Utom Conservation Fund Scholarship

About this program

The Utom Conservation Fund, managed by a consortium including the California Native Plant Society, Center for Biological Diversity, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, offers approximately ten $2,000 scholarships for students passionate about protecting the Utom River watershed and its environmental and cultural resources. Applications for 2026/2027 are due September 1, 2026. Eligible applicants include high school seniors, junior college students, and undergraduate college or university students who reside in the Utom River Watershed, with special consideration for tribal members, including members of unrecognized tribes. Applicants must submit an application, a 500-word-or-less essay describing their environmental interests, and a letter from academic staff confirming current enrollment; an optional one-minute video may also be included.