What is Revive & Restore’s mission?
Our mission is to enhance biodiversity through the genetic rescue of endangered and extinct species. We do this by bringing biotechnologies to conservation and developing the genetic rescue toolkit.
As a catalytic non-profit, Revive & Restore is dedicated to supporting improved conservation outcomes. We bring biotechnology to conservation, broadly advancing the field across multiple disciplines.
How do we work toward our mission?
- ) First, we identify the gaps where traditional conservation methods are insufficient or need innovation to be scaled up to meet the biodiversity crisis.
- ) Next, we advance the technologies necessary to enhance, speed up, and/or scale conservation outcomes. We do this by:
- Providing funding for proof-of-concept projects that develop biotechnologies for endangered species conservation
- Prioritizing high-risk, high-reward proposals that allow us to fail fast and maximize our impact
3.) We enable the application of biotechnologies in real-world wildlife conservation and management efforts by:
- Developing and funding innovative solutions to conservation challenges
- Scoping projects that will be fieldable and scalable for deployment
- Working with awardees to identify transition partners that enable the continuation of their work
- Translating proven technologies to field applications in collaboration with wildlife managers and/or local communities and stakeholders
- Communicating through outreach, education, and advocacy to elevate successful case studies and accelerate uptake.
4.) We convene:
Revive & Restore builds networks and communities of change-makers, fostering connections between awardees and our broader scientific network. We develop catalytic workshops to identify the white space as well as opportunities to accelerate technologies. Our intensive hands-on meetings also work toward application and field-based outcomes. If you have a compelling idea for a workshop, please reach out to one of our Program Managers.
Who do we fund?
We proactively seek out researchers and engage them in Revive & Restore’s mission.
We have occasional Requests for Proposals (RFPs) which are posted here, otherwise, proposals are by invitation only.
Collaboration, including across disciplines, is critical for Revive & Restore projects. We assemble interdisciplinary teams, including wildlife biologists, ecologists, veterinarians, aquaculturists, geneticists, programmers, medical doctors, engineers, social scientists, and others to work together towards novel solutions. Scientists and conservationists at academic universities, government agencies, non-government organizations, and for-profit companies are eligible to apply for funding. Collaborations between academic institutions and zoos or aquaria are common and encouraged.
Awardees must be willing to engage with Revive & Restore Program Managers as active collaborators on their projects.
How do we manage projects?
Revive & Restore uses a DARPA-inspired model for program management. PMs iterate with applicants as part of project design and track milestones and deliverables through quarterly reporting. We often convene teams as a way of uniting awardees working toward a common goal and accelerating progress. We engage with our awardees as partners at all levels, from setting high-level goals and troubleshooting to transitioning outcomes to applied settings.
Finally, we are here to amplify the incredible work that our awardees do, not to take credit.
What is our process for selecting new projects?
Requests for Proposals (RFPs) will occasionally be posted on our website and align with one of our Program Channels. Because we are responsive to the conservation world, our Program Channels are always evolving. You can view open calls here.
Our Program Managers take an active role in project design and work with applicants to develop research deliverables with the highest impact. For all projects under consideration, we solicit proposal reviews from experts in relevant fields to ensure the appropriateness of the research plan, the feasibility of methods, and the impact of the resulting technology on the field. For final approval, proposals undergo careful selection by our internal team.
What kind of projects do we fund?
We fund early-stage transformative research that leverages biotechnology for species conservation and genetic rescue.
Our projects have the potential to impact applied conservation today. We are interested in biotechnology that can be put into practice, not just academia. Our awardees strive for impactful conservation action, not only research publications. It is important to us that technologies be adopted and used at a community level. If their objectives are achieved, these projects will serve as compelling “success stories” showcasing the benefits of integrating biotechnology to conservation.
See here for a list of defined criteria for project suitability
What kind of funding do we offer?
While Revive & Restore is passionate about funding high-impact research, we are not here for long-term funding. Think of us as a start-up funder, here to demonstrate compelling proof-of-concept case studies that will bring biotechnology to conservation.
After completion, we work with our awardees to identify transition partners, helping to ensure the continuation of their work.
Where can I find more information about funding opportunities from Revive & Restore?
Revive & Restore does not accept unsolicited proposals. However, you can submit a one-page expression of interest by emailing one of our Program Managers or [email protected]. We will not be making any new awards until 2025.
What is Genetic Rescue?
Revive & Restore supports the development of tools that will underpin the future success of genetic rescue and projects that tackle this problem directly.
When wild populations are fragmented or in decline, they can enter a genetic bottleneck. With few individuals remaining, genetic diversity becomes dangerously low. Genetic diversity is critical for the health of any population because variation enables adaptation and natural selection in the face of environmental changes. A lack of variation in the genome makes it hard for species to adapt to disturbances such as climate change or disease outbreaks, bringing them closer to extinction.
Revive & Restore considers ‘genetic rescue’ to include interventions to restore genetic diversity and function in vulnerable populations. At a foundational level, genetic rescue includes techniques to better understand and preserve existing diversity, such as genome sequencing and biobanking. Our biobanking work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service provides a long-term option for preserving genetic diversity, enabling future applications for genetic rescue.
Meanwhile, our Wild Genomes program ensures genomic resources and tools exist for the species that need them most.
More advanced levels include techniques such as translocations, hybridization, advanced reproductive technologies, and genetic engineering to actively increase genetic diversity and enhance a population’s fitness. One way to bring new genetic diversity into an ‘inbred’ population is by translocating animals from populations with high diversity into populations with low diversity.
Another way is by moving genes instead. Revive & Restore is using cloning to restore historic genetic variation for the endangered black-footed ferret population, which is in a severe genetic bottleneck.
Why are we a funder?
At Revive & Restore, we recognize the profound potential for innovations in biotechnology to augment traditional conservation management. However, not enough resources are being channeled into these early-stage areas in conservation science. Wildlife managers’ initial reluctance to consider using these strategies comes in part from a lack of proof-of-concept success stories demonstrating their efficacy.
We identify these gaps and seek to bridge them. Our approach is to catalyze the development and adoption of effective new technologies by communicating and elevating our successes.
While other funding sources exist for academic pursuits, we seek to fund projects with clear, measurable benefits for applied conservation. And that type of funding is often rare.
As grant recipients ourselves, Revive & Restore is empowered to channel funds from our donors toward applied biotech for biodiversity.
How do we work with our PIs?
Unlike other funders, we work closely with awardees to ensure projects have an impact through well-defined deliverables that align with the Revive & Restore mission. Our Program Managers actively engage with each project from start to finish and maintain consistent oversight. Viewing ourselves and our awardees as being “on the same team”, we work together to steer high-level vision, refine the nitty-gritty details, and plan for transitioning the research to other applications or opportunities once proof-of-concept has been achieved.
Our goal is always to highlight the amazing scientists we work with and not to take credit for their research. We aim to increase visibility for our awardees in the conservation community and the media.
We try to create a culture of collaboration among awardees rather than competition. Knowledge-sharing is fundamental to our approach and our goal.
Is Revive & Restore a 501 (c) 3? And what is your tax ID number?
Revive & Restore is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our United States Federal ID number is 81-4576399.
Who runs Revive & Restore?
Ryan Phelan is Revive & Restores Co-Founder and Executive Director. You can find more information about Ryan and our staff and Board of Directors here.
How do I apply to work at Revive & Restore?
Revive & Restore is a lean and entrepreneurial organization. We have occasional job openings which can be found here.
What is Revive & Restore’s impact?
We are excited to share our most recent Annual Report, which provides an overview of our impact. It can be found here.
FAQs For Donors
Where does the money go when I donate to Revive & Restore?
Donors have the option to contribute funds to specific programs or R&D for a particular species or to donate broadly to the organization. We use these funds to provide grants to research teams, working to accelerate advances in biotechnology in wildlife conservation.
How can I partner/get involved with Revive & Restore?
To get our latest wildlife conservation news and see how we’re supporting genetic rescue around the world, please sign up here.
How can I donate? Can I donate if I live outside the USA?
We are grateful for all the people who support our work! Thank you for considering joining our group of far-sighted and committed donors. You can make a donation in a number of ways here. We accept donations from all around the world.
