MDPI is a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals. The publisher has several awards in the category “Plants.” MDPI currently invites nominations for the Best PhD Thesis Award (CHF 500) for original work defended in 2025, with a deadline of July 31, 2026, and the Travel Award (CHF 800) for students and postdocs attending international conferences, closing October 31, 2026. Additionally, the journal honors high-quality peer review through the Outstanding Reviewer Award and celebrates research impact with the Best Paper and Young Investigator awards, providing winners with cash prizes, formal certificates, and publication vouchers to waive future article processing charges. Click here
july2026
Photography 4 Humanity — Photography Competition
Photography 4 Humanity invites amateur and professional photographers worldwide to submit images for its 2026 Global Prize. This year’s theme, “HOME,” asks artists to explore concepts of safety, belonging, and identity in a world shaped by climate change and displacement. The competition is open to individuals at least 18 years of age, and entrants may submit up to five photographs taken within the last three years. The Global Prize recipient receives a US$5 thousand cash award, and their work will be exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Human Rights Day. The deadline for submissions is 12 July 2026. Photography 4 Humanity
Marion Dönhoff Foundation — Environment and Sustainability
The Marion Dönhoff Fellowship supports young conservationists, scientists, and activists from the post-Soviet region and Central Asia. The program funds study or research stays in Germany for up to five months, focusing on environmental journalism, political ecology, and sustainable development. Eligible applicants must be between 25 and 38 years old, possess professional experience, and hold citizenship in countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. While the foundation provides administrative support and facilitates contacts, the fellowship includes a monthly stipend and travel allowances to cover living and research expenses in Germany. Applications are accepted twice a year, with deadlines on 01 July and 01 January. Find out more
LHoFT — Green Fintech
The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT) invites applications for the third edition of Catapult: Green Fintech, an intensive acceleration program for startups driving environmental sustainability. The one-week bootcamp in Luxembourg is open to ten selected fintech firms from around the world that specialize in green finance, ESG risk management, environment measurement, or regulatory technology. While the program does not offer a direct cash grant, it provides a fully funded experience including accommodation, meals, and a travel reimbursement of up to €1,000 per company. Participants also gain access to specialized mentorship and networking opportunities with investors and industry leaders during the Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative Summit. The deadline for applications is 08 July 2026. Link to LHoFT
Wellcome Trust — Early-Career Awards
The Wellcome Trust supports bold and creative discovery research that has the potential to improve human life, health, and well-being. The Early-Career Awards provide funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity through innovative projects. Research can be in any discipline, including STEM, experimental medicine, or climate – as long as it has the potential to improve human life. The Trust covers the researcher’s salary and up to £400 thousand for research expenses. The applicant’s host organization has to be based in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (apart from India and mainland China). The deadline for new applications is 21 July 2026. Early-Career Research Awards
Club300 Foundation — Grants for Bird Protection
The Club300 Foundation, based in Sweden, makes grants of up to US$5 thousand for bird protection on a worldwide basis. The objective is to support research and conservation of the world’s highly threatened and poorly known bird species (IUCN’s Red List). Only applications concerning projects aimed at birds listed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Extinct in the Wild (EW), or Data Deficient (DD) are eligible for funding. The deadline for applications (English or Swedish) is 31 July of each year. More information
Zendesk — Tech for Good Impact Awards
The Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards provides free software and multiple grants ranging from US$5 thousand to US$50 thousand to global nonprofit organizations. Impact Awards are made to products that promote resilience, foster community, and increase access to careers in technology in areas that range from refugee rights to environmental justice. Zendesk will also provide free product and software donations and Pro Bono support. Applications are due 15 July 2026. Tech for Good Impact Awards
Neotropical Birding and Conservation — Conservation and Research in Latin America and the Caribbean
The Neotropical Birding and Conservation (formerly Neotropical Bird Club) offers small and medium-sized research grants for conservation work, or for research that may be of conservation benefit. Awards of US$1,500 and US$3,000 are for projects carried out by nationals and/or residents of countries in the Neotropics (i.e. the Caribbean, Central America, and South America). The Juan Mazar Barnett Award (up to US$5,000) is to encourage early-career neotropical bird conservationists and researchers. Application guidelines are available in English and Spanish. The next deadline for applications is 01 February and 01 July 2026. Neotropical Birding and Conservation
Embassy of Japan — Grants for Grassroots Projects in Uganda
The Embassy of Japan in Uganda provides financial assistance to non-profit, development-oriented organizations in support of community development projects in Uganda. Any projects geared towards grassroots assistance are eligible for financing, including water and sanitation, disaster relief, and agricultural development. The grant amount per project is generally under 10 million yen (approx. US$100 thousand). Potential recipients are international or local NGOs, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and local governments. The Embassy receives concept papers anytime throughout the year, but the selection process is conducted twice a year with deadlines on 15 February and 31 July. More about this opportunity
Gadfly Project — Software for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Mitigation
The Gadfly Project makes in-kind grants for organizations seeking to implement a software initiative in the fields of environmental protection and climate change mitigation. The grant is available to organizations both international and domestic with a focus on environmental protection and sustainability. Software development efforts with a magnitude between US$5 thousand and US$100 thousand are preferred. Please note that this is an “in-kind” grant (not a cash grant). Grants are evaluated quarterly. The deadlines are 23 January, 24 April, 24 July, and 23 October 2026. Details here