Please read this before applying. By submitting a page on , you agree to these conditions.
Questions? Reach out to the GainForest team before you apply.
The grant
Each selected community receives USD 1,000 to run a 3-month Project using Bumicerts.
Projects must deploy bioacoustic sensors. Passive audio data collection must be central to the Project. Biodiversity observations and are optional supporting tools.
Funds can be used for AudioMoth hardware, equipment, programming, and logistics related to your Project. AudioMoth hardware is deducted first from the USD 1,000 grant; the number of units depends on your Project scope and number of sites.
Eligibility
To apply, you must be able to tick all of these:
Before funds are released
Before funds are released:
- GainForest will review your Project page and may ask you to refine it
- once approved, you will sign a contract outlining your agreed deliverables, milestones, and AudioMoth deployment plan
- funds are only released after the contract is signed
During the Project
During the Project:
- AudioMoth sensors must be deployed as agreed in your Project plan
- all data collected must be made public on your Bumicerts Project page as Project updates
- this includes field recordings, deployment records, observations, annotated clips, and datasets
- you must post regular updates so the community can follow your progress
- if you form a , you must post a short summary of each meeting as a Project update on Bumicerts
Data Council
Forming a Data Council is optional.
Data Council members advise on data privacy, consent, and how Project data should be shared, published, or kept private. They do not necessarily annotate the data.
Data Council stipends are funded separately from the USD 1,000 grant:
- USD 50 per member
- up to 5 members
- sent to the ’s wallet via Bumicerts
- the local champion is responsible for disbursing payments to each Data Council member
- you choose who is on your Data Council
A Data Council should help review questions such as:
- what data is safe to publish publicly
- whether any locations, species, people, or cultural knowledge should be protected
- what context should be included when data is shared
- whether any evidence needs review before it is posted
Timeline
July — applications open
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply before 8 August, or earlier if all 10 spots are filled.
Early August — selection and contracts
Selected Projects are announced. Successful applicants refine deliverables, sign contracts, and discuss AudioMoth shipping or procurement.
August Week 2 — orientation
Selected grantees join onboarding for the platform, public updates, AudioMoth deployment, Q&A, and next steps.
Mid August to September — Projects begin
The 3-month Project period starts. Grantees deploy AudioMoth sensors, upload evidence, and post public updates on Bumicerts.
Payments
All payments go directly to crypto wallets via Bumicerts.
The USD 1,000 grant and Data Council stipends are separate payments. The payment schedule will be outlined in your contract.
Please make sure you control the wallet you provide. GainForest cannot recover funds sent to the wrong wallet address.
If things change
Life happens. If your Project needs to change direction, let the GainForest team know as early as possible.