The New England Biolabs Foundation (NEBF) is a private foundation dedicated to promoting community-based conservation of biological and cultural diversity. With a focus on select regions, including Central America, Andean South America, West Africa, and the North Shore of Massachusetts, NEBF funds grassroots organizations and local initiatives working in critical ecological and cultural landscapes. The foundation provides financial support through a structured grant process designed to foster sustainable stewardship of natural resources and biocultural heritage.
NEBF’s funding priorities center around conserving biodiversity in terrestrial and marine environments, sustaining cultural diversity and knowledge systems, and maintaining essential ecosystem services such as water, soil health, and carbon sequestration. Additional emphasis is placed on supporting food sovereignty, economic vitality in local communities, and artistic expression for U.S.-based applicants. Projects must align closely with these thematic areas and take place within NEBF’s specified geographic zones, which include targeted regions in Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and parts of Massachusetts.
For 2026, NEBF has announced a single grant round to accommodate its ongoing strategic planning process. The application process begins with a mandatory Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which must be submitted between November 1 and December 5, 2025. Only applicants who are invited based on their LOI submission may proceed to the full proposal stage. Invited full proposals will be due by February 16, 2026, with final funding decisions communicated by April 30, 2026.
Grants typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 for international projects and $4,000 to $10,000 for local Massachusetts-based initiatives. First-time applicants are generally not awarded the maximum amount. NEBF emphasizes the importance of counterpart or in-kind support from other funding sources and prefers proposals that demonstrate broad community involvement and benefit.
The LOI process is facilitated through an online system, where applicants must register their organization before accessing the form. LOI components include organizational background, project summary, objectives, budget narrative, and team details. Proposals are evaluated based on alignment with NEBF’s mission, geographic focus, and thematic priorities. Applicants are encouraged to draft responses in a word processor before submitting through the portal.
NEBF offers limited staff support due to its small size and cannot respond to inquiries outside its programmatic and geographic priorities. For questions, applicants can contact info@nebf.org or call +1 978-998-7990. The foundation is located at 240 County Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Prepare narrative in word processor before entering in portal; focus on alignment with NEBF mission and geography
