2026-2027 Grant Applications and Guidelines

Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club
2026 Grant Application & Guidelines

Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club Grant Program
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club (SCSC) is a 501c(3) organization established to promote the study of mollusks and the shells they create, to give assistance and information to others interested in this subject, and to promote and encourage the understanding of mollusk ecology and conservation. The objectives of the club are to provide a forum for the exchange of information in the field of conchology and malacology, to foster public education and conservation of mollusks and related ecological resources, and to encourage and support research activities in those fields.


In order to meet these objectives, the SCSC has established a grant program for university faculty, students, museums, and non-profit organizations in Southwest Florida to conduct research, education, and specimen collection in these areas. Awards are typically for amounts of up to $5000 per grant application per year. Larger projects may also be considered for funding. Grants are awarded by SCSC after a review by members of the SCSC Grants Committee and Executive Board.


Research, Education, and Collection Activities Considered for Funding


The following types of RESEARCH activities will be considered for funding:

  1. Research on mollusk populations including habitats, range, density, and diversity.
  2. Research on mollusk behavior and lifespan including locomotion, reproduction, and feeding.
  3. Research on shell morphology, including external form, internal structure, functional morphology, and comparative morphology.
  4. Research on water quality and other environmental factors that affect mollusk populations.  The application must make clear how the research relates directly to mollusk populations.  


The following types of EDUCATION activities will be considered for funding:

  1. Educational programs and opportunities for children and schools in Southwest Florida interested in learning more about mollusks and their shells found on Sanibel and Captiva.
  2. Lectures and seminars for adults interested in learning more about mollusks and their shells found on Sanibel and Captiva.

The following types of COLLECTION activities will be considered for funding:

  1. Acquisition of shell specimens for museum collections.
  2. Photography and cataloging of museum collections for dissemination to researchers and shell collectors.
  3. Collection of shells and live mollusks for educational purposes.

Eligible Grantees

Full-time Faculty and Students of Accredited Universities in Florida as well as Directors and Staff of museums and Non-Profits in Southwest Florida may submit grants under this program.  Student grantees can be candidates for advanced degrees or postdoctoral students as well as full-time undergraduates working under the supervision of a faculty member.  Staff and interns of museums and non-profits are also eligible to apply but must be under the supervision of a senior staff member in the organization.

Use of Funds

Funds from the grants may be used for the following purposes:

  1. Project Support: The funds may be used to cover expenses, supplies, equipment, or specimens needed to conduct the research, education, or collection activities specified in the grant. Grants may be new projects or may be used in combination with funding for existing projects in the subject area specified in the grant. 
  2. Project Dissemination:  The funds may be used to prepare a report and/or publication of research, education, and collection activities specified in the grant.
  3. Travel Expenses:  Some grants may be eligible to use funding for travel expenses.  Funds may be used for travel limited to the conduct of project activities and collaboration with other experts in the field of study.  The amount of travel expenses may not exceed 15% of the total grant amount. Decisions on funding for travel expenses will be made on a case by case basis.

Funding Exclusions

100% of the funding must be allocated to the individual or institution receiving the grant. Funds may not be used for indirect expenses or for other administrative fees or costs charged by the institution. Funds may also not be used to cover general operating costs of the organization.

Payment of Grant Funds

100% of the Grant funds must be used for the project. Grant funds may not be used to cover operating expenses of the organization.  Grant funds are payable directly to the university or organization sponsoring the grant activities in order to cover the expenses specified above.

Grants are not payable to individual applicants. Applicants must provide the exact name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and cell phone number of the designated recipient’s office or contact person at the university or organization. Funds will be made available on the date that the recipient receives notification of grant funding.


Application Requirements


All applications for the SCSC 2026 Grant Program must include:

  1. Applicant Contact Information:  Full name of applicant, mailing address, email address, phone number, and cell phone number.
  2. Current Level of Applicant Academic Study or Institutional Role:  For University applicants the application must specify whether the applicant is an undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral fellow.  All students must be enrolled full time at the institution sponsoring the research. The supervising faculty member’s full name and academic credentials must also be specified.   For museums and non-profit organizations, the application must specify the applicant’s title and role in the institution as well as whether they are full or part-time employees.
  3. Letter of Recommendation:  Student applicants and organization staff must also submit a letter of recommendation from the faculty or senior staff member who will be supervising the project.
  4. Institution Contact Information:  The application must specify the legal name, mailing address, email address, and phone number of the sponsoring institution. The name of the specific school, college, or division within the university or institution where the grant funds will be sent must also be specified.
  5. Confirmation of Non-Profit Status:  A letter confirming the non-profit status of the university, school, or institution must be included in the application.

Project Description

The following must be included in the application:

  1. Project Summary:  Provide a brief summary of the purpose of the project.
  2. Amount Requested:  Specify the dollar amount of funding requested.
  3. Project Budget:  Detail the project budget, indicating precisely how the SCSC grant funds will be used to complete the project.
  4. Project Timeline:  Provide details of the start and end dates for the project.
  5. Detailed Project Description:  Describe the project in detail, including the location of the project, the goals of the project, and the specific activities involved in project completion.  Provide an explanation of the ways in which the goals of the project are consistent with the objectives of the SCSC grant program. If the project is related to an existing project or program please specify the ways in which the SCSC funding will be used to cover activities that are not currently being funded.

Interim Project Reporting

Grant recipients must submit two interim written reports to SCSC to provide updates on the progress of the project and use of funds.  These reports will be due on February 1, 2027 and on June 1, 2027.  Reports must include a brief summary of the activities completed and the amount of funds used by those dates.

Final Project Report

Upon project completion grant recipients must submit a written report to the SCSC by November 1, 2027. This report should include the following:

Presentation of Results at SCSC Monthly Meeting:  Grantees will be expected to make a presentation of the results of the project to one of the SCSC monthly meetings. This presentation may be made either in person or via Zoom at a meeting date to be mutually determined. Permission to allow broadcast of these presentations on the SCSC YouTube Channel is also a requirement of acceptance of grant funding.

  1. Project Results:  Provide a description of the results of the project.
    • For RESEARCH projects please provide data and a brief discussion of how the results did or did not confirm the questions that the study addressed or the knowledge to which the results contributed.
    • For EDUCATION projects describe the number of students or classes that participated in activities which were conducted using grant funds. 
    • For COLLECTION projects, describe the specific items which were purchased for a museum collection, the status of photographing and cataloging a museum collection, or the specific shells or live specimens that were collected. 
    • For ALL projects, provide any recommendations for future research, education, or collection activities that would benefit from future funding.
  1. Use of funds:   Describe how the funds were used and how they contributed to the grant project’s goals. Provide an evaluation of the extent to which the funds were sufficient to achieve the goals of the project.
  1. Publication of Results:  Indicate whether or not the results will be submitted for publication to a professional journal or described in an Annual Report or other publication of the institution or organization.
  1. Permission for Inclusion in the SCSC Newsletter The Junonia:   Project descriptions and results will be published in The Junonia, the monthly newsletter of the SCSC.  Permission to publish is a requirement of acceptance of grant funding. 
  1. Presentation of Results at SCSC Monthly Meeting:  Grantees will be expected to make a presentation of the results of the project to one of the SCSC monthly meetings. This presentation may be made either in person or via Zoom at a meeting date to be mutually determined. Permission to allow broadcast of these presentations on the SCSC YouTube Channel is also a requirement of acceptance of grant funding.

Application Deadline

Applicants must submit a written application via email to the Chair of the SCSC Grants Committee, Stacey Pezzino, by September 1, 2026. The email address is grants@sanibelshellclub.com. Decisions regarding funding will be made at the SCSC Board Meeting in October 2026, with notification of recipient funding by October 31, 2026. Recipients will be notified by email of their selection.

Please direct any questions regarding the grant process or funding to Stacey Pezzino, the Chair of the Grants Committee: Stacey@sanibelshellclub.com. We look forward to receiving your application!

➜