Oceanic Society - Expedition Impact Program Conservation Grants

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 22:07

Community conservation grants $1,000-$10,000 for marine plastic pollution, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience. By invitation, Spring and Fall deadlines.

Source: https://oceanicsociety.org/our-work/conservation-grants

Funding Details

Funder

Oceanic Society

Funding Goal

Fund community-based ocean conservation projects addressing marine plastic pollution, sustainable fisheries, climate change resilience, sustainable tourism, and behavior change. Projects must create measurable conservation outcomes within 12 months and involve local communities. Supported activities include community development, critical data collection and research, direct conservation action, behavior change initiatives, and conservation storytelling.

Funding Amount

Grants from $1,000 to $10,000; approximately 3 grants awarded per cycle with additional grants as budget allows (1.000 € – 10.000 €)

Deadline

Annual, Spring deadline: February 1 (awards announced March 15); Fall deadline: August 1 (awards announced September 15). Rolling consideration for time-sensitive opportunities from active expedition partners. (periodic)

How to Apply

By invitation only. Complete the online application form with project details, timeline, budget, and expected outcomes. Applications are reviewed by the expeditions team. Contact: expeditions@oceanicsociety.org

Target Region

Global, restricted to locations where Oceanic Society runs expeditions (includes Indonesia/Alor, Kenya, Tunisia, and other expedition destinations)

Contact

expeditions@oceanicsociety.org | Oceanic Society, P.O. Box 844, Ross, CA 94957 | Tel: 1-800-326-7491

Last Checked

2026-03-15 12:48

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Must work on ocean conservation at an Oceanic Society expedition location
• Application is by invitation only — must have existing relationship with Oceanic Society expedition program

Project Scope

• Project must create measurable conservation outcomes within 12 months
• Project must involve local communities as active participants

Required Documents

• Submit online application with project details, timeline, budget, and expected outcomes

Constraints

• Funding range: $1,000 to $10,000 per project
• Must not focus on consumptive wildlife use, political advocacy, or primarily academic research
• Spring deadline February 1 / Fall deadline August 1

Summary

The Oceanic Society Expedition Impact Program Community Conservation Grants fund local ocean conservation projects in the destinations where Oceanic Society conducts its eco-expeditions. The programme is rooted in a philosophy that lasting conservation begins with people living alongside the ecosystems they protect, and that responsible expedition travel can directly amplify conservation work on the ground. The thematic scope is broad within ocean conservation: funded topics include marine plastic pollution reduction, sustainable fisheries management, climate change resilience, sustainable tourism, behavior change campaigns, habitat restoration, species protection, and conservation storytelling. Projects must create measurable conservation outcomes within 12 months and must involve local communities as active participants. Eligible activities include community development and capacity building (training, monitoring equipment, leadership development), critical data collection and research (species surveys, reef health assessments, fisheries impact studies), direct conservation action (habitat restoration, emergency responses to ecological threats), behavior change initiatives (plastic reduction campaigns, sustainable fishing adoption programs), and conservation storytelling (film, photography, digital media). Geographic scope is defined by the locations of Oceanic Society expeditions, which include sites in Southeast Asia (Indonesia), East Africa (Kenya), North Africa (Tunisia), and other coastal/marine destinations globally. Projects outside expedition locations are not eligible. Eligible applicants are organizations and individuals working on ocean conservation at Oceanic Society expedition locations. The programme is by invitation only, giving priority to partners with whom Oceanic Society has established relationships through its expedition network. Applicants must be legally authorized to operate in their project location. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000 per project, with approximately three grants awarded per cycle. Two cycles run annually: a spring round (deadline February 1, awards announced March 15) and a fall round (deadline August 1, awards announced September 15). Time-sensitive conservation opportunities from active expedition partners may be considered on a rolling basis.

Historical Context

The program has awarded grants in previous cycles to partners in Indonesia (Alor), Kenya, and Tunisia among others. One highlighted example: a grant helped the Savu South organization in Alor, Indonesia eliminate over 10,000 single-use plastic bags from fishing operations by providing reusable silicone ice molds.

Sources

• https://oceanicsociety.org/our-work/conservation-grants

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