Lighthouse Foundation

Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-10 12:35

Supports holistic and long-term approaches to ocean stewardship. Funds science, research, and environmental protection projects worldwide. Primarily works through active partnerships rather than open calls.

Source: https://www.lighthouse-foundation.org

Funding Details

Funder

Lighthouse Foundation

Funding Goal

Supports holistic and long-term projects with a maritime connection that promote sustainable development in coastal regions worldwide. Funds projects in marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, coastal community development, environmental education, and marine biodiversity — with an emphasis on local actors, interdisciplinary approaches, and replicable solutions that build maritime awareness.

Funding Amount

Not publicly disclosed; determined case-by-case based on project scope

How to Apply

No open call system. Interested organisations should review the foundation's assessment criteria (Orientierungsrahmen) and contact the foundation directly. The foundation assesses applications based on maritime relevance, holistic sustainability, local embeddedness, interdisciplinary approach, and awareness impact. Contact via the foundation website at www.lighthouse-foundation.org.

Target Region

Global, with focus on coastal regions; active projects in Germany, Norway, Tanzania, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Belize, Honduras, Ghana, Philippines, Kenya, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Scotland

Contact

Lighthouse Foundation, website: www.lighthouse-foundation.org (contact via website)

Official Page

https://www.lighthouse-foundation.org/Zusammenarbeit-mit-uns.html

Last Checked

2026-03-15 08:34

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organisation must be a non-profit, NGO, or community-based entity; local actors must lead implementation
• Foundation works through partnerships, not open calls — proactive outreach required

Project Scope

• Project must have a clear and demonstrable maritime or coastal connection
• Project must be located in a coastal region and contribute to sustainable development
• Project must be replicable and serve as a model for other regions or communities

Required Documents

• No formal application form — applicants contact the foundation directly based on assessment criteria

Constraints

• Activities must effectively communicate maritime themes and raise awareness
• Interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches are preferred

Summary

The Lighthouse Foundation is a German private foundation dedicated to the seas and oceans. It supports worldwide regional development projects that promote holistic, long-term thinking about the relationship between humans and the marine environment, with a focus on sustainable development in coastal regions. The foundation funds projects across a broad range of marine topics including sustainable fisheries, coastal community development, marine biodiversity, marine protected areas, environmental education, and plastic waste reduction. Projects must have a clear maritime connection, serve as models for replication in other regions, and have local actors as the primary drivers. Unlike many foundations, Lighthouse Foundation works primarily through active partnerships rather than open application cycles. Organisations interested in collaboration should review the assessment criteria on their website and approach the foundation directly. The foundation evaluates submissions based on maritime relevance, sustainability, local embeddedness, visibility, and interdisciplinary character. Past projects span over 30 countries and cover topics from coral restoration in the Maldives, sponge farming in Zanzibar, and plastic-free schools in Indonesia, to sustainable fisheries in Spain and coastal community resilience in Panama. The foundation is particularly relevant for NGOs with innovative, community-based approaches to marine conservation.

Historical Context

The Lighthouse Foundation has been active since 2000 and has financed numerous local development projects with a maritime focus worldwide. The foundation focuses on long-term partnerships rather than open grant calls.

Why it was added

Directly focused on ocean and marine projects. Works through partnerships - no open calls but worth contacting directly for marine conservation projects.

Sources

• https://www.lighthouse-foundation.org
• https://www.lighthouse-foundation.org/Zusammenarbeit-mit-uns.html

Similar Programs

← Back to list