Search Through Marine Grants in the U.S.

Vision

While talent may be spread evenly throughout humanity, opportunity is not. Comis Foundation envisions that every child has access to opportunities to not only succeed in life, but to thrive.

Mission

Comis Foundation invests in organizations that provide opportunity and access to equip children with skills to explore, learn, and thrive in their chosen communities.

Guiding Principles

Comis Foundation has 5 principles which guide our focus: We work to build relationships of mutual trust with our grantees; We value sustainable systems and solutions; We are not experts, we want to learn and enable learning; We are willing to accept risk when warranted to achieve greater impact; We value both new and established ways of serving communities.

Area of Interest

Comis Foundation supports programs and policy work that drive improvements in educational outcomes for children and youth. We are interested in programs that support the community as well as children and youth directly. We embrace the whole child concept of full community engagement to drive better outcomes for the child and our society at large.

Comis Foundation Grant

Pilot and Proof of Concept: $5,000 – $25,000

• New programs within existing organizations, standalone new organizations just getting off the ground, or testing new approaches within a current scope
• Smaller-scale research or data collecting project or other similar short-duration investigations
• Timeframe is single-year; multi-year research or evaluation projects will not be considered under this program

Capacity Building and Innovation: $25,000 up to $75,000 per year

• Capacity building for organizations, including but not limited to staff professional development, strategic planning, leadership development, and supplemental expertise (e.g., communications)
• General operating support for innovative organizations. We consider the concept of innovation broadly: organizations that create opportunity for children to explore, learn and thrive are by definition innovative until all children can engage with the world through the same set of opportunities.
• Multi-year research or evaluation projects will be considered under this program, particularly as a pre-cursor to scaling innovative programs
• Multi-year grants will be considered under this program at $25,000 – $75,000 per year

The Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) Program supports the implementation of, scaling of, or major improvements to research tools, products, and services that advance contemporary biology in any research area supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences at NSF. The Capacity Program focuses on building capacity in research infrastructure that is broadly applicable to a wide range of researchers in three programmatic areas: Cyberinfrastructure, Biological Collections, and Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories. This program will also accept proposals for planning activities or workshops to facilitate coordination that may be necessary in building capacity in infrastructure that meets the needs of a research community. Areas not included in this program are instrumentation (PIs should submit to the MRI program) and, projects that develop infrastructure for a specific research project, laboratory, or institution (PIs should submitted to the relevant BIO programs that would normally support that research). Projects are expected to produce quality products, result in important science outcomes that will be achieved by the users of the resource, be openly accessible to a broad scientific and education community, and serve a community of researchers beyond a single research team.

General Focus

(over 85 percent of the grant program)

Conservation of natural resources in eastern North America and the Caribbean Basin, with an emphasis on the United States

Major Program Areas

(in descending order of size)

• Marine resource conservation and management with priority given to fisheries
• South Florida Ecosystems (Treasure Coast, Lake Okeechobee, Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, and Florida Keys)
• Alabama environmental issues
• D.C. Metro area environmental issues*

*limited to preselected organizations

Size of Grant Program

• Total funding available: approximately $1,200,000 annually
• Grants generally range from $10,000 to $40,000: Average grant size is $15,000 to $20,000

The Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program is a project of the Waitt Foundation. ROC Grants provide small grants with a quick turnaround time for solutions to emerging conservation issues and ocean protection in support of island nations. 

This complements the Waitt Foundation’s existing major grants program and is responsive to conservation opportunities, supports higher-risk ideas at a low financial cost, and engages with small, local NGOs on a global scale.

Grants will fund projects related to the Waitt Foundation's mission of supporting sustainable fishing and marine protected areas (MPAs). This includes sub-themes of:

• Scientific Research – Includes natural science or social science projects. 

• Policy – Includes opportunistic projects around unique public policy windows, such as preparation of policy analysis and support of experts’ efforts to inform decision makers on upcoming government actions.

• Management – Includes enforcement and infrastructure support.

• Communications – Includes raising public awareness and engaging stakeholders, including advertising by a 501(c)3 group around a public policy moment. 

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Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Social Change, Faith-Based and Special Grants

The purpose of the social service and faith-based initiatives area is to support small institutions with strong leadership in fulfilling their mission.

• Social Change: Supporting small institutions that provide services paired with programs to gain and maintain economic security.
  • Hunger Coalition of the Wood River Valley
• Faith-Based: Supporting Christian education and mentoring programs.
  • Light of the Lord Global Missions
  • Sports Challenge
• Special Grant-Making: Most of our active engagement will fall within one of our primary areas. We recognize, however, that there may be a small number of extraordinary, legacy, or crisis-based projects which are consistent with our mission and values.
  • USOC Paralympic Champions Fund
  • National Sailing Hall of Fame
  • Hereshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame

The Vessel Strike Avoidance Fund seeks to support the development and adoption of innovative technology solutions to provide mariners with tools to more effectively avoid collisions (vessel strikes) with large whales and benefit conservation of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales and other cetacean species. The program is a partnership between NFWF and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and focuses primarily on the Atlantic Coast, the range of the right whale.

The North Atlantic right whale is an endangered species, and vessel strikes are one of the major human-induced threats to their continued health and ability to recover. The whales’ habitat and migration routes are dynamic but overlap with major ports, shipping lanes and areas of heavy recreational boating use along the Atlantic coastline, making right whales vulnerable to collisions with vessels that are often fatal. Generally, the faster a vessel is traveling when it hits a whale, the higher the likelihood of serious injury or death. 

Current measures require most vessels over 65 feet to adhere to speed restrictions within designated seasonal areas where right whales are likely to be present. Temporary voluntary measures are also declared when right whales have been observed in areas where mandatory measures are not in place. Despite these measures, strikes from vessels of nearly all sizes continue to negatively impact the species. While slowing vessel speeds can be an effective means to reduce vessel strike threats, slow speed measures alone cannot fully resolve these issues, and speed restriction measures come with some impacts on commercial and recreational use of coastal waters. The deployment of existing, in development, or future technologies, innovative tools, and engineering approaches may have the potential to decrease the likelihood of collisions with whales and help reduce operational impacts to vessels. The goal of the Vessel Strike Avoidance Fund is to accelerate the development and testing of technologies and innovations to help further right whale conservation and coexistence with humans. 

The Foundation embraces the protection of biodiversity as its overarching priority.

Frank Weeden, the Foundation’s founder and original benefactor, established the Weeden Foundation to address the impact of growing human populations and overuse of natural resources on the biological fabric of the planet. Since his death in 1984, the Foundation has helped preserve more than 6 million acres of biologically important habitat worldwide and provided financing for the first debt-for-nature swap in Bolivia in 1992, a strategy that is now widely used by international conservation organizations. Program efforts have supported projects in environmentally sensitive regions of the western United States, Alaska, Russia, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Belize, Namibia, Mexico, and various Caribbean nations.

Focus Areas

On a more general scale the Foundation supports the following focus areas.

Bird Conservation

Our goal in the Bird Conservation program area is to conserve wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. In particular we seek to fund grantees that work to prevent bird species extinctions and to prevent declining populations of bird species from becoming endangered. We specifically focus on protecting and restoring public and private bird habitat and we assist in acquiring land for threatened bird species. Finally we support protection of bird migration corridors in North and South America.

Systemic Support program at the U.S. national policy level for wildlife corridors, the Endangered Species Act, and additional wilderness designation.

Our goal in Systemic Support is to improve the effectiveness of environmental efforts through specialized services. Specific objectives include:

• support the Endangered Species Act through litigation, lobbying, grassroots campaigns and public education generally,
• promote organizations providing support for groups engaged in wilderness protection, land conservation, endangered species protection, wildlife corridor issues, and management of public lands, an
• improve federal and state support for environmentally sustainable practices, wilderness designations, and wildlife corridors. 

Global Biodiversity

Our goal in Global Biodiversity is to support campaigns and/or groups in biodiversity hotspots. Specific objectives are to

• protect global temperate rainforests,
• support creation of wildlife corridors,
• land acquisition and protection for endangered species and,
• support projects that involve indigenous peoples in the process and stewardship of conservation projects.

Environmental Education

The Foundation’s Environment Education program area focuses on supporting grantees that will provide future leaders with the tools to effect environmental policies. These policies complement the other grantees of the Foundation including biodiversity and habitat protection. Sustainable environmental policies must include both immediate actions as well as education to anticipate and to prevent future environmental impact.

Marine Wildlife Conservation

The Marine Wildlife Conservation Program Area focuses on helping to protect endangered marine species in the Americas through research, advocacy, policy change, and habitat conservation.

To address the adverse impact of economic and human population growth on biodiversity, the Foundation’s grantmaking includes both Consumption and Population programs.

The Foundation’s Sustainable Consumption program currently focuses on promoting greater use of environmental paper. Grantmaking in this area aims to broaden the market for environmental papers and packaging through markets campaigns, shareholder activism, consumer-targeted education, and dialogue with the corporate sector. This year we have expanded our packaging program to include efforts to reduce plastics in the waste stream, through strategies such as eliminating single use plastic disposables by promoting reusable packaging for grocery stores, take-out, and delivery.

The Foundation’s International Population program area is focused on reducing population growth rates in countries recognized for their rich biodiverse landscapes and that have a total fertility rate exceeding replacement levels. To achieve this goal, the Foundation funds groups that facilitate initiatives related to family planning, women’s education and women’s empowerment in countries with such rich and recognized biodiversity. The Foundation also supports advocacy efforts addressing global population growth in the context of environmental sustainability.

Marisla was established in 1986 as a private, non-operating charitable institution. 

Environment Program - Environmental Health

The Environment Program concentrates on activities that promote the conservation of biological diversity and advance sustainable ecosystem management. The Environment Program also supports the search for solutions to health and environmental threats caused by toxic chemicals.

About Bonnell Cove Foundation

Bonnell Cove Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations in North America in the areas of safety at sea and the environment of the sea. The Bonnell Cove Foundatioin is a 501(c)(3) organization. It was organized in 1989 by the Cruising Club of America. Initial funding for the Foundation came from the sale of a tract of waterfront land on Block Island, Rhode Island to the Block Island Land Conservancy. George P.P. Bonnell, a charter member and former Commodore of the Club, bequeathed the land to the Club in 1959. Club members provide additional funding. There is no paid staff.

The Board of Trustees meets twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, to consider applications. As a general matter, the Foundation awards grants of up to $10,000 for specific projects or particular needs of a qualifying non-profit. In rare cases, the Foundation will grant funds to a particular organization in successive years.

In recent years the Bonnell Cove Foundation has funded essential elements of school and museum youth programs, environmental research, habitat restoration, medical research, search and rescue products, overboard rescue techniques and boating education.

Grants Relating to Safety At Sea

The Foundation encourages grant applications supporting projects which complement the safe operation of boats, both sail and power. Innovative projects resulting in the development of cost effective personal safety equipment, modified operational and training protocols, and methods to increase crew awareness of the need for continued attention to safety are of particular interest.

Grants Relating to the Environment of the Sea

The Foundation seeks grant applications in support of projects intended to increase our understanding of the factors affecting the marine environment both natural and man-made and the best ways to minimize adverse impacts associated with small boat operations. Such efforts might include technologies facilitating "green boats", efforts to conserve coastal and estuarine land, and educational efforts directed at improved stewardship of our oceans and navigable lakes.

The Biological Oceanography Program supports fundamental research in biological oceanography and marine ecology in environments ranging from estuarine, coastal, and open ocean systems to the deep sea, as well as in the Great Lakes.Proposals submitted to the Program must have a compelling context in population, community, or ecosystem ecology or oceanography, as well as address topics that will contribute significantly to the understanding of marine or Great Lakes ecosystems. The Program supports interdisciplinary research and often co-reviews and co-funds projects with various programs in the Division of Ocean Sciences and the Directorate of Biological Sciences(BIO), among others.

Additional information can be found here.

Environment Programme

Through our environment fund we want to support projects which can help mitigate the damaging effects that humans are having on the environment and contribute to a positive change both now and in the future. 

Marine Focus Area

Under our Marine programme, preference will be given to initiatives working to halt the decline of fish stocks that communities in developing countries rely on, and those working to bring about sustainable fisheries in Wales. We will consider both practical local projects, and strategic initiatives. The protection of mangroves and seagrasses to benefit local fisheries is also a component of our Marine Programme.

• Local projects. Applications for local projects should demonstrate that they will positively impact upon the marine resource they are working to protect, and could include:
• Development of marine protected areas or sustainable fisheries management
• Addressing local causes of over-exploitation of fish stocks and other seafood
• Creation of sustainable livelihoods for coastal and seafood dependent people
• Securing fishing rights or management rights for fishery-dependent communities
• Strategic projects. We will consider applications for strategic projects that are working on addressing marine issues at a wider or international scale. These could include:
• Working on international or regional marine policy
• Campaigning for improved practices in commerce
• Exploring different fishing practices and techniques
• Improving information exchange to eradicate illegal unreported and unregulated fishing

Who We Are

SCF’s board is comprised of leaders in results driven conservation. Their depth of expertise in grantmaking and wide sphere of influence positions SCF to invest in and champion initiatives with the greatest purpose and impact. The board, coupled with a staff that has extensive policy expertise, excels at identifying and funding the most strategic projects that are focused on the global defense of sharks and rays. SCF’s comprehensive approach, extraordinary human capital, and extensive international reach positions it well to influence all major shark fishing, processing, and consuming countries.

The Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) is a collaboration of philanthropists dedicated to solving the global shark and ray crisis. Our goal is to halt the overexploitation of the world’s sharks and rays, prevent extinctions and restore imperiled species through strategic and catalytic grantmaking. SCF is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., a registered 501c3 public charity. Our objectives are to:

• Ensure effective regulation of global trade in shark and ray products through listing the top species of sharks and rays in global trade on CITES Appendices and implementing those listings;
• Prevent the extinction of the most imperiled sharks and rays by enhancing legal protections in priority countries and at international forums.
• Combat unsustainable shark and ray fishing globally through the adoption and implementation of conservation and management measures through international forums and in priority countries.

Shark Conservation Fund Small Grant

The Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) is a collaboration of philanthropists dedicated to restoring ocean health through sweeping shark and ray conservation. Our goal is to help maintain the vibrancy of the world’s oceans by halting the over exploitation of sharks and rays and to prevent extinctions through strategic, collaborative, and catalytic grantmaking. SCF is a sponsoredproject of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., a registered 501(c)3 public charity. Our objectives are:

• Fisheries management reforms that reduce mortality for species primarily threatened by trade.
• Prevent extinctions of threatened species that are not traded.
• Identify & protect important shark areas in new or modified marine protected areas.

The Small Grant Fund supports these objectives by providing grants of up to $25,000, with a duration of 18 months. SCF allocates $250,000 annually for Small Grants, funding up to 10 projects each year. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Eligible Project Types

• Opportunities to advance shark and ray conservation and management.
• Small scientific studies, reports, or evaluations that are directly linked to efforts to advance shark and ray conservation policy in the near term.
• Scoping activities for larger shark and ray conservation and management projects.

11th Hour Racing's Grantmaking Strategy11th Hour Racing fosters systemic change to restore ocean health — our vision for the future includes cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world. As the climate crisis intensifies, so does the impact on ocean health. We need a global paradigm shift, from an extractive economy that depletes our natural resources to a sustainable economy that uses resources wisely and protects our ocean. We work to facilitate this transition by supporting local solutions to global problems, led by community organizations and industry leaders. By supporting local pilot programs that model best practices of sustainability, restore coastal ecosystems, and advance ocean stewardship, our grantees are creating systemic change to restore ocean health. We are working toward a future of cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world.Focus Areas11th Hour Racing seeks proposals that align with one or more of our focus areas:

• Ocean Literacy & Stewardship – increase the understanding and appreciation of the importance of healthy oceans and waterways to communities through experiential learning, citizen science, and powerful story-telling.
• Clean Technologies & Best Practices – advance practices and technologies in coastal communities and the marine industry that reduce waste, prevent plastic pollution, improve water quality, and assess new circular solutions.
• Ecosystem Restoration – improve water quality, bolster coastal resilience, and sequester carbon through coastal habitat restoration

Ocean Literacy & Stewardship: Outreach and educational initiatives for any age focused on improving knowledge of ocean health issues and best practices. Emphasis will be given to projects focused on youth-led initiatives, citizen science, and experiential education. Programs specializing in increasing stewardship, access, and ocean literacy in underserved, urban communities are of particular interest. Does not include: curriculum development; or general funding for educational programming. Clean Technologies & Best Practices: Efforts that advance emerging methods and/or technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of coastal communities, sailing-related activities, and the maritime industry. Activities may include improving coastal community practices regarding plastic pollution prevention or food waste such as composting; environmentally responsible vessel disposal methods or construction materials; sailmaking or boatbuilding material alternatives or processes. Does not include: policy development; proven technologies (such as conventional solar photovoltaic), community beach or offshore clean-ups of marine debris, or advertising. Ecosystem Restoration: Using coastal habitats like mangroves, salt marsh, and seagrass to sequester carbon (commonly referred to as Blue Carbon), using oysters and vertical farming to improve coastal water quality or innovative approaches to restoring coral health. Does not include: coastal infrastructure projects, conservation easements, or land acquisition.Evaluation CriteriaProject submissions are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Environmental impact: the magnitude of the project’s environmental benefits.
• Capacity and Organizational Expertise: organizational capacity and qualifications necessary to implement the proposed project.
• Innovation and Creativity: how unique the project is or the methodology used are.
• Feasibility of implementation: technological, financial, and political factors that may influence the success of the project.

Strong consideration will be given to projects that involve collaborations and stakeholder engagement, model best practices, can demonstrate measurable outcomes in a one-year timeframe, and share successes broadly. For anything we fund, particularly demonstration projects or place-based work, we prefer opportunities for broader impact through replicating or scaling.

Challenge Overview

Climate change is an omnipresent issue with the hottest recorded year, continuous extreme weather, and long-term impacts that will be determined by near-term choices. While driven by emissions from energy, industry, and agriculture in a concentrated set of economies, climate change disproportionately impacts the up to 3.6 billion people living in contexts that are highly vulnerable to impacts including extreme heat, flooding, and droughts. The climate crisis requires dramatic action, including rapid technology deployment alongside bold policies, financial commitments from governments, private capital, and philanthropy, and global market shifts.

Technology and innovation have an important role to play in contending with the effects of climate change. Technology exists to replace or mitigate all major areas of current emissions but often has minimal adoption due to high costs, a lack of engagement with communities, and the need for design at scale. Innovation can offer new business models, decreased costs, and approaches to scaling impact alongside or in place of new technologies that can help meet mitigation and adaptation goals at the speed of the crisis.

MIT Solve seeks exceptional solutions that leverage technology to address the causes and impacts of the climate crisis. While we are excited to select and support innovators across any climate area, we have a particular interest in solutions that: 

• Adapt cities to more extreme weather, including through climate-smart buildings, incorporating climate risk in infrastructure planning, and restoring regional ecosystems.
• Enable a low-carbon and nutritious global food system, across large and small-scale producers plus supply chains that reduce food loss.
• Strengthen coastal and marine ecosystems and communities through the broader blue economy, including fisheries, clean energy, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).

Special Call: Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program

Black and Latine communities in the US are structurally the most vulnerable to climate-fueled hazards and the least likely to have access to healthy and affordable food. As part of Solve’s ongoing work on US racial equity, we encourage those working to address racial disparities in climate action across US communities to apply for the Challenge and receive additional support through our Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program.

Prizes

MIT Solve - Solver Award

All Solver teams selected for Solve’s Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.

The Seeding The Future Food Systems Prize

The Seeding the Future Food Systems Prize is open to high impact innovations focusing on transforming food systems to be more sustainable, and to enable equitable access to safe and nutritious food that is affordable and trusted. Solutions benefitting underserved communities, countries or regions are encouraged to apply. Up to $150,000 will be awarded to two or more high-impact solutions selected for any of Solve’s 2025 Global Challenges. This prize is supported by the Seeding The Future Foundation, a private nonprofit organization that seeds and supports innovative solutions to help improve the global food system.

The E Ink Innovation Prize

The E Ink Innovation Prize is open to solutions that currently utilize or propose to utilize ePaper materials, technology, or displays to address problems of global importance in any of Solve’s areas of impact, including topics such as architecture, education, or intercultural understanding. The prize is funded by E Ink, a corporation that advances healthy solutions and a sustainable future using ultra-low power, daylight readable displays. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams selected for any of the 2025 Global Challenges or Solve’s existing portfolio of alumni teams. E Ink may also opt to provide materials and technical support to its prize recipients.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of the 2025 Global Challenges.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world and is dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across up to six Solver teams from the 2025 Global Learning Challenge, the 2025 Global Climate Challenge, and the 2025 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize seeks to accelerate the development of solutions that will prepare people for today’s opportunities and the workplace of the future, advance new ways of working, and drive economic impact within communities. Funded by Citizens, the prize furthers the company’s commitment to helping communities meet today’s demands while positioning themselves well for the future. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams across all 2025 Global Challenges or Solve's portfolio of alumni teams. Preference will be given to solutions that can be implemented to address workforce development challenges in Boston, MA and New York, NY that also have scaling potential to other geographies.

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize supports groundbreaking solutions that leverage data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to tackle critical global social challenges. Sponsored by Crescent Enterprises - a diversified conglomerate spanning industries such as ports and logistics, power and engineering, food and beverage, life sciences and business aviation - the prize reflects the company’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and meaningful global impact.

Up to $100,000 will be awarded to as many as four Solver teams addressing the 2025 Global Challenges or selected from Solve’s portfolio of alumni teams. This prize aims to recognise and accelerate the growth of transformative solutions, driving positive change for a better future.

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Ocean Innovation Prize

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Ocean Innovation Prize is open to solutions supporting innovation for coasts, oceans, and the broader blue economy. The prize is funded by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which is committed to protecting and progressing planetary health. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team.

The Community Innovation Prize

The Community Innovation Prize is open to innovative solutions for communities by communities. Up to $200,000, as well as custom workshops addressing innovator needs will be awarded to up to four Solver teams who are current or past Solvers across Solve's US Equity portfolio. Preference will be given to innovator teams based in or implementing/planning to implement in Chicago, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Houston, New York City, and/or Philadelphia in the areas of Health, Economic Prosperity, Climate, or Indigenous Communities.

Our Mission

The Marine Debris Foundation leads efforts to eliminate marine debris and plastic pollution through innovative grantmaking, effective advocacy, and strategic partnerships.

Our Vision

The Marine Debris Foundation envisions a planet free from marine debris and plastic pollution.

Our Values

• Dedicated to environmental justice
  • We commit to empowering frontline communities to address marine debris and plastic pollution.   
• Inclusive
  • We create a welcoming environment for all and honor a diversity of perspectives and people in all of our work.   
• Collaborative
  • We pursue strategic partnerships with the marine debris community to enhance collective impact.
• Solutions oriented
  • We encourage innovation and creativity to foster holistic, long-term interventions.
• Committed to scientific integrity
  • We are guided by the best available science, including place-based and traditional knowledge.   
• Transparent
  • We disclose our sources of funding and are accountable in our grantmaking.

Marine Debris Grants

The Marine Debris Foundation (MDF) is pleased to launch the first round of its Marine Debris Grants! The MDF seeks to address the problem of marine debris through diverse partnerships, initiatives, and creative solutions. It prioritizes grantmaking to eliminate marine debris and plastic pollution, and to augment the efforts and impact of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. As such, any proposed project should fit into one or more of the following marine debris/plastic pollution focal areas:

• Reduction
• Prevention
• Removal
• Assessment

The MDF’s Grantmaking Initiative is focused on strengthening, enhancing, and improving domestic and international efforts that address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the economy, environment, and/or maritime safety.

Evaluation Criteria

The MDF aims to provide fair and equitable consideration to all grant requests. All grant requests are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Environmental impact: the net environmental benefit of the proposed activities;
• Human health and environmental justice: the net benefits of improving air quality, water quality, water quality and human health from proposed activities;
• Innovation: novel and creative proposed interventions, methodologies, service models, and technologies to be tested/used (if applicable);
• Feasibility of implementation: political, financial, technological, and behavioral science circumstances required to successfully execute proposed activities;
• Solution-oriented: direct application of research, interventions, and campaigns to produce solutions to marine debris and plastic pollution;
• Sustainability: likelihood of the project continuing to make an impact following the term of the grant;
• Organizational capacity: necessary logistical and technical qualifications of the applicant to execute proposed project/activities

Award Information

For this open call, grants will be given for up to $30,000 per award.

The MDF awards grants annually during a call-for-proposal process, with grant periods ranging from 12 to 24 months; multi-year grants will also be considered. 

Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention Program (TRAP)

The TRAP Program is a valuable network of partnerships that works across disciplines to focus on derelict trap removal in four key areas:

• Standardization of data collection and monitoring
• Quantification of economic and ecological impacts
• Prevention and mitigation of harmful effects
• Comprehensive data sharing and analysis

The Program coordinates the removal of derelict traps (blue crab, American lobster, spiny lobster, Dungeness crab, stone crab, and potentially other types of traps) nationwide and benefits NOAA Trust Resources by reducing bycatch mortality on living marine resources and by the removal of abandoned and derelict gear from their habitats.

Funding

The Nationwide Fishing TRAP Program anticipates distributing between 6 and 15 awards annually under this solicitation. Funding of up to $1,475,000 is expected to be available for Nationwide Fishing TRAP Program Removal grants. Awards are for 18-month projects; longer-term projects are not permissible under this program. The minimum amount of award funding that may be requested is $50,000. The maximum award amount is $200,000.

The Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) is a strategizing and funding partnership coalition of leading turtle conservation organizations and individuals focused on ensuring the long-term survival of tortoises and freshwater turtles.

As one of its main functions, TCF administers a turtle conservation and research grants program. Awards are granted to organizations or individuals for specific conservation or research projects dealing with highly endangered tortoises or freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles, with either partial or full support as funding allows.

Funding Priorities

Priority for funding is given to projects that focus on tortoises or freshwater turtles that are already highly threatened according to the IUCN Red List or the TFTSG Provisional Red List, as either Critically Endangered or Endangered, or which may be highly threatened but not yet officially classified as such on the Red List. TCF Awards are approximately in the $1000 to $5000 range per project (with full or partial funding depending on full project costs), and smaller seed grant projects are also encouraged (up to $1000 each) to support pilot conservation initiatives for tortoise and freshwater turtle species that are currently either IUCN Red Listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered (or on the TCF Priority Species list–see below), or species that may become priority species with an increase in the state of knowledge about the status of their populations or the threats they currently face (principally species currently classified on the Red List Data Deficient or not yet assessed [Not Evaluated]).

TCF Priority Species

The following species of tortoises and freshwater turtles have been prioritized by TCF to be considered for funding support (listed here).

Most Priority Species and subspecies listed here have been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) by either the IUCN Red List or provisionally CR by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). A few are assessed as Endangered (EN).

Additionally, several species are considered Data Deficient (DD) by either the IUCN Red List or the TFTSG provisional list, indicating their population status is unknown due to a lack of information (see the Appendix at the end of this document). In order to gain a better understanding of their status, proposals regarding these are also solicited.

Importantly, any other species not currently listed here can be considered for TCF funding, as long as a convincing rationale for support is provided.

About

The Higher Education Program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is pleased to announce its third Call for Letters of Inquiry for the Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education initiative, continuing its investment in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and in the establishment of partnerships between MSIs and graduate programs nationwide.

Grantees awarded via this initiative will engage the expertise of MSIs—and the unique experiences of their faculty and students—to model effective systems and practices that remove barriers and create opportunities for equitable learning environments in STEM graduate education so all students can thrive. Grant awards will support sharing MSIs’ institutional know-how on equitable undergraduate and graduate education, as well as modeling that know-how to create systemic changes that enhance pathways from MSIs to master’s and doctoral degree programs in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, Earth sciences, economics, engineering, marine science, mathematics, physics, and statistics at partner institutions.

In addition to establishing seamless pathways, successful projects will address policies, processes, and practices that reinforce existing systems that are barriers to student access and success in graduate education. These projects could include efforts to examine or redesign graduate recruitment, admission policies and processes, mentoring practices, departmental climate, or other gatekeeping (or gateway) structures to and through STEM graduate education.

Since the barriers to equitable pathways do not end once students are admitted to graduate programs, Sloan is looking for evidence that projects will promote and enhance existing efforts to reduce and eliminate policies, procedures, and institutional climates and cultures that prevent students from successfully attaining a graduate degree.

Grants up to $500,000 will be awarded to U.S. higher education institutions and organizations developing equitable pathways to STEM graduate education

Implementation Grants

Implementation grants will support work between two or more institutions (one of which must be an MSI) that are seeking to augment or scale an already well-established partnership or set of partnerships. Such projects will have preliminary data or evidence of their effectiveness, or potential effectiveness, in widening educational pathways.

About

The Higher Education Program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is pleased to announce its third Call for Letters of Inquiry for the Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education initiative, continuing its investment in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and in the establishment of partnerships between MSIs and graduate programs nationwide.

Grantees awarded via this initiative will engage the expertise of MSIs—and the unique experiences of their faculty and students—to model effective systems and practices that remove barriers and create opportunities for equitable learning environments in STEM graduate education so all students can thrive. Grant awards will support sharing MSIs’ institutional know-how on equitable undergraduate and graduate education, as well as modeling that know-how to create systemic changes that enhance pathways from MSIs to master’s and doctoral degree programs in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, Earth sciences, economics, engineering, marine science, mathematics, physics, and statistics at partner institutions.

In addition to establishing seamless pathways, successful projects will address policies, processes, and practices that reinforce existing systems that are barriers to student access and success in graduate education. These projects could include efforts to examine or redesign graduate recruitment, admission policies and processes, mentoring practices, departmental climate, or other gatekeeping (or gateway) structures to and through STEM graduate education.

Since the barriers to equitable pathways do not end once students are admitted to graduate programs, Sloan is looking for evidence that projects will promote and enhance existing efforts to reduce and eliminate policies, procedures, and institutional climates and cultures that prevent students from successfully attaining a graduate degree.

Planning Grants

Planning grants will support work between two or more institutions (one of which must be an MSI) that are seeking to set the stage for the establishment of a partnership or set of partnerships that engage and model the expertise of the MSI to yield systemic change, but which first require an assessment of the need and timing for partnership activities. Projects must demonstrate a clear roadmap to partnership through a well-defined set of planning activities.

About

The Higher Education Program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is pleased to announce its third Call for Letters of Inquiry for the Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education initiative, continuing its investment in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and in the establishment of partnerships between MSIs and graduate programs nationwide.

Grantees awarded via this initiative will engage the expertise of MSIs—and the unique experiences of their faculty and students—to model effective systems and practices that remove barriers and create opportunities for equitable learning environments in STEM graduate education so all students can thrive. Grant awards will support sharing MSIs’ institutional know-how on equitable undergraduate and graduate education, as well as modeling that know-how to create systemic changes that enhance pathways from MSIs to master’s and doctoral degree programs in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, Earth sciences, economics, engineering, marine science, mathematics, physics, and statistics at partner institutions.

In addition to establishing seamless pathways, successful projects will address policies, processes, and practices that reinforce existing systems that are barriers to student access and success in graduate education. These projects could include efforts to examine or redesign graduate recruitment, admission policies and processes, mentoring practices, departmental climate, or other gatekeeping (or gateway) structures to and through STEM graduate education.

Since the barriers to equitable pathways do not end once students are admitted to graduate programs, Sloan is looking for evidence that projects will promote and enhance existing efforts to reduce and eliminate policies, procedures, and institutional climates and cultures that prevent students from successfully attaining a graduate degree.

Grants up to $500,000 will be awarded to U.S. higher education institutions and organizations developing equitable pathways to STEM graduate education

Seed Grants

Seed grants will support work between two or more institutions (one of which must be an MSI) that are seeking to build upon or formalize an established partnership or set of partnerships by launching one or more pilot activities. These projects should include a plan to assess the viability and effectiveness of pilot activities.

KM Shimano Family Foundation Donations

The KM Shimano Family Foundation strives to make the world a better place through education, engagement, and conservation. We are currently focusing on marine environment conservation. This can encompass rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, scientific research of the oceanic environment, and legislative work.

Focus: 

The focus of our Foundation is to provide donations to organization that work in the following areas: 

• Marine animal rescue & rehabilitation
• Marine animal research
• Marine animal conservation
• Water conservation (focus on salt and/or brackish)
• Marine education
• Environmental Conservation and Education
• Scientific Research in marine life health and conservation

Background

Guided by founder Annie Lee Roberts’ desire to eliminate fear, pain, and suffering of all animals, the Summerlee Foundation promotes a new ethic toward our fellow beings. We support efforts to research, rehabilitate, rescue, protect, and advocate for animals. Our grantees give second chances to companion animals and injured or orphaned wildlife, provide refuge and sanctuary for exploited wild and domestic animals, and increase the understanding and protection of wildlife commonly vilified. 

Collectively, we advance and expand the rights of animals, defend the laws that protect them, and create policies and programs to address grievances against them. Through thousands of grants totaling over $65 million, the Summerlee Foundation is honored to play a small role in the accomplishments of so many passionate, effective organizations in their tireless work to protect animals.

Program Goals

Our aim is to help the most overlooked, underfunded, and heavily exploited animals. Much of our funding goes to small and medium-sized lean and agile groups where we believe our contribution can be utilized quickly with an out-sized impact. We believe in balancing urgent, direct care for individual animals with efforts to address the root causes of suffering to affect enduring, systemic change. We know we can’t often rescue, adopt, or rehab our way out of core problems.

Programmatically

Cats only in the United States and Canada

• The tragedy of cat overpopulation and homelessness in this country results in intense and immense suffering due to disease, starvation, and inhumane practices by some local communities and agencies.
• Funding emphasis is on sterilization and vaccination primarily in rural or underserved communities.

Dogs only in the United States, Latin America or living in First Nations/Native American communities

• Emphasis on sterilization, vaccination, and humane euthanasia.

Wildlife

• Primarily mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and black bears, funding only those programs which protect through ethical-based research and advocacy/educational campaigns.

Marine Life

• Emphasis on addressing marine mammal issues, health and well-being and anti-captivity (dolphins and orcas).

Sanctuary for Captive Wild Animals

• Captive wild animal sanctuaries should be verified or accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

• Emphasis on hands-on animal care and well-being (emergency rescue, food, medications, housing improvements).

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Since our creation by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest private conservation foundation. We work with both the public and private sectors to protect and restore our nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. NFWF supports conservation efforts across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Since our founding, we've funded over 23,300 rigorously evaluated projects, awarded to both large environmental organizations and small local initiatives. 

Pacific Seabird Program RFP

Overview

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting proposals that implement actions and fill information gaps in support of business plan focal seabird species. The Pacific Seabird program 2022–2027 business plan leverages the lessons learned from the 2021 impact assessment and 10 years of programmatic experience to develop a framework for advancing conservation of atrisk seabirds. The overarching vision of the Pacific Seabird Program Business Plan is to address the impacts of terrestrial and marine threats on focal seabird species (a full lifecycle conservation approach) towards reducing extinction risk and sustaining resilient populations. Specifically, the goal of the plan is to increase population size through improved survival and reproduction. The anticipated changes in productivity and survival are expected to increase the long-term resilience of populations to anthropogenic threats.

By directly addressing threats through supporting actions that implement 1) management of nonnative invasive species; 2) restore breeding habitat; 3) reduce seabird bycatch in fisheries, and 4) build conservation capacity and fill knowledge gaps—this business plan aims to slow or reverse population declines

Geographic Focus

The 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) will consider projects from four broad geographies within the Pacific: 1) California Current, 2) Hawaiian Archipelago, 3) Humboldt Current, and 4) locations in the central tropical Pacific supporting priority species listed in the business plan.

ONR, ONRG, and MCWL are interested in receiving proposals for Long-Range S&T Projects that offer potential for advancement and improvement of Navy and Marine Corps operations. Readers should note that this is an announcement to declare ONR, ONRG and MCWL’s broad role in competitive funding of meritorious research across a spectrum of science and engineering disciplines. All responsible sources from academia, industry and the research community worldwide may submit proposals under this BAA. All businesses, both small and large, are encouraged to submit proposals and compete for funding consideration.

This Broad Agency Announcement is a mechanism to encourage research, education and outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that are not addressed through NOAA’s competitive discretionary programs. This announcement is not soliciting goods or services for the direct benefit of NOAA. Funding for activities described in this notice is contingent upon the availability of appropriations in the fiscal years applicable to the application. Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for any activities described in this notice. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to review an application beyond an initial administrative review, or to award any specific project, or to obligate any available funds.

NOAA Ocean Exploration is dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery. By working closely with partners across public, private, and academic sectors, we are filling gaps in our basic understanding of the marine environment. This allows us, collectively, to protect ocean health, sustainably manage our marine resources, accelerate our national economy, better understand our changing environment, and enhance appreciation of the importance of the ocean in our everyday lives. 

This Broad Agency Announcement is a mechanism to encourage research, education and outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that are not addressed through NOAA’s competitive discretionary programs. This announcement is not soliciting goods or services for the direct benefit of NOAA. Funding for activities described in this notice is contingent upon the availability of appropriations in the fiscal years applicable to the application . Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for any activities described in this notice. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to review an application beyond an initial administrative review, or to award any specific project, or to obligate any available funds.

As an agency with responsibilities for maintaining and improving the viability of marine and coastal ecosystems, for delivering valuable weather, climate, and water information and services, for understanding the science and consequences of climate change, and for supporting the global commerce and transportation upon which we all depend, NOAA must remain current and responsive in an ever-changing world.We do this in concert with our partners and stakeholders in Federal, state, and local governments and private organizations, applying a systematic approach that links our strategic goals through multi-year plans to the daily activities of our employees. Every year we are committed to re-evaluate our progress and priorities, look for efficiencies, and take advantage of new opportunities to improve our information, products, and services.

About Pure Ocean

Pure Ocean is an international endowment fund based in Marseille and Lorient. Its main mission is to mobilize civil society in order to support ambitious and innovative scientific projects for the protection of biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems.

Through an international call for projects, then an analysis carried out by the five eminent researchers who make up the scientific committee, Pure Ocean selects projects with a strong innovative dimension, whether technological, ecological or social.

Pure Ocean also raises public awareness of the situation of endangered ecosystems by highlighting solutions to protect them through conferences, the promotion of races and sporting challenges or the provision of “La Goutte Bleue” waste collection kits

4 Major Themes : The Pure Ocean Challenges (Based On The The United Nations 10 Ocean Decade Challenges)

• Understanding marine pollution and combating its origins
• Protecting biodiversity and restoring degraded marine ecosystems
• Strengthening the resilience of marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them in the face of climate change
• Improving our knowledge of the ocean-system

Special Features of the 2025 Call for Projects

This year, special attention will be given to :

• Developing marine conservation initiatives managed by local communities and indigenous peoples
• Exploring nature-based solutions for the preservation of blue carbon ecosystems
• Operating in key oceanic areas
  • the French littoral, Middle East/Asia and Africa coasts