Save Our Seas Foundation - Funding Guidelines

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Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 22:02

Financial support for individuals working on shark and ray conservation projects, research, conservation and education worldwide

Source: https://saveourseas.com/grants/funding-guidelines/

Funding Details

Funder: Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF)
Funding Goal: Fund research, conservation and education projects focused on threatened marine wildlife and their habitats, specifically marine chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes and chimaeras). Supports also ocean storytelling (photography and film grants) and conservation fellowships for individuals.
Funding Amount: Small Grants average USD 5,000; Keystone Grants average USD 25,000/year; Ocean Storytelling Film Grant up to USD 50,000; Conservation Fellowship USD 8,000/year over two years (5.000 € – 50.000 €)
Deadline: Keystone Grants Stage I opens March-April 2026; Small Grants Stage I opens May 2026; applications are currently closed (periodic)
How to Apply: Two-stage online application via https://grants.saveourseas.com or https://saveourseasgrants.smapply.io/. Stage I is a short form; Stage II (by invitation) is more detailed. All applications reviewed by SOSF scientific committee with final approval from Board of Directors.
Target Region: Global (worldwide), with special encouragement for applicants from South/Central America, Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Contact: contact@saveourseas.com | Save Our Seas Foundation, Quai du Mont-Blanc 21, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 13:04

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Project must focus on marine chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, chimaeras) for Keystone/Small Grants
Small Grants: applicant must be early career scientist within 5 years of degree award
Conservation Fellowship: must be a previous SOSF grantee from a developing country

Project Scope

Project must be specific, finite, and original/innovative in approach

Required Documents

Submit two-stage online application via SOSF grants portal
Stage II requires budget plan and detailed project form (10-12 pages for Keystone)

Constraints

Applicants must not hold another current active SOSF grant
All grant holders must incorporate public awareness elements and collaborate with SOSF communications team
Keystone Grants: project duration limited to 3 years; funding awarded annually

Summary

The Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) is a Swiss-registered international not-for-profit foundation that funds and supports research, conservation, and education projects worldwide, with a primary focus on threatened marine wildlife and their habitats. The thematic scope is highly specific: only projects concerned with marine chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, and chimaeras) are eligible for the main grant programs. Priority areas include species ecology and population dynamics, habitat protection, conservation action, education, and public awareness. Ocean storytelling grants cover any marine conservation topic including fisheries and communities. Eligible activities span original scientific research, field conservation, education projects, public outreach/awareness campaigns, habitat surveys, and ocean storytelling (photography and film). Projects must be specific and finite, with a strong public awareness component required of all grant holders. Geographically the program is global, with active encouragement for applicants from underrepresented regions including South/Central America, Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. There is no regional restriction. Eligible applicants include researchers, conservationists, and educators. Small Grants target early career scientists (within 5 years of degree). Keystone Grants are open to established researchers. Conservation Fellowships are exclusively for previous SOSF grantees from developing countries. Storytelling grants target emerging photographers and filmmakers. Budget: Small Grants average USD 5,000 for 12-18 months; Keystone Grants average USD 25,000 per year with usual maximum project duration of 3 years; Conservation Fellowship provides USD 8,000/year over 2 years for living costs (not project costs); Ocean Storytelling Film Grant provides a USD 50,000 budget plus USD 2,000 cash prize. Co-funding is welcomed but not required. Grant holders must fulfill reporting obligations including quarterly blogs, a final report, photographs/video, and public awareness activities.

Historical Context

Foundation established 2003, has supported over 300 research, conservation and education projects worldwide. Conservation Fellowship introduced in 2023. Keystone Grants follow biennial funding cycles (application window opens in even years). Registered in Switzerland and USA (501(c)(3)).

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