NSS International Exploration Grants

Purpose

A decade ago, the grant program was endowed under the leadership of Don Paquette and in subsequent years with funds from the NSS International Speleological Participation Fund, the Gunung Buda Project, and through the generosity of NSS Caver Ron Simmons. Over $100,000 was added to the quasi-endowment for this fund thanks to Ron.
The international Exploration Committee includes 7 members (currently Cyndie Walck, Pat Kambesis, Carol Veseley, and Ben Hutchins, with additional member search in progress). Committee members serve until resignation, and new committee members are chosen by current members.

Grant Timing and Amount

Grants will be awarded twice per year: December 20 and June 15. As such grant proposal are accepted October 30 to November 30 (for December awards) and April 30 to May 31 (for June awards), allowing  two weeks thereafter for the committee to process grant requests.
Note: The committee will no longer consider proposal received outside of the one month submission periods.

Ron Simmons Grant

One grant per year, generally the largest, may be selected as the Ron Simmons Grant in honor of Ron’s contribution to the International Exploration Fund.

Group Expenses

Grants can be used for group expenses and equipment.  Requested funds for expensive equipment (over $400) are acceptable if the equipment is intended for repeated use in multi-trip projects, but not for single use. Example expenses might include, but are not limited to: rope, survey gear, SAR gear, guides and porters, permits and permissions, in-country group transportation travel, group meals, and specialty food such as freeze dried. Group equipment does not include personal plane tickets and personal caving gear. Additional non-allowable expenses include legal expenses (permit fees excepted), indirect costs and overhead, conference travel, and capital expenses incurred prior to expedition (i.e. books, LiDAR data, etc.).

Grant Requirements and Communication

The Committee is not prepared to fund expeditions whose results are secret or to be kept from other cavers. However, specific cave location information need not be shared. There are only a few grant requirements:

• A grant application  that meets the requirements below
• A brief summary of the results of the expedition with a few photos for the NSS web page deliverable after the expedition members return to the States.

An NSS News article or a presentation at the NSS Convention International Exploration Session on the project. Both are desired if possible.

To Apply

Email applications within the one month application periods (October 30 - November 30 and April 30 - May 31) to the committee chairs: Patricia Kambesis and Cyndie Walck. At a minimum, applications must include the following sections.

International  Exploration Grant Application Required Sections

• Project title
• Applicant name and email
• Executive Summary
• Including description of objectives and anticipated outcomes
• Expedition Narrative to include:
• Background
• Expedition location
• Dates (approximate is fine)
• Personnel (including NSS numbers for NSS member participants)
• Expedition logistics
• Information on permits and permissions (if applicable)
• Special circumstances (e.g. international cooperation or exchange efforts, restrictions on media sharing (such as with National Geographic), etc.) if applicable
• Maps and photos are encouraged but not required
• Expenses to include:
• Itemized budget detailing how NSS funds will be spent
• Other funding sources

Grant Award Criteria Considered

• Number of NSS members participating (also in relation to total number of participants).
• Challenge, complexity and cost of the expedition.
• An expedition focus on cave exploration, survey and documentation/ photodocumentation.

• Overall quality and completeness of the proposal.
• Experience and previous success on international expeditions, including reporting/maps, and the previous fulfillment of grant requirements if applicable.
• Permits acquired, if applicable.
• Reasonable budget expenses
• Other funding sources.
• Cooperation with local partners in country, if applicable
• Efforts to share results with in-country land managers to assist in cave management, if applicable
• If an expedition includes a member of the Committee, that member cannot be the applicant and must abstain from voting on or rating that proposal

Grants and taxes

As per IRS rules if a grant of more than $600 is awarded to only a single individual, that individual will receive an IRS 1039 income form from the NSS.

Committee Chairs
Patricia Kambesis
Cyndie Walck