Current Funding Opportunities

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & CONFERENCES

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

Ocean Conservancy Large Marine Debris Removal Project
Submission deadline: May 31, 2026 (5:00 PM EDT)
Funding amount: USD 50,000 to 200,000 per project (USD 2.2 million total available)
Status: Open
Website: https://oceanconservancy.org/work/plastics/cleanups-icc/large-marine-debris-removal-project/
Details: Funded through a 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Program award, Ocean Conservancy is awarding grants to remove large marine debris and derelict fishing gear from remote and hard-to-reach coastal waterways across the United States, including U.S. territories and Freely Associated States. Eligible debris covers bulky items like boat parts, construction materials, and tires, plus abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear such as large nets and tangled traps. Vessel removals are not eligible. Successful projects support local fishers, coastal economies tied to seafood, tourism, and recreation, and the recovery of coastal and marine habitats.

NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program: 2026-2027
Submission deadline: July 1, 2026
Funding amount: USD 1,000 to 4,000 per school (participation without funding also available)
Status: Open
Website: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/
Details: NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is accepting applications from PreK-12 schools committing to the protection of local watersheds, the ocean, and special ocean areas like national marine sanctuaries through a school- or community-based conservation project. Any U.S. school may participate without funding. Funded participation is open to schools in eligible counties across California, Washington, Oregon, and statewide in Hawai’i.

2026 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award (NOAA Fisheries)
Nominations deadline: June 1, 2026
Award type: Recognition (no cash component listed)
Status: Open for nominations
Website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/nominate-outstanding-steward-marine-coastal-or-riverine-habitat-conservation
Details: NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation is seeking nominations for the 2026 Dr. Nancy Foster Award, which honors outstanding achievement and dedication to marine, coastal, or riverine habitat conservation. Nominees must reside in the United States or a U.S. territory. The nomination form on the NOAA Fisheries site lays out eligibility and submission steps.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

G20 CORDAP: AI-Powered Decision Support System for Coral Reefs
Submission deadline: May 20, 2026 (18:00 UTC)
Funding amount: USD 1,500,000 (single award)
Status: Open
Website: https://cordap.org/call-for-tenders/
Details: The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) is seeking proposals to develop a high-impact, end-to-end AI-powered Decision Support System capable of integrating scientific data, environmental monitoring, and advanced analytics into practical guidance for reef managers, conservation practitioners, and policymakers worldwide. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, for-profit organizations, higher education institutions, research institutes, and government bodies in any country. Project duration ranges from 12 to 36 months. A Q&A webinar was held April 9, 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The call comes as CORDAP reports at least 84 percent of the world’s coral reefs have been exposed to bleaching-level heat stress in recent years.

UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge
Submission deadline: No current open call
Funding amount: USD 50,000 to 250,000 (typical range when active)
Status: Between cycles, subscribe for funding alerts
Website: https://www.oceaninnovationchallenge.org/
Details: Supports innovative solutions tied to SDG 14 targets. Past calls have focused on marine pollution, fisheries, and the blue economy.

PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS & CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS

Ferris Olson Family Foundation for Ocean Stewardship (FOFFOS)
Submission deadline: October 12, 2026
Funding amount: Varies by project
Status: Open
Website: https://foffos.org/
Details: 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 organizations working in ocean and coastal conservation. Applicants must hold 501(c)(3) status. Applications are reviewed and awarded by the FOFFOS board on merit. Questions can be directed to FerrisOlsonFoundation@gmail.com.

Oceanic Society 2026 Global Ocean Cleanup Grants
Submission deadline: Open (rolling until all grants awarded)
Funding amount: USD 1,500 per grant (ten awards available)
Status: Open
Website (application form): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QLr3pY5_P_RozMuRL00KBC0hAwXpR2nMAKADsIsSFcw/viewform
Details: The Oceanic Society is accepting applications for its fifth annual Global Ocean Cleanup, offering grants to ten organizations worldwide to lead, organize, and document community-based coastal or underwater cleanup events. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, community groups, and conservation organizations operating in any coastal or marine environment. Grant recipients will be supported in planning and executing cleanup events while contributing standardized data to a broader marine debris tracking effort. The program is open to organizations in any country.

Blue Action Fund: Marine Protected Areas Grant Program
Submission deadline: No current open calls
Funding amount: €2-4 million (typical grants)
Status: Between funding cycles, subscribe for funding alerts
Website: https://www.blueactionfund.org/
Details: Supports MPA establishment and management in Africa, Latin America, and Asia/Pacific. Requires 25 percent match funding.

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)
Submission deadline: Ongoing (varies by region)
Funding amount: Varies by project
Status: Ongoing
Website: https://www.cepf.net/grants
Details: Supports biodiversity conservation in global hotspots. Marine components in coastal hotspots.

REGIONAL & SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS

Sea-Changers Scottish Learning Fund
Submission deadline: Rolling applications (open until funds depleted)
Funding amount: Up to £750 per application
Status: Open
Website: https://www.sea-changers.org.uk/scottish-learning-fund
Details: Supports early-stage and community-based marine conservation groups in Scotland to learn from peers, share knowledge, and develop collaborative skills. Funding covers site visits to established projects, workshops with experienced practitioners, joint training sessions, and networking activities. Showcases funded projects on the Sea-Changers website for inspiration.

OCEAN Grants Programme (UK)
Submission deadline: Rolling applications
Funding amount: Varies
Status: Accepting proposals
Website: https://oceangrants.org.uk/
Details: UK-focused marine and ocean research grants.

Whitley Awards (The Green Oscars)
Submission deadline: 2027 cycle opens early 2027
Funding amount: £40,000 (standard); £100,000 (continuation funding)
Status: Between cycles, watch the website for the 2027 application window
Website: https://whitleyaward.org/apply-for-conservation-funding/apply-for-a-whitley-award/
Details: Recognizes outstanding conservation leadership in the Global South.

YOUTH & FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

2026 Ocean Awareness Contest: Your Story, Our Ocean (Bow Seat)
Submission deadline: June 8, 2026
Funding amount: Cash awards up to USD 1,000
Status: Open, free to enter
Website: https://bowseat.org/programs/ocean-awareness-contest/
Details: Open to students ages 11 to 18 worldwide. Submissions accepted across multiple categories, including visual art, creative writing, poetry, film, performing arts, and interactive/multimedia. The contest encourages youth to explore personal connections to the ocean through creative storytelling.

NSF-REU at Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences: Fall 2026
Submission deadline: May 31, 2026
Funding amount: Fully funded (round-trip airfare from the U.S., on-campus housing and meals, plus a competitive stipend)
Status: Open
Website: https://bios.asu.edu/education/nsf-reu
Details: The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (ASU BIOS), a unit of Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, is accepting applications for its NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates Fall 2026 cohort (program runs August 24 to November 13). Participants conduct mentored research with BIOS scientists, present their work, attend professional development workshops, and, schedule and weather permitting, join a research cruise aboard R/V Atlantic Explorer. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, age 18 or older, and enrolled in undergraduate study before and after the program. Students from underrepresented groups and from colleges with limited STEM research opportunities are particularly encouraged. Prior NSF-funded REU in Ocean Sciences participants are not eligible.

NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship 2027
Submission deadline: December 2026
Funding amount: USD 20,000 plus mentorship
Status: Open
Website: https://on.nrdc.org/ClimateStorytelling
Details: The 2027 NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship, in partnership with The Black List, CAA Community + Impact, NBCUniversal, and The Redford Center, supports writers developing feature or pilot scripts that engage with climate or environmental themes in compelling or unique ways. Selected fellows receive a USD 20,000 grant, feedback from climate experts, and creative mentorship. Recipients will be announced in April 2027. NRDC will additionally cover one month of hosting and one evaluation fee for accepted submissions on the Black List website.