The 11TH Hour Racing fosters systemic change to restore ocean health. Our vision for the future includes cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world. As the climate crisis intensifies, so does the impact on ocean health. 

We need a global paradigm shift from an extractive economy that depletes our natural resources to a sustainable economy that uses resources wisely and protects our ocean. We work to facilitate this transition by supporting local solutions to global problems, led by community organizations and industry leaders. By supporting local pilot programs that model best practices of sustainability, restore coastal ecosystems, and advance ocean stewardship, our grantees are creating systemic change to restore ocean health.

We prioritize projects led by 501(c)(3) organizations, but other types of nonprofit or charitable entities may apply as long as the proposed project addresses one or more of 11th Hour Racing’s strategic goals. We award grants in the U.S. and globally; however, we prioritize funding on the East Coast of the United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.

Our focus area:

Ocean Literacy and Stewardship

Our grant giving program includes outreach and education initiatives for any age group focused on improving our knowledge and treatment of the ocean. We prioritize youth-led initiatives, citizen science, and experiential education. We are interested in supporting programs specializing in increased stewardship, access, and ocean literacy within historically under-resourced communities.

Clean Technologies and Best Practices

Our grant giving program includes community campaigns that shift to more sustainable practices, as well as technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of coastal communities, sailing-related activities, and the maritime industry. Activities may involve improving practices regarding plastic pollution prevention or food waste, such as composting, techniques that improve water quality, environmentally responsible vessel disposal methods, or construction materials or processes.

Ecosystem Restoration

Our grant giving program includes using coastal habitats like mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass to sequester carbon (commonly referred to as “blue carbon”) or using nature-based solutions such as living shorelines, oyster reefs, or kelp farming to improve coastal water quality or build coastal resilience to a changing climate. Priority goes to community-led projects and initiatives that involve collaborations amongst multiple organizations and stakeholder engagement.

Evaluation Criteria

Project submissions are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Environmental impact: the magnitude of the project’s environmental benefits.

• Capacity and organizational expertise: organizational capacity and qualifications necessary to implement the proposed project.

• Innovation and creativity: how unique the project or the methodology used are.

• Feasibility of implementation: technological, financial, and political factors that may influence the success of the project.

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-Grants are typically one year in length, and we generally offer fewer multi-year grants. 

-Typical grant awards range from $40,000 – $150,000, with an average grant size of $75,000. First-time grants to new organizations are generally smaller. 

-Our grant funding must be tied to a specific project with measurable outcomes. We currently do not offer general funding, capital or infrastructure grants, or endowment funding.