The Wetland Foundation was founded by Drs. Karen L. McKee and Irving A. Mendelssohn in 2008 with the mission to support wetland education and research. With over 40 years of experience as wetland scientists, they aimed to create a legacy that provides financial support and guidance to students of wetland science. Their vision encompasses fostering the next generation of wetland scientists and continuing the advancement of wetland studies through educational and research opportunities.
The Wetland Foundation offers two types of Conference Travel Grants aimed at encouraging the participation of advanced undergraduate and graduate students in wetland science conferences. These grants are designed to support students who have never attended a scientific conference related to wetlands and those with limited funds for travel, as well as students with limited funding who wish to present their wetland research findings at a conference. The grants are differentiated as Type 1, which provides $800 for students attending their first wetland scientific conference, and Type 2, which offers $1,400 for students presenting their research at a conference.