PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant Program
Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-14 20:57
The PADI AWARE Foundation provides grants up to $10,000 to PADI dive centers and non-profit organizations (operating budget under $1M) for projects addressing marine debris, climate change, habitat loss, and species protection globally.
Source: https://www.padi.com/aware/community-grants
Funding Details
- Funder
- PADI AWARE Foundation
- Funding Goal
- Accelerate ocean conservation through community-based projects addressing marine debris, habitat loss, climate change, and species protection
- Funding Amount
- Up to $10,000 USD per grant (up to 10.000 €)
- Deadline
- Annual cycle. 2025 cycle: applications closed October 3, 2025. Next 2026 cycle expected to open September 2026. (periodic)
- How to Apply
- Complete online eligibility quiz, then submit full application form. Finalists notified ~1 month after closing. Funds disbursed ~2 months after closing.
- Target Region
- Global — 31+ countries funded
- Contact
- padi.com/aware/community-grants
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-14 20:57
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The PADI AWARE Foundation Community Grant Program is a cornerstone funding initiative designed to accelerate ocean conservation by providing direct financial resources to community-based organizations and PADI dive centers worldwide. The program addresses five key ocean threats: climate change, marine debris, marine habitat loss, and marine species protection. Since its launch in 2022, the program has awarded over USD $700,000 to more than 80 projects across 31 countries, with an overarching commitment to provide over $10 million in funding by 2030. Individual grants are capped at $10,000 USD, making this a small-grant program focused on community-level impact. Eligibility is intentionally broad but bounded: applicants must be either PADI Dive Centers (PADI Mission Hubs) or registered non-profit organizations with an annual operating budget under $1 million USD. This restriction means the program is designed for smaller civil society organizations rather than large international NGOs. The program runs annually, with applications typically opening in September and closing in early October. Selected grantees must submit project completion reports and provide bank account details for wire transfer disbursement. The marine debris component specifically targets collection, data gathering, and removal activities aligned with PADI AWARE Blueprint targets: reducing marine debris by 50% in targeted countries through partnerships.
Historical Context
Program launched 2022. Annual cycle. 2025 cycle opened September 15, closed October 3, 2025. Notifications November 2025, disbursement December 2025. Previous grantees across Africa, Asia, Americas.
Why it was added
grant-scan-list8-2026-03-14
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