Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF)

Enriched Philanthropic Network · Found: 2026-03-10 13:22

Pooled fund supporting community-based conservation projects led by local leaders in low- and middle-income countries. In 2025 awarded $304,000 to 34 projects in 20 countries, including fellowships and wellness stipends.

Source: https://neaq.org/about-us/press-room/press-releases/aquarium-names-four-new-ocean-conservation-leaders-to-marine-conservation-action-fund-fellows-program

Funding Details

Funder

New England Aquarium - Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF)

Funding Goal

MCAF provides small grants and fellowships supporting community-based ocean conservation projects led by local conservation leaders in low- and middle-income countries. The fund supports projects focused on: locally-informed, evidence-based solutions to pressing ocean conservation issues; collaboration with local stakeholders and communities for lasting, systemic change; monitoring endangered marine species; sustainable fisheries assessment; expansion of environmental education programs; and marine protected area management. The MCAF Fellows Program provides deeper, longer-term support of $12,000 per fellow plus knowledge exchange opportunities. The Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) program supports emerging conservation leaders with small grants and mentorship.

Funding Amount

MCAF grants range from $1,000 to $12,000. MCAF Fellows receive $12,000 plus knowledge exchange and stipends for health and wellness. (1.000 € – 12.000 €)

How to Apply

1. Submit a funding inquiry to Program Manager Emily Duwan at eduwan@neaq.org with: a paragraph about your proposed project, a brief bio of the project lead, and an approximate budget and timeline. 2. If interest is expressed, a full proposal will be invited. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis by MCAF staff and expert reviewers from the global MCAF community.

Target Region

Low- and middle-income countries globally. Active projects in the Philippines, Brazil, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and others across 60+ countries.

Contact

Emily Duwan, Program Manager: eduwan@neaq.org | New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110

Official Page

https://neaq.org/conservation-and-research/marine-conservation-action-fund/

Last Checked

2026-03-15 09:02

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Project must take place in a low- or middle-income country
• Project leader must be a national of the country where work is taking place
• Applicant must be affiliated with an NGO or academic institution

Project Scope

• Project must focus on ocean conservation with evidence-based, community-collaborative approach

Required Documents

• Submit initial inquiry email with project paragraph, lead bio, budget and timeline to eduwan@neaq.org
• Full proposal required only after initial inquiry is reviewed positively

Constraints

• Grants range from $1,000–$12,000; MCAF Fellows receive $12,000
• Rolling review — no fixed deadline, applications accepted any time

Summary

The Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF) is a small grants and fellowship program operated by the New England Aquarium since 1999. It has supported over 280 projects in 60+ countries on six continents, focusing specifically on locally-led conservation in low- and middle-income countries. MCAF's approach centers on empowering national conservation leaders to develop place-based solutions for ocean health. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $12,000, making this accessible to smaller organizations with limited fundraising capacity. The application process begins with a brief inquiry email, and successful applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. Reviews are conducted on a rolling basis, providing flexibility. The MCAF Fellows Program (launched 2015) offers deeper support: $12,000 per fellow plus knowledge exchange with Aquarium scientists, peer learning networks, and personal wellness stipends. An Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) sub-program supports emerging conservation leaders with smaller grants and mentorship. For the marine-conservation theme (Baltic/North Sea NGOs), this fund has limited fit as it focuses on low- and middle-income countries and project leaders must be nationals of the country where work occurs. For the plastic-circular theme targeting organizations in Africa and Southeast Asia, MCAF may offer limited potential for projects that overlap with ocean conservation.

Historical Context

MCAF was founded in 1999 and has since supported over 280 projects in more than 60 countries across six continents. The MCAF Fellows Program was launched in 2015; as of September 2025, 20 Fellows from 16 countries have been inducted. In September 2025, four new Fellows were announced from Philippines, Brazil, Honduras, and Belize. The program has been endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade ('The Ripple Effect' collaboration).

Why it was added

Directly funds grassroots marine conservation projects worldwide; supports local conservation leadership

Sources

• https://neaq.org/about-us/press-room/press-releases/aquarium-names-four-new-ocean-conservation-leaders-to-marine-conservation-action-fund-fellows-program
• https://neaq.org/conservation-and-research/marine-conservation-action-fund/

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