The Ocean Foundation identifies key threats to the coasts and ocean and applies a broad, solutions-oriented focus to address threats. This framework guides both our own initiatives and our external grantmaking.

We support projects and organizations that advance the field of marine conservation and invest in individuals and organizations with a unique, promising ability to address those threats.

We support multi-year giving whenever possible. Conserving the ocean is complicated and requires a long-term approach. We invest in individuals and organizations so that they can spend time on implementation, rather than on waiting for the next grant.

We recognize the need to promote ocean conservation at the local and regional level in many other parts of the world, and thus, more than 50 percent of our grantmaking is to support projects outside the USA. We strongly support science diplomacy, as well as cross-cultural and international knowledge sharing, capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

Our average grant size is approximately $10,000 and we encourage applicants to demonstrate a diverse funding portfolio if possible.

While we do not accept unsolicited funding requests, we always appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the people and projects working to conserve and protect our planet’s precious coasts and oceans. TOF accepts Letters of Inquiry on a rolling basis via email at grants@oceanfdn.org. Please do not call or mail hard copy Letters of Inquiry to the office.