Sacramento Bird Alliance Student Scholarship

The Sacramento Bird Alliance, formerly known as the Sacramento Audubon Society, Student Scholarship is aimed at supporting any degree seeking student enrolled at an accredited 4-year college or university in the Sacramento Valley, who is dedicated to the study, conservation, and protection of birds and their habitats. The total award amount for this Sacramento Bird Alliance Student Scholarship is $4,500 over the span of 3 eligible academic years ($1,500/year); please see the “Award Amount” and “Eligibility Criteria” sections for details. Recognizing that we are in a new era of conservation, one that includes science but also actively engages the public in conservation, this scholarship is not restricted to a specific field of study but instead is restricted to focus areas that align with the Sacramento Bird Alliance’s mission.

The mission of the Sacramento Bird Alliance is to:

  • Promote the protection and scientific study of wild birds;

  • Foster the enjoyment and appreciation of wild birds through community outreach;

  • Encourage, support, and provide environmental educational opportunities;

  • Advocate for the conservation of open space and birds in the Sacramento region.

Award Amount:

$1,500 per year, for 3 years, for a total award of $4,500*

  • * The scholarship is awarded 1 year at a time for a maximum award amount of 3 years. Candidates with less than 3 years left in their academic programs are encouraged to apply, however, awards will only be provided for years in which the candidate is enrolled in a degree seeking program at an accredited 4-year college or university within the Sacramento Valley. Once awarded, candidates do not need to reapply for the remaining eligible years; please see the “Reporting Requirement” section for details. Students must maintain good academic standing.

  • Funding is restricted to academic and academic-related expenses (e.g., tuition, academic fees, textbooks, materials, and living expenses incurred during the course of academic pursuits).

Application Deadline:

  • All applications are due by: 11:59pm PST on Saturday, August 15, 2026

  • All applications will be reviewed by Saturday, August 29, 2026, with notification to all applicants shortly thereafter.

  • Applicants must meet the following requirements:

    • Be an active Sacramento Bird Alliance member; “active” means that the candidate has a current membership to the Sacramento Bird Alliance. This membership must remain “active” throughout the scholarship’s duration.

    • Be currently enrolled in a degree seeking program at an accredited 4-year college or university in the Sacramento Valley with good academic standing  with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (“C” average).

    • Be enrolled in coursework, research, or fieldwork directly related to ornithology, avian ecology, bird conservation, or related avian fields. Examples include:

      • Conservation programs with a focus on ornithology, avian ecology, or bird conservation  

      • Environmental Planning with a focus on ornithology, avian ecology, or bird conservation

      • Environmental Journalism with a focus on ornithology, avian ecology, or bird conservation

      • Photography or Art with subjects to include birds and/or bird habitat conservation

    • Not have received a Sacramento Bird Alliance, formerly known as the Sacramento Audubon Society, grant or other scholarship opportunity, within the last 3 years.

    1. Completed scholarship application form

    2. Provide a one-page personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in birds and conservation, academic and career goals, and how this scholarship will support their work.

    3. A brief description (1–2 pages) of current or proposed studies/research/project related to avian studies or avian conservation.

    4. Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

    5. One letter of recommendation from a professor, research advisor, or supervisor familiar with the applicant’s academic or fieldwork.

  • Award recipients will be asked to present at one Sacramento Bird Alliance General Meeting or related event, which outlines how the year’s scholarship was used. Suggested topics include and are not limited to:

    • Projects and/or research worked on/participated in, specific to the scholarship’s requirements

    • Topic(s) learned, specific to the scholarship’s requirements

    Award recipients, in lieu of the presentation, may be asked to publish a short article in The Observer or for the Sacramento Bird Alliance website or social media.

    By September of each recipient year, the candidate must submit proof that they are enrolled in coursework at an accredited college or university in the Sacramento Valley, with good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (“C” average). This must be submitted through email to sacaudubonconservation@gmail.com

    Additionally, award recipients will be highlighted on the Sacramento Bird Alliance website and social media.

Banner Photo Credit: Red-shouldered Hawk © Ray Rozema

All applications are due by: 11:59pm PST on

Saturday, August 15, 2026