NatGeo: Developing Future Ocean Stewards

Enriched private-foundation · Found: 2026-05-06 13:16

NatGeo grant for ocean literacy projects focusing on community-based immersive learning. Application opens June 1, deadline June 24, 2026.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/grants-and-investments/rfp-developing-future-ocean-stewards/

Funding Details

Funder

National Geographic Society

Funding Goal

Fund community-based projects that help people form strong emotional bonds with the ocean and develop or deepen a sense of ocean identity through immersive learning experiences. Projects must foster ocean stewardship by addressing socioeconomic, psychological, cultural, and physical barriers to ocean connection. Includes pilots of new learning solutions, scaling existing solutions to new geographies or populations, and research measuring the effectiveness of educational innovations.

Funding Amount

Level I: up to USD 20,000 over 1 year; Level II: up to USD 100,000 over 2 years (average USD 50,000-65,000) (up to 100.000 €)

Deadline

2026-06-24 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Application opens June 1, 2026; deadline June 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Apply through the NatGeo online grant portal. Read Application Guidance document before applying. Budget must include line-item justifications. Informational webinars: May 20 and May 21, 2026. Questions: funding@ngs.org with subject 'Developing Future Ocean Stewards RFP'.

Target Region

Global; preference for National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions destinations (Arctic, Asia, Baja California, Costa Rica/Panama, Europe/Mediterranean, Patagonia, Peruvian Amazon, Pacific Northwest, Southeast Alaska/British Columbia, South Pacific, UK/Ireland)

Contact

funding@ngs.org | National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Last Checked

2026-05-07 00:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Individual applicant must be over 18 (organisations apply through individual lead)
• Applicant must demonstrate relevant education experience
• Must have strong connection to and/or track record in target community
• Current NatGeo staff excluded; Level I also excludes existing NG Explorers

Project Scope

• Project must select 'Education' and 'Ocean' as primary disciplines/focus area

Required Documents

• Budget must include line-item justifications; Risks section cannot be blank

Constraints

• Project must not start before January 2027
• Level I budget max USD 20,000; Level II budget max USD 100,000

Summary

The National Geographic Society's 'Developing Future Ocean Stewards' Request for Proposals (RFP) is a competitive grant programme designed to fund community-based ocean literacy projects that go beyond information transfer to build genuine emotional connections and stewardship identity among learners. The programme is motivated by the observation that knowledge-deficit approaches to ocean education have failed to produce large-scale behaviour change, and that immersive, identity-building experiences are needed to produce ocean stewards. Thematically, the call supports projects addressing the full spectrum of ocean literacy: promoting understanding of the ocean's influence on humanity and humanity's influence on the ocean. Priority is given to transdisciplinary approaches mixing natural and social sciences, storytelling, local/indigenous knowledge, and ocean-focused design. Projects should address specific socioeconomic, psychological, cultural, and physical barriers to ocean connection among underserved or excluded populations. A 'one water system' perspective — recognising the interconnection of all water on Earth — is encouraged. Eligible activities include: piloting new learning solutions; scaling proven solutions to new geographies or populations; and measuring the effectiveness of educational innovations. Projects can encompass formal and informal education, and reach learners of any age in any setting. Geographic preference is given to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions destinations including the Arctic, Asia, Europe/Mediterranean, the South Pacific, and Patagonia, among others. Eligible applicants are individuals over 18, globally. Projects must be community-led or co-designed with communities. The applicant must have prior education experience and a demonstrated connection to the target community. Current NatGeo staff are excluded. Level I grants (up to USD 20,000, 1 year) are for non-NG Explorers; Level II grants (up to USD 100,000, 2 years) are open to all, including existing Explorers. Applications open June 1, 2026 with a deadline of June 24, 2026. Projects must not start before January 2027. Grant recipients join the NG Explorer Community and a cohort experience with virtual gatherings for networking and learning.

Historical Context

Part of NatGeo's broader ocean focus programme. Grant recipients become NG Explorers and join a cohort of ocean RFP grantees with virtual networking gatherings. The RFP builds on NGS's longstanding education and ocean conservation mission.

Why it was added

discovered from funder #272: National Geographic Society – Grants and Exploration

Sources

• https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/grants-and-investments/rfp-developing-future-ocean-stewards/

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