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Ocean Funding Opportunities

Ocean Funding Opportunities

A running list of open grants, fellowships, awards and contests for ocean and coastal work, sorted by closing date. Every entry has been checked against the funder’s own page. Deadlines and amounts are as published by the funder; confirm both before you apply.

Last updated: 10 September 2026.

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Closing in September 2026

Horizon Europe: Pushing the Frontier of Knowledge and Conservation Action for Deep Sea Ecosystems

Deadline: 17 September 2026 (single stage)
Amount: EUR 18,000,000 total across two expected projects, roughly EUR 9,000,000 each
Call reference: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03

This Horizon Europe research and innovation action funds work to close biodiversity knowledge gaps in the deep sea, including habitat mapping of seamounts, hydrothermal vents, canyons, and abyssal plains, species inventories, genetic diversity, food webs, and connectivity. Proposals are expected to advance imaging, acoustic, genomic, and multi-omics methods for rapid species identification, assess climate and human pressures including underwater noise, and establish Essential Ocean Variables and Essential Biodiversity Variables for long-term monitoring. Results should support area-based management under the BBNJ Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Applicants must form a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries; universities, research centres, SMEs, and NGOs are eligible.

California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

Deadline: 30 September 2026 (5:00pm)
Amount: Not applicable (free-entry recognition contest, no cash award)

The California Coastal Commission’s annual amateur photography contest pays tribute to the state’s coast and ocean, honours the diversity of wildlife they support, and celebrates coastal access for all. Entries may feature any of three subjects: the scenic California coast and Pacific Ocean, the people of the California coast, and California ocean and coastal wildlife. Entry is free and open to all amateur photographers, defined as those earning less than half their income from photography, and images must be taken in California and show native species in natural settings. Marine mammals must be photographed from 50 yards or more. Questions about entries go to Lauren.Dung@coastal.ca.gov.

Sea-Changers Main Grants, autumn round

Deadline: 30 September 2026
Amount: GBP 500 to 2,500

Sea-Changers is a UK marine conservation charity making one-off grants to UK-based charities, not-for-profit organisations, and schools for conservation and research projects. Projects must address the root causes of marine conservation threats in the UK, prevent or reduce negative impacts on UK coastal and marine environments or species, or add to the body of knowledge about UK marine conservation challenges. The charity states a particular interest in grassroots projects that galvanise community action. The Main Grants programme runs two rounds a year, closing 31 March and 30 September, and a separate Small Grants fund of up to GBP 500 is open continuously with rolling review.

Closing in October 2026

Stephenson Exploration Advancement (SEA) Program, 2027 field season

Deadline: 2 October 2026 (18:00 ET)
Amount: USD 10,000

The Philip Stephenson Foundation and The Explorers Club fund exploration and field research for marine exploration and conservation projects, aimed at work that expands knowledge and makes a tangible difference for marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Eligible applicants are college undergraduates, graduate students, and independent explorers conducting fieldwork focused specifically on marine research. Two letters of support must be submitted through the application form itself, and applications missing both letters are not reviewed. Applicants are asked to state the status of any required permits and to flag anticipated ethical concerns up front. The Club cannot consider proposals for work conducted in China or by Chinese citizens.

Fulbright-National Geographic Award Program, 2027 to 2028 competition

Deadline: 6 October 2026 (17:00 ET, the Fulbright US Student Program national deadline)
Amount: Up to USD 20,000 in additional grant funds, on top of standard Fulbright Study or Research benefits

The Fulbright Program and the National Geographic Society jointly fund a cohort of up to five individuals each year, adding money and resources to an existing Fulbright US Student Program experience. Proposals are sought across science, education, and storytelling, examining a globally relevant issue as an enhancement to the applicant’s Fulbright Open Study or Research project, and must align with one or more of the Society’s six focus areas, of which Ocean is one. This is an enhancement award rather than a standalone grant, so recipients must first be selected for a Fulbright Study or Research grant by the country they applied to. To be considered, applicants mark “Yes” to the National Geographic question inside the Fulbright application; semi-finalists are then invited to submit additional materials in late January or early February 2027.

Ferris Olson Family Foundation for Ocean Stewardship (FOFFOS)

Deadline: 12 October 2026
Amount: Varies by project

The Ferris Olson Family Foundation for Ocean Stewardship is accepting applications for its 2026 grant cycle. Established in 2022 as a 501(c)(3) charitable giving foundation, FOFFOS awards annual grants to organisations working in ocean and coastal conservation. Applicants must hold 501(c)(3) status. Applications are reviewed and awarded by the FOFFOS board on merit.

BCDC 2026 Photography Contest

Deadline: 14 October 2026
Amount: Not applicable (recognition and in-kind prizes only)

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is running its inaugural photography contest, inviting photographs of the plants, wildlife, landscapes, and people of San Francisco Bay and Suisun Marsh. Entry is free and open to photographers of all ages regardless of where they live, with up to five photographs per entrant across five categories: Bay and wetland flora, Bay and wetland fauna, our public shoreline, scenes of the Bay, and a young photographers category open only to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. All photographs must be taken within the San Francisco Bay or Suisun Marsh region and must be the entrant’s original work; artificial intelligence and heavily manipulated images are prohibited, while minimal colour correction, exposure adjustment, and cropping are permitted. Judges select one winner per category, and winners and honourable mentions are announced in late October. BCDC commissioners and staff are not eligible.

Blue Action Fund: Mangroves, Blue Carbon Markets, and 30×30 in Asia

Deadline: 16 October 2026
Amount: EUR 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 per project; total funding envelope up to EUR 17,000,000

Blue Action Fund is inviting grant applications from NGOs and NGO consortia for projects in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, or India that combine protected area or OECM establishment and improved management with mangrove protection, restoration and sustainable use, and a credible pathway towards high-integrity blue carbon crediting. Projects must cover a minimum of 1,000 hectares of mangrove conservation or restoration, run for five years or less, and build on documented pre-feasibility or feasibility assessments; purely conceptual proposals are not eligible. Applicants must provide match funding of at least 25 per cent of total project costs and secure endorsement from the relevant national authority. Applications are submitted by email to grants@blueactionfund.org.

Hurricane Response Marine Debris Removal Fund

Deadline: 21 October 2026 (23:59 EDT) for full proposals
Amount: Up to USD 11,000,000 across the programme

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, is seeking proposals for marine debris assessment, removal, and disposal in coastal communities in Florida, Georgia, Guam, North Carolina, and South Carolina affected by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton and by Typhoon Mawar. The 2023 and 2024 hurricane and typhoon seasons left large aggregations of debris and many displaced vessels, posing hazards to navigation, commercial fishing grounds, and sensitive habitats. Proposals should set out how the project will prevent further damage to coastal habitats and species and reduce the impacts of debris on communities, infrastructure, assets of economic and cultural importance, or navigation safety. Priority goes to projects with clear removal and disposal outcomes and coordination with the relevant state or territorial marine debris agency.

Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2027

Deadline: 22 October 2026 regular deadline (earlybird 2 October, late 12 November, extended 4 December)
Amount: Not applicable (screening royalties paid per screening rather than a one-off cash prize)

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is accepting ocean documentary films under 60 minutes for its 2027 programme, across categories covering ocean exploration, sport and adventure, the ocean environment, coastal culture, and marine wildlife and science. Films produced before 2024 are not eligible, and films in languages other than English require English subtitles. Selected films are announced in January 2027, with the tour running through March 2027 and screenings planned in Australia, the UK, Spain, New Zealand, and Italy. Filmmakers are paid a screening royalty calculated on minutes screened across the tour. Entry fees range from USD 7 to 20 depending on the submission deadline.

Whitley Awards 2027

Deadline: 30 October 2026 (23:59 GMT)
Amount: GBP 50,000 in project funding over one year

The Whitley Fund for Nature makes annual awards to mid-career grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South, funding proven, science-based solutions that deliver lasting results for both people and nature. Applications covering marine, terrestrial, and freshwater work are all welcomed, at both species and wider ecosystem level. Applicants must generally be nationals of the country where their project is based and work for a locally incorporated NGO, charity, not-for-profit organisation, or eligible university, with a demonstrated track record in conservation. Three referees are required, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure references arrive before the deadline; the Fund states that submissions using templates from previous years will not be considered. Projects run for 12 months and are expected to begin in or shortly after June 2027, with winners announced at the awards ceremony in London in spring 2027.

Closing in November 2026

Behavior Change for Climate Action Challenge

Deadline: 1 November 2026 (23:59 ET)
Amount: USD 7,000 per organisation, plus technical assistance, to three nonprofits

The Center for Behavior and Climate is running its Behavior Change for Climate Action Challenge for another year, seeking nonprofits applying evidence-based behaviour change tools to high-impact climate actions that reduce CO2 emissions. Eligible climate areas include blue carbon restoration, renewable energy, electrification of cars, trucks or buses, building benchmarking, energy efficiency, food choices, and public action such as policy support, volunteering, and voting. Proposals must describe the behaviour change tools to be used. The programme targets adults aged 18 and over, whether groups or individuals, and does not fund environmental education projects for children. Three nonprofits are selected, each receiving USD 7,000 for a new or existing climate action project plus a workshop and continued technical support from CBC. Applications run to three pages and are requested by emailing infocbc@bds.com.

Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, 2027 to 2028 funding cycle

Deadline: 6 November 2026 (17:00)
Amount: Not specified on the call page

Funded by a share of the revenue from Florida’s Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate and administered by the non-profit Sea Turtle Conservancy, this programme distributes funds each year for sea turtle research, conservation, and education work benefiting Florida sea turtles. Applicants must submit both a digital copy through the online submission form and one signed original printed hard copy postmarked by the same deadline, a change from previous years when eight hard copies were required. The cover sheet, budget, and body of the proposal must be in MS Word format rather than PDF, with supporting documents accepted as PDFs. Proposal review completes in January 2027, the grant committee meets in March 2027, and funded projects are expected to begin around 1 May 2027 and run for one year. Projects requiring Marine Turtle Permits must have the final permit approved by the date of the committee meeting.

Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future 5th Call for Proposals

Deadline: 13 November 2026 for concept papers (call opened 20 July 2026)
Amount: Community grants up to BZD 100,000; medium grants BZD 50,000 to 150,000; large grants BZD 150,000 to 500,000

The Belize Fund, the financing mechanism of Belize’s Blue Bonds, is inviting concept papers for its 2026 to 2027 funding cycle across three thematic areas: sustainable fisheries covering gear, traceability, catch data monitoring, and fisher capacity; climate resilience through nature-based solutions, restoration, and reduced nutrient and sediment loading; and blue business innovation including mariculture, reef-positive tourism, circular economy work, and value-added marine biodiversity products. Applicants with accepted concept papers are invited to develop full proposals, with technical working sessions provided for community grant applicants. Eligible entities must be registered with the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry and operational in Belize for at least one year, and community grant applicants must be located in a coastal community. Co-financing of 10 to 25 per cent is required depending on grant size.

Opening this autumn, closing in January 2027

PADI Foundation Grant Program, 2027 cycle

Deadline: 15 January 2027 (applications open 1 November 2026)
Amount: Typically USD 5,000 to 12,000

The PADI Foundation funds research and education projects that expand knowledge of aquatic environments, improve understanding of diving physiology and diver safety, and address challenges facing ocean and coastal ecosystems. Grants typically range from USD 5,000 to 12,000, with larger budgets considered for diving-physiology research related to diver safety. There are no nationality restrictions, and proposals may address both scuba and freediving.

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