See the list below or check Recent Awards for examples of grants that may be supported by the Leadership Grants Program. We encourage nonprofits and fellows to be creative in developing an arrangement that highlights a fellow's professional or scientific expertise in service of a significant environmental issue.

American Bird Conservancy, The Plains, VA
Myra Finkelstein (1998), $35,000.00 for 1 year

Myra Finkelstein’s research concerned the effects of marine contaminants (lead, in particular) on the immune and endocrine functions of Laysan and Black-footed albatross. The purpose of her work with the American Bird Conservancy was to advocate for national and international policy change regarding persistent marine pollutants. Myra’s research with this project, combined with some of her earlier research on lead contamination effects and lead remediation at decommissioned military bases, led to significant progress on advancing lead remediation on the Midway Atoll, a former military base and also a National Wildlife Refuge. While the American Bird Conservancy benefited from Myra’s scientific expertise, Myra gained experience in the advocacy and policy realms by presenting her findings both nationally and internationally.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
Elena McCarthy (2001), $40,000.00 for 1 year

Elena McCarthy and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution joined forces on this one-year leadership grant to research the potential impacts of anthropogenic (human-caused) ocean noise on marine life in the Stellwagen Bank in the Gulf of Maine. Elena compiled data on levels and frequencies of ocean noise, on industry trends related to ocean noise, and developed a GIS-based regional map of the Stellwagen Bank showing noise sources, and characterizing potential conservation measures. In conjunction with her work at Woods Hole, Elena published a book entitled, “International Regulation of Underwater Sound: Establishing Rules and Standards to Address Ocean Noise Pollution,” which has the potential to take the issue of ocean noise to a wider and more diverse audience. Over the year, Elena and her colleagues at Woods Hole gave a number of talks at various conferences in the U. S. and abroad to present their research and recommendations.

Antioch New England Graduate School, Keene, NH
Steve Chase (2000), $40,000.00 for 1 year

Steve Chase worked with Antioch New England Graduate School’s Environmental Studies department to launch a new master’s degree program in Environmental Organizing and Advocacy. Through the Switzer leadership grant, Steve was hired as the founding Executive Director of the program, the primary objective of which is to provide advanced activist training for students seeking to become environmental advocates and organizers in non-profit and grassroots advocacy efforts. The program was launched in September 2002. Over the course of his leadership grant, Steve put together a strong curriculum for the program, added associate and core faculty members, and began developing partnerships with outside organizations to participate in the program’s practica requirements (as ‘clients’ with whom students can work). Antioch benefited from the addition of this innovative program, and Steve was able to increase his professional capacity and experiences.

Natural Heritage Institute, Berkeley, CA
Elizabeth Soderstrom (1993), $15,000 for 1 year

This one-year grant was funded in order to allow Elizabeth Soderstrom to conclude a 3-year project on developing the Yolo Bypass Management Plan in central California. This project was funded initially with a two-year grant for Elizabeth and NHI to develop an adaptive management plan for the area. The additional one year of funding allowed Elizabeth and NHI to advance several of the specific management projects including developing a plan for restoring floodplain habitat in the Yolo Bypass for splittail and salmon habitat, and developing a plan for mercury remediation in the Guadalupe River and Marsh Creek. This additional one year of funding allowed Elizabeth and NHI to continue the ongoing application of lessons learned in the initial phases of the plan implementation.