Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation - Environmental Conservation Program (Marine)

Enriched US Foundation · Found: 2026-03-10 13:21

Broader marine conservation and sustainable fisheries grants. Recent examples: $3M for Ocean Protection, $946K for Arctic Ocean Conservation, $1.37M for Improving Fisheries Management. Grants range $50K-$5M. Non-US orgs welcome with wire transfer and equivalency determination support. Invitation-only, 100-word email inquiry to inquiry@moore.org.

Source: https://moore.org/grants

Funding Details

Funder

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Funding Goal

Protect and sustain critical marine and ocean ecosystems through science-based conservation, sustainable fisheries management, and international cooperation — with a flagship focus on the Arctic Ocean and global biodiversity frameworks.

Funding Amount

Recent marine grants range from ~$946K to $25M+. Initial inquiry-stage programs may start at $50K–$5M for individual organization grants. (946.000 € – 28.750.000 €)

Deadline

Rolling (invitation-only, inquiry-driven) (Rolling)

How to Apply

Invitation-only. Prospective grantees should submit a brief 100-word email inquiry to inquiry@moore.org describing the project and its alignment with Moore Foundation priorities. If the foundation expresses interest, it will follow up with a formal invitation to apply. Non-US organizations must complete an equivalency determination process; the foundation provides support for this and for wire transfer arrangements.

Target Region

Arctic Ocean (primary), global (North America focus); international organizations eligible

Contact

inquiry@moore.org (grant inquiries, 100-word email); communications@moore.org (general); Phone: 650-213-3000; Address: 1661 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304

Official Page

https://moore.org/programs/environmental-conservation/arctic-ocean-initiative

Last Checked

2026-03-11 18:16

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organization must be a registered nonprofit or obtain equivalency determination (required for non-US entities; foundation provides support)
• Non-US organizations are explicitly eligible; wire transfer and equivalency determination support available

Project Scope

• Project must align with Moore Foundation's active strategic marine priorities: Arctic Ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, ocean biodiversity, or global conservation frameworks
• Projects must be science-based with measurable, demonstrable conservation outcomes

Required Documents

• Inquiry email should clearly articulate project alignment with Moore's marine/environmental priorities in ~100 words
• Equivalency determination documentation required for non-US organizations before grant disbursement

Constraints

• Program is invitation-only; initial step is submitting a 100-word email inquiry to inquiry@moore.org
• Foundation typically funds multi-year initiatives ($1M+); small-scale or pilot-only projects under $500K may not be strategic fit

Summary

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's Environmental Conservation Program is one of the largest philanthropic funders of marine and ocean conservation globally, having awarded 1,799 grants totaling $2.49 billion since 2001. Within its environmental portfolio, marine/ocean work is anchored by the Arctic Ocean Initiative — focused on protecting biodiverse ecosystems and sustainable fisheries in U.S. and Canadian Arctic waters, and fostering international cooperation among Arctic nations. Additional global marine investments include the Blue Nature Alliance ($25M, 2025) and support for the SPACES Coalition implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework ($28.75M, 2025). The foundation's marine grantmaking strategy is explicitly science-based and outcome-oriented, prioritizing habitat protection for fish populations, mitigation of climate-driven threats (warming, acidification, sea ice loss), indigenous-led conservation, and science-based fisheries management. Recent marine-focused grants include Ocean Protection ($3M), Arctic Ocean Conservation ($946K), Improving Fisheries Management in the U.S. Arctic ($1.37M), and U.S. Arctic Marine Stewardship ($2.53M). Grantmaking is invitation-only. Prospective applicants must submit a brief 100-word email inquiry to inquiry@moore.org. Non-US organizations are explicitly welcome, with the foundation providing wire transfer arrangements and equivalency determination support for international grantees. Typical grant terms run 2–5 years, with amounts ranging from roughly $950K to $28M+ for major strategic grants. The foundation describes itself as "society's venture capital" — making bold, multi-year bets on initiatives where it has developed strategic focus areas. The foundation works collaboratively, often co-funding initiatives with other major funders and engaging with scientific communities to ensure evidence-based approaches. It does not broadly accept unsolicited proposals and tends to fund organizations that fit within its pre-defined strategic priorities, making cold outreach successful only if there is a very close thematic and geographic match to current program focus areas.

Historical Context

Foundation established in 2001; first grant issued that year. Over $6.15 billion in cumulative grants across all programs (4,429 total grants). Environmental Conservation Program has awarded 1,799 grants totaling $2.49 billion. Arctic Ocean Initiative builds on 20+ years of marine conservation work. Recent 2025 grants confirm program is active and ongoing.

Why it was added

Major funder with multi-million dollar marine conservation grants and explicit infrastructure for supporting non-US grantees.

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