Upcoming Deadlines
Source
EU
Federal (DE)
Schleswig-Holstein
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Lower Saxony
Foundation
Private
US Foundation
UK
Nordic
UN / Multilateral
Corporate
Impact Investor
Philanthropic Network
International
Topic
Aquaculture
Biodiversity
Blue Economy
Capacity Building
Circular Economy
Climate
Coastal Protection
Coral Reefs
Education
Fisheries
Marine Conservation
Marine Protected Areas
Plastic Waste
Pollution
Recycling & Upcycling
Research
Seaweed & Algae
Waste Management
Mechanism
Accelerator
Blended Finance
Grant
Investment
Loan / Concessional Finance
Prize
Technical Assistance
3 fixed deadlines, 37 rolling/open
March 2026
31.03.
11d left
Caribbean BluEFin Project (CBF)
· Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) — Caribbean BluEFin Project
· USD 200,000–250,000 per project; co-financing in cash and/or in-kind is highly encouraged
31.03.
11d left
Save Our Seas Foundation - Keystone Grants
· Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF)
· USD 10,000–100,000 per year; average USD 25,000 per annum. Biennial cycle, up to 3 years total duration with annual continuation applications possible.
April 2026
12.04.
23d left
National Geographic Society Grants - Ocean Exploration & Discovery
· National Geographic Society
· Level I grants up to USD $20,000; Level II grants up to $100,000
Rolling / Open Deadlines
periodic
The Earthshot Prize
· The Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (Earthshot Prize)
· 2026 nominations largely closed (most nominators had Oct-Dec 2025 deadlines). 2027 cycle expected to open mid-2026.
periodic
periodic
Oceanic Society - Expedition Impact Program Conservation Grants
· Oceanic Society
· Annual, Spring deadline: February 1 (awards announced March 15); Fall deadline: August 1 (awards announced September 15). Rolling consideration for time-sensitive opportunities from active expedition partners.
periodic
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
· The Pew Charitable Trusts
· Annual, typically announced in March
periodic
Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund)
· MAR Fund (Mesoamerican Reef Fund)
· Annual, typically mid-year (18th RFP deadline was September 9, 2025)
periodic
UNDP Equator Initiative - Equator Prize
· United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Equator Initiative
· Annual, typically with nominations open in early-mid year and award ceremony in December
periodic
Whitley Fund for Nature (Whitley Awards)
· Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN)
· Annual. 2026 applications now closed. Typically opens mid-year for following year awards ceremony in May.
periodic
Rolex Awards for Enterprise
· Rolex
· Biennial, applications typically open every two years. Last cycle: 2023 laureates selected. Next round not yet announced.
periodic
Norway Development Assistance Program Against Marine Litter - SDG Partnership
· Government of Norway (Norad — Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation)
· Call for proposals Stage 1 (concept notes) deadline: September 2025 (first phase of new programme); monitor norad.no for 2026 calls
Rolling
Vancouver Aquarium Ocean.org - Ocean Action Grants
· Ocean Wise (ocean.org) / Canada Service Corps
· December 4, 2026 (final report deadline; applications accepted on rolling basis)
periodic
Save Our Seas Foundation - Funding Guidelines
· Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF)
· Keystone Grants Stage I opens March-April 2026; Small Grants Stage I opens May 2026; applications are currently closed
Rolling
SIDA Sweden Environmental and Climate Programs
· Sida – Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
· Next large CSO grant call planned for 2027
periodic
Pew Marine Fellows Program
· The Pew Charitable Trusts
· Periodic (annual cycle, nomination-based; no open call)
periodic
StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator (VentureWell/Scripps)
· VentureWell / NOAA IOOS
· Periodic, Spring and Fall cohorts annually (Spring 2026 Stage 0 deadline: April 7, 2026)
periodic
Blue Action Fund Grant Programme
· Blue Action Fund
· Periodic, per Call for Proposals (currently no open or upcoming calls)
periodic
Rolex Awards for Enterprise - Environment and Exploration
· Rolex (Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative)
· Periodic, typically every two years. Most recent cycle: 2023 laureates. Next cycle expected circa 2025-2026.
periodic
Schmidt Marine Technology Partners
· Schmidt Marine Technology Partners (Schmidt Family Foundation)
· Portal closed for 2025. Reopening early 2026 — check schmidtmarine.secure-platform.com
periodic
Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme (BSNP) - Swedish Institute
· Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet)
· Programme currently closed; new consolidated programme launching March 2026
periodic
KfW Development Bank Marine Litter Reduction Initiative
· KfW Development Bank (on behalf of the German Federal Government), channelled through Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)
· Programme runs until 2028; individual sub-grant deadlines managed by Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
Rolling
Global EbA Fund - Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Climate Resilience
· Global EbA Fund (Implemented by IUCN and UNEP; funded by German Federal Ministry BMUKN via IKI)
· Rolling basis
Rolling
Rolling
Rolling
Rolling
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Initiative
· Mangroves for the Future (MFF) / IUCN / UNDP
· Rolling basis
Rolling
Rolling
Rolling
New England Aquarium - Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF)
· New England Aquarium - Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF)
· Rolling basis
Rolling
Schmidt Marine Technology Partners (Schmidt Family Foundation)
· Schmidt Marine Technology Partners (a program of the Schmidt Family Foundation)
· Rolling basis
Rolling
SPREP-AFD Pacific Ocean Initiative
· Agence Française de Développement (AFD) via SPREP and Pacific Community (SPC)
· Rolling basis (5-year programme, 2025-2030)
periodic
GEF Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI 1.0 & 2.0)
· Global Environment Facility (GEF)
· Rolling basis / GEF-8 cycle ends 2026; GEF-9 begins 2026-2030
Rolling
The Ocean Foundation Grantmaking
· The Ocean Foundation
· Rolling basis — Letters of Inquiry reviewed quarterly; open RFPs posted when available
Rolling
Schmidt Marine Technology Partners Grantmaking
· Schmidt Marine Technology Partners (a programme of the Schmidt Family Foundation)
· Rolling basis — proposals can be submitted via the online portal at any time.
Rolling
Earthwatch Institute - Ocean Ecosystems Research Grants
· Earthwatch Institute
· Rolling basis, starting April 2026 for new projects beginning in 2028
periodic
Pew-Gerstner Fellowships for Ocean Plastic Pollution Research
· The Pew Charitable Trusts and Gerstner Philanthropies
· Rolling; three Pew-Gerstner Fellows to be selected over two years (2025-2026). First fellow announced 2026.
periodic
periodic
NOAA IOOS Integrated Ocean Observing System Funding
· NOAA U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Program Office
· Varies by announcement. Check Grants.gov for current active NOFOs. No single blanket deadline.
periodic
Copernicus Grants and Public Procurements
· European Union (Copernicus Programme / Mercator Ocean International / EUMETSAT / ECMWF)
· Varies by tender. Current tenders: FRONT-END TOOLS WEB DEVELOPMENT closed 02/03/2026; BLUE MARKETS tender also recently closed. Upcoming tenders listed on the page.