DC; Virginia; West Virginia; or Maryland).

What to Submit:

• 1)  One copy of the application package, which includes:
  • Application Form
  • Curriculum Vitae Form
  • Abstract of the Project
  • Project Description
  • Budget
• 2)  Two references to be submitted separately by referee to ecwggrantscommittee@gmail.com. Please ensure student’s name is in subject line.
• 3)   ECWG-Grants_Application_2025.docx (96 downloads ) Word Format (save as a pdf before submitting)

Please submit your 2025 ECWG Exploration and Field Research Grants here. (submission portal)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 2, 2025

EXPECTED GRANTS ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: March 31, 2025