The Ocean Foundation Grantmaking

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 13:43

The Ocean Foundation operates as the only community foundation for the ocean, dedicated to improving global ocean health, climate resilience, and the blue economy. Facilitates grantmaking from individual donors, corporations, and government entities, directing funds towards critical conservation initiatives. Bridges the gap in environmental grantmaking for ocean causes.

Source: https://oceanfdn.org/grantmaking

Funding Details

Funder

The Ocean Foundation

Funding Goal

Support marine conservation projects worldwide by bridging the gap in environmental grantmaking for ocean causes. Funds projects in categories including conserving marine habitats and special places, protecting species of concern, building capacity of the marine conservation community, and expanding ocean literacy and awareness.

Funding Amount

Average grant approximately $10,000; multi-year giving supported where possible. Indirect costs capped at 15% of project budget. Total grantmaking in FY2022: $1,199,832 to 59 organizations.

Deadline

Rolling basis (Letters of Inquiry reviewed quarterly; full proposals by invitation only) (Rolling)

How to Apply

Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by email to grants@oceanfdn.org. Do not call or mail hard copy LOIs. LOIs are reviewed quarterly; applicants notified by email whether invited to submit a full proposal. TOF undertakes due diligence, vetting, issues grant agreements, and administers reporting. Indirect costs capped at 15%.

Target Region

Global (over 50% of grantmaking outside the USA)

Contact

grants@oceanfdn.org; Mark J. Spalding: mspalding@oceanfdn.org

Last Checked

2026-05-07 08:06

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• LOIs are reviewed quarterly; full proposals submitted only by invitation
• Religious organizations and election campaigns are not eligible
• Grantee should demonstrate a diverse funding portfolio

Project Scope

• Applicant must work on marine science, conservation, or ocean literacy
• DEIJ commitment and practices are evaluated in proposals

Required Documents

• Submit a Letter of Inquiry by email to grants@oceanfdn.org (no calls or hard copies)

Constraints

• Indirect costs capped at 15% of project budget

Summary

The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is a US-based community foundation that operates as the only foundation dedicated exclusively to ocean causes. Its grantmaking aims to bridge the historic underfunding of ocean conservation relative to the ocean's ecological importance. The programme's thematic scope covers four main grant categories: (1) Conserving Marine Habitats and Special Places — protection and restoration of coral reefs, coastal ecosystems, MPAs, and blue carbon habitats; (2) Protecting Species of Concern — research and conservation for threatened marine wildlife; (3) Building Capacity of the Marine Conservation Community — technical tools, training, DEIJ initiatives; (4) Expanding Ocean Literacy and Awareness — education, citizen science, community engagement. Priority areas include climate resilience, blue economy, ocean science diplomacy, and island communities. Eligible activities include conservation implementation, habitat restoration, species protection, capacity building, coalition building, science diplomacy, and ocean literacy. Pure research is supported but grantees are expected to be doing work on the water. Grants can be multi-year. The geographic scope is global, with over 50% of grantmaking directed outside the USA. Projects in Latin America, Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and Africa are well-represented based on published grantee examples. Eligible applicants are conservation organizations and individuals demonstrating a commitment to marine science and conservation. Religious organizations and election campaigns are excluded. TOF also accepts Letters of Inquiry from under-the-radar organizations doing strong work. A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Justice (DEIJ) lens is applied. Target beneficiaries include coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and island peoples affected by climate change. The foundation prioritizes supporting local and regional actors. Average grant size is approximately $10,000. There is no defined minimum or maximum. Indirect costs are capped at 15%. Funding comes from general unrestricted donations, funder collaboratives, and donor-advised funds. All grantmaking is donor-driven, so there is no generic open RFP — only specific calls when a donor with matching interests is identified.

Historical Context

The Ocean Foundation is the only community foundation for the ocean. Founded to address the fact that oceans cover 71% of the planet but receive only 7% of environmental grantmaking (and less than 1% of all philanthropy). In FY2022, awarded $1,199,832 to 59 organizations. Supports multi-year giving. Also provides fiscal sponsorship, institutional support, and donor-advised fund services.

Why it was added

Unique community foundation for ocean health with broad grantmaking for marine conservation

Sources

• https://oceanfdn.org/grantmaking

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