STEP 1:

FUNDING GUIDE

Look for funding:

We recommend you begin your search for funding as early as possible, even before the call for applications opens. Please Note: We highly encourage people to APPLY to the seminar, even if they do not have funding. If the call for applications is open and you have not yet begun your search for funding, be sure to submit your online application as soon as possible (within the application window) and start your funding search immediately.

All participants are responsible for obtaining their own funds, as Colorado State University does not grant scholarships or directly provide funding. However, there are many opportunities — and we have seen that persistence always pays off. Many of our participants applied multiple times before achieving their goal, and thanks to their perseverance they were able to participate in the seminar and join our large alumni network.

Recommendations for your funding search:

1. Review our seminar funding guide for ideas about possible sources. We also recommend mobilizing your own network of professional contacts, colleagues, and prospective donors (including your own organization) to seek support.

2. Keep the Center informed about your progress by writing to: [email protected]

3. If you find a funding source that requires proof of acceptance, contact the Center to request a Provisional Acceptance Letter. In some cases, the Center can issue this letter, which reserves you a tentative seat while securing funding (note: this letter does not guarantee acceptance into the program).

4. Once your funding is confirmed, send the Center an email to [email protected] along with the official letter from your sponsor detailing the financial support.

Potential funding sources include:

International Cooperation Agencies

• • GIZ – German Agency for International Cooperation

  • UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (formerly DFID)

  • Directory of Foreign Embassies in the U.S. (for embassy-based funding opportunities)

Multilateral Organizations:

• • World Bank

  • Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

  • Organization of American States (OAS)

  • Global Environment Facility (GEF)

  • European Union – International Partnerships

United Nations Agencies:

• • FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

  • UNDP – United Nations Development Programme

  • UNEP – UN Environment Programme

  • UNESCO – World Heritage Centre

NGOs and Conservation Foundations:

• • ITTO – International Tropical Timber Organization

  • IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature

  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

  • Conservation International (CI)

  • Fauna & Flora International (FFI)

  • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

  • SNV – Netherlands Development Organisation

  • CARE International

  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

  • MacArthur Foundation

STEP 2:

APPLY HERE

Apply online:

All interested parties must submit an online application for the current seminar, even if they have applied in past years. If you don’t yet have funding, you should still apply: your application demonstrates interest and allows us to consider you for future opportunities. We value persistence and pay attention to applicants who have applied multiple times in the past. Also, although we do not provide scholarships, occasionally we obtain communications from  external funding sources. In such cases, we use the pool of applicants to connect donors and funds with prospective beneficiaries.

You can access the online application form here. The online form has 9 pages and must be submitted completely. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

Tip for slow connections: Save your progress periodically by selecting “Save” at the end of the form. You will receive an email link to continue later. If you have technical problems, write to: [email protected]

Information required in the form:

• Basic information and contact details (email, phone, WhatsApp if applicable, home address)

• Interest in this seminar (Why this seminar?)

• Passport information (if you already hold one valid at least 6 months after the travel date; if not, you may leave it blank)

• Visa information (if you already hold a valid U.S. visa beyond your departure; if not, you may leave it blank)

• Professional information: position, responsibilities, institution, supervisor, workplace address

• Previous experience:

  • If you have attended a prior course with CSU

  • If you have applied to our courses in the past

• Funding status: whether you currently have funding or not

• Brief participant profile (8–10 lines for the “Participant profile document”)

• Preferred payment method

Required documents on application (if you don’t upload them with your application, please email them to our Center at [email protected] by the application deadline):

• CV (maximum 2 pages)

• Letter of support from your institution, signed by your supervisor, authorizing your participation (if selected)

Documents you may send later (after selection, or earlier if you already have them):

• Copy of valid passport (pages with photo and data)

• Copy of valid U.S. visa (if you have one)

• A personal photo for the participant profiles document

Confirmation by email: About one week after submitting your online application, you will receive an email from the Center confirming receipt of your information and indicating the next steps.

Remember: Applying is the first step, even if you don’t yet have funding. Every application counts, and your persistence can open the door to participating in this transformative experience.

STEP 3:

Be proactive during the selection process and keep in contact with us:

The selection process may take several weeks after the application deadline, because we carefully review each application. We ask for your patience during this time: your application is being considered thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, we encourage you to maintain active communication with the Center by writing to [email protected]. It is very important that you send us updates on your funding status, even if you don’t yet have confirmation.

Please keep in mind:

• Having confirmed funding is not always immediate.

• Keeping us informed helps us:

  • Better understand your situation

  • Support you with provisional acceptance letters, if applicable

  • Consider you in the event that external funding opportunities arise

Your persistence is valuable. Many of our participants succeeded in attending after multiple attempts, by staying in contact and updating their status. We encourage you to do the same: every step brings you closer to being part of this experience.

STEP 4:

Wait for the results of the selection process:

The Center will send an official notification to all applicants informing them of the selection results. For the seminar, the results will be available by mid-December (in some cases, this process may take a little longer).

• If you are selected: You will receive an email with clear instructions on the next steps to prepare and join the seminar. Our team will be in contact to guide you through the process.

• If you are not selected this year: We encourage you to apply again in the next edition. Many of our current participants applied multiple times before being admitted, and their perseverance ultimately paid off. Each application strengthens your profile and increases your chances of selection in the future.

Thank you very much for your interest in our seminar! We hope you will be able to participate this year!

Do you have more questions regarding the application process for the seminar? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions here.