MAR Fund (Mesoamerican Reef Fund)

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

Regional conservation trust fund for the Mesoamerican Reef, supporting innovative financing for coral reef protection, repair, and restoration across Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

Source: https://marfund.org/

Funding Details

Funder: MAR Fund (Mesoamerican Reef Fund)
Funding Goal: Finances projects that directly address activities threatening the integrity and health of coastal and marine protected areas in the Mesoamerican Reef region (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras). Supports conservation of marine biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, climate change adaptation, mangrove conservation, coral reef restoration, and community-based management of marine resources.
Funding Amount: Small grants awarded to individual conservation projects — amounts vary per round and project scope
Deadline: 2025-09-09 (Fixed)
How to Apply: Annual Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by MAR Fund Small Grants Program. 18th round had deadline September 9, 2025. Contact: Elisa Blanda, Small Grants Program Officer, eblanda@marfund.org. Monitor marfund.org for upcoming rounds.
Target Region: Mesoamerican Reef Region: Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula), Belize, Guatemala, Honduras
Contact: Elisa Blanda, Small Grants Program Officer — eblanda@marfund.org
Official Page: https://marfund.org/en/small-grants-program/
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 09:19

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Must work in the Mesoamerican Reef region: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, or Honduras
Eligible applicants: NGOs, government agencies, universities, community organizations active in the MAR region

Project Scope

Projects must directly address threats to coastal and marine protected areas
Project must contribute to conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef ecosystem

Required Documents

Annual RFP issued — monitor marfund.org or contact eblanda@marfund.org for next round

Constraints

Projects outside Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras are not eligible
18th round closed September 9, 2025 — future rounds expected annually

Summary

The MAR Fund (Mesoamerican Reef Fund) is a regional conservation trust fund established in 2005 to protect the Mesoamerican Reef — the second largest coral reef system in the world, spanning Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Over 20 years, it has run 18 rounds of its flagship Small Grants Program, financing projects that address threats to coastal and marine protected areas in the region. The Small Grants Program supports projects in marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, coral reef restoration, mangrove protection, climate change adaptation, and community-based coastal management. Additional programs include the Reef Rescue Initiative, Fishing for the Future (fish replenishment zones, lionfish management), Belize Marine Fund, and Clean Water for the Reef. MAR Fund also re-grants through partnerships with the Oak Foundation. The 18th round of the Small Grants Program had a proposal deadline of September 9, 2025. Annual calls are typically issued each year. Eligible applicants include NGOs, government agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations active in the Mesoamerican Reef region. The fund is a member of IUCN and REDLAC. For European or North/Baltic Sea focused organizations, this fund is geographically out of scope as it exclusively targets the Mesoamerican Reef in Central America and Mexico.

Historical Context

MAR Fund was established in 2005 and has run 18 rounds of its Small Grants Program over 20 years (2005-2025). Programs include: Saving Our Protected Areas (small grants), Fishing for the Future (sustainable fisheries), Climate Change (Reef Rescue Initiative, Mangroves, GAGGA), Belize Marine Fund, Clean Water for the Reef, and MAR+Invest. The fund is a founding member of IUCN and REDLAC (network of Latin American and Caribbean conservation trust funds). Funded by major donors including the Oak Foundation.

Why it was added

Regional pooled fund specifically for coral reef conservation in the Mesoamerican Reef region

Sources

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