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Cornell University

2025 Call for Joint Research Proposals: TNC/Cornell

Birds flying over wetlands (iStock)

2025 Call for Joint Research Proposals
The Nature Conservancy – Cornell Atkinson

(Note new “Suggested Sections for Proposal” guidelines below)

Key Dates

  • February 6, 2025: RFP opens
  • February 20, 2025: Info session
  • March 6, 2025: Office hours to meet TNC collaborators
    • Freshwater: 9:00-10:00 a.m. ET – Register
    • North American Agriculture: 11:30-12:00 p.m. ET – Register
  • March 28, 2025: Full Proposals due by 5:00 p.m. ET
  • May 2, 2025: Funding decisions announced
  • June 2, 2025: Funds become available
  • September 30, 2025: Latest project start date

Overview

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability welcome competitive proposals for joint collaborative research or workshops that are relevant to informing environmental policy and have achievable one-year impact goals.

TNC and Cornell Atkinson are partnering to accelerate problem-solving research relevant to national and international environmental policy discussions. Research teams should include researchers from both Cornell University and TNC and a clear collaboration plan. Work can be basic or applied but should always have a clear pathway to impact and an emphasis on actionable results.

Priority Themes

During this grant funding cycle, we welcome research focused on overlapping priorities currently being articulated in TNC’s priority areas and Cornell Atkinson’s priority research areas. Both organizations prioritize research that incorporates environmental justice and equity considerations.

Select TNC Priorities:

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Research areas:

  • Increasing Food Security
  • Reducing Climate Risk
  • Accelerating Energy Transitions
  • Advancing One Health

**Projects outside the specified priority areas may also receive funding through this RFP if they demonstrate substantial organizational commitment, have a strong and capable team, and present a work plan that aligns with a robust theory of change.**

Funding

Proposers may request funding up to $100K (direct costs at Cornell) for one year, with most research proposals expected to range from $50-80K (Cornell budget). Note that an additional 10% indirect cost (IDC) should be applied to the proposed amount, excluding any IDC-exempt costs.

Proposal Submission Guidelines

Please use this online proposal form to submit your proposal before 5:00 p.m. ET on March 28, 2025.

PROPOSAL THREE-PAGE NARRATIVE (Required)
(Save narrative as “2025-TNC-CU-YourLastName.PDF”)

The Co-Principal Investigators representing Cornell and TNC should submit a brief, three-page proposal narrative as a PDF via the online form hyperlinked above.

The following aspects should be addressed in your proposal:

  • What is the central challenge and the work to be accomplished? Why is this an important issue in sustainability, equity, and a healthy planet for people and nature?”
  • What is the intended contribution of the proposed research to understanding, managing, and solving specific environmental issues?
  • Provide a list of specific project milestones with timeline against which to evaluate progress.
  • What deliverables will be produced? Is a clear pathway to impact defined?
  • How is this research collaborative and what are each partner’s roles? Proposals showing synergy between the partners and outcomes that wouldn’t be possible individually will be favored.
  • Is the research durable, i.e., can the research continue or policy be implemented after funding has expired?

Suggested sections for proposal:

  1. Problem Statement
    • Scope and logic of proposed project and solution
  2. Project Overview
    • Project goals and objectives
    • Methodology and approach
    • Expected solutions or innovations
  3. Project Outputs & Timeline
    • Quarterly milestones and deliverables
    • Specific, measurable outcomes
    • Key project phases and deadlines
  4. Implementation Strategy
    • How will the project put Research into Action via practices, public policy, public opinion and/or product innovation
    • Critical assumptions and dependencies
    • Risk management approach
  5. Collaboration Plan
    • Partner role and responsibilities
    • Collaboration communication and coordination plan
  6. Long-term Impact & Sustainability 
    • Sustainability plan for collaboration beyond funding period
    • Scaling and implementation strategy
    • Future development opportunities

REFERENCES (optional)

A single page of references may be added after the two-page narrative. Any other items provided may be viewed or omitted at the discretion of the evaluation panel.

PROPOSAL BUDGET and JUSTIFICATION (required)
(Save budget as “2025-TNC-CU-YourLastName.XLSX”)

  • Proposers may request funding up to $100K (direct costs at Cornell) for one year. We are expecting most research proposals to request from $50-80K (Cornell budget)
  • The Excel budget template (revised Feb. 19, 2025) will be available for download and should be submitted as a separate file when you submit your proposal online. Please also include a budget justification at the end of your proposal for any expenditure for which the purpose of the expenditure is not clear. The budget justification does not count against your proposal page count.
  • Funds may be used to cover: personnel (excluding faculty salary), travel, supplies, and equipment.

PROPOSAL FORMAT and SUBMISSION

Upload a single pdf file containing the three-page narrative, the budget narrative, and optional references along with the separate Excel budget spreadsheet to the proposal submission form.

Additional Information

  • Proposals will be evaluated by Cornell Atkinson and TNC leadership. Selections will be finalized and awards announced on May 2, 2025.
  • Given the 12-month timeframe for the funding, we envision Cornell applicants will most likely want to use funds to support postdocs or senior graduate students rather than identify and hire new personnel.
  • SCHEDULE NOTE: Funds will be available on June 2nd, 2025; all activities must commence by September 30th, 2025. Project duration may not exceed 12 months.

Project Selection Criteria

A review committee composed of TNC staff, Cornell Atkinson staff, and Cornell Atkinson fellows will evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria:

  • Intellectual merit and significance
  • Fit with TNC and Cornell Atkinson priorities
  • Team strength
  • Deliverables, metrics and timeline
  • Budget
  • Pathway to impact and level of real-world impact
  • Likelihood of sustained collaborative work and/or potential for external funding

Awardee Responsibilities

Successful project co-PIs who receive funding are expected to participate in opportunities that arise to showcase their projects:

  • Attend a project orientation session
  • Establish regular communication cadence between project co-PIs
  • Provide quarterly updates to Cornell Atkinson and TNC as requested
  • Participate in future LOI and proposal reviews
  • Alert Cornell Atkinson and TNC contacts of all publications, presentations, testimony, etc. associated with the funded research
  • Acknowledge TNC and Cornell Atkinson in all project outputs using the language provided
  • Work with Cornell Atkinson and TNC communications staff to develop public press releases on research results as warranted
  • Submit a final report

More Information

If you have follow-up questions, contact:

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