Ocean Park Conservation Foundation

Grants for wildlife conservation in China and other Asian countries

Principal Office: China (Hong Kong)

The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation of Hong Kong (OPCFHK) aims to promote effective conservation of Asian wildlife species and their habitats.

The Foundation makes grants to protect threatened animal species in China and other Asian countries.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Grants for wildlife conservation in Asia. Grants are for conservation research and management, and for community education and capacity building.

The Foundation makes grants for the conservation of a wide variety of species. Giant pandas and Chinese white dolphins are a primary focus. In addition, the Foundation supports conservation of other threatened cetaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fishes, corals, invertebrates, and other marine and terrestrial mammals. The Foundation states a special interest to understand the effects of climate change on threatened wildlife and their habitats.

Eligibility for grants is open to qualified wildlife researchers without restrictions by nationality or country of residence.

About programs (supported species)

APPLICATION: The Foundation’s website describes the selection criteria, amounts and terms of funding, funding restrictions, and the grant application process.

Applications are submitted in Chinese or English. Applicants identify the qualifications of the principal investigators and their affiliate institutions; identify other project participants; provide a project timeline; present a project summary; present and explain a project budget; and list other funding support.

Grants are made in annual cycles. The Foundation specifies the submission deadline.

About how to apply

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

The Foundation is not specific regarding how it defines Asia. Grants focus on wildlife conservation in China and in other countries of the three regions identified below.

Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands

East Asia

South AsiaThe Foundation’s website is available in Chinese and English.

The Foundation supports Hong Kong university students to participate in wildlife field projects in other Asian countries.

The Foundation posts annual reports.

Contact Us offers complete information.

January 2021

Ocean Foundation

Grants for marine and ocean conservation, research, and environmental education

Principal Office: USA

The mission of the Ocean Foundation is to support, strengthen, and promote organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world.

The Foundation manages donor-advised funds. It directs funding into one or more of several different funds for marine and ocean conservation in the USA and internationally.

Program areas cover essentially all aspects of marine and ocean conservation.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Fiscal sponsorship for marine and ocean conservation. Themes in the Ocean Foundation include the following:

Conserving marine habitats and special places;
Protecting species of concern;
Building capacity for marine conservation; and
Expanding public awareness about oceans.

APPLICATION: The Foundation does not provide funding, but it offers fiscal sponsorships — 501(c)3 status.

A fiscal sponsorship offers legal and tax-exempt status, together with all applicable administrative services, to individuals or groups engaged in research, projects, and activities.

About fiscal sponsorships

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

The Foundation lists its projects by theme and geographical scope.

The Ocean Foundation posts grant opportunities (i.e., requests for proposals) offered by some of its partner and affiliate organizations.

Complete contact information is posted for the Foundation’s office in Washington, USA.

January 2021

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Grants for wildlife conservation in the USA and internationally — including for sea turtles, coral reefs, and migratory birds

Principal Office: USA

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is a private nonprofit organization established by the U.S. government for the conservation of birds, freshwater fish, wildlife and habitat, and marine and coastal conservation.

The focus of NFWF is conservation in the USA, but it also administers a few programs of grant making internationally.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

1 — Sea Turtle Conservation Fund. The Fund makes grants for conservation, research, and monitoring of seas turtles — with emphasis on sea turtles in the Western Hemisphere. Each call for proposals defines specific themes and regions.

About grants for Sea Turtles

2 — Coral Reef Conservation Fund. The Fund supports the restoration of damaged reef systems and prevents further negative impacts. There is one sub-program for coral reef protection in U.S. waters, and another sub-program for coral reefs in international waters. Each call for proposals defines the themes, regions, and activity priorities for grants.

About grants for Coral Reefs

3 — ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program. This is a partnership among the company ConocoPhillips, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program makes grants for conservation of birds and their habitats in areas of the USA and internationally where ConocoPhillips has an operating presence.

About ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program

4 — Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative. The initiative supports the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats through strategic investments to secure populations of three species – American oystercatcher (short distance migrant), whimbrel (mid-distance migrant). and threatened red knot (long distance migrant).

About the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative

5 — Seabird Conservation Program. The program aims to increase survival and reproduction of seabirds by mitigating threats. The program also supports actions that build long-term resilience for threatened seabirds, including investments in biosecurity planning and projects that establish new seabird colonies through social attraction and translocation.

About the Seabird Conservation Program

Eligibility criteria are defined in each call for proposals. Most international grants are open to all persons, organizations, and agencies in the USA and other countries – but usually excluding the U.S. federal government.

APPLICATION (for 1-2-3-4-5 preceding): Grant opportunities are announced through calls for proposals, posted on NFWF’s website.

Each call for proposals includes priorities, guidelines, application forms, matching requirements, funding restrictions, and calendar deadlines. The information usually identifies a contact person and email address.

Most grant-making programs link with program summaries, lists of current projects, and other supporting information.

The Foundation uses an online grants application system. Grant seekers need to register to be able to use it.

About how to apply

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

Grant seekers should consult the Foundation’s complete list of programs for additional conservation initiatives that may operate internationally, e.g., in international waters or air space.

NFWF provides a searchable grants database.

January 2021

Mitsubishi Corporation

Grants for biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and sustainable development

Principal Office: Japan

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is among Japan’s largest international trading companies, operating in approximately 80 countries and in virtually every industrial sector.

Through its programs of corporate citizenship, Mitsubishi makes grants for environmental conservation and sustainable development in the Americas, Europe and Africa, and Asia and Oceania.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Thematic interests of Mitsubishi’s environmental interests include (but are not limited to):

Conservation of ecosystems and wildlife (terrestrial and marine);
Education and research in ecology and conservation;
Global warming and alternative energy;
Sustainable agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and land and estate management;
Indigenous peoples in relation to environment; and
Environmental training for scientists and teachers.

1 — Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas. MC’s Foundation for the Americas provides funding for environmental causes throughout the Americas in environmental education; biodiversity conservation; environmental justice; and sustainable development.

Grants are made to organizations which have charitable nonprofit status.

Most grants range from US$10 thousand to US$300 thousand for projects of one to five years.

About the program

2 — Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa. MC’s Fund for Europe and Africa contributes to environment and development projects in Europe and Africa in environmental conservation; education of the public in environmental conservation; and poverty alleviation.

Grants are made to charitable nonprofit organizations and academic institutions in the UK, Europe, and Africa.

Most grants range from £20 thousand to £150 thousand.

About the program

APPLICATION: The two foundations (Americas; Europe and Africa) follow similar but separate grant-making processes and criteria.

Grant seekers should consult the guidelines and lists of representative grants.

Grant seekers briefly describe how their programs or projects fit MC’s grant-making objectives; summarize activities they propose to be supported by the grant; and indicate the amount of the requested grant as well as other funding sources and amounts.

Link to the application form (MC Foundation for the Americas)

3 — Mitsubishi Corporation in Asia and Oceania. Mitsubishi’s grants for activities in Asia and Oceania are administered by the company’s program of Corporate Philanthropy at its global headquarters in Japan.

Grants are to nonprofit organizations in Japan and other countries of the Asia-Pacific region, including in the theme “Global Environment.”

Link to Corporate Philanthropy

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

Note: Applying the geographical structure of the Terra Viva Grants Directory, the MC Foundation for the Americas makes grants for activities in Latin America and Caribbean. The MC Fund for Europe and Africa makes grants for activities in all or part of Europe and Africa – even though its charter allows grants in any part of the world. MC’s grant making from its Japanese headquarters is for work in Asia and Oceania, here defined to refer to Southeast Asia and Pacific, East Asia, South Asia, and Eurasia and Central Asia.

The MC Fund for Europe and Africa posts selected projects.

MC’s Foundation for the Americas shares project highlights.

January 2021

Mava Foundation

Grants for eco-regional conservation, sustainable economy, and actions that promote conservation at a global level

Principal Office: Switzerland

The Mava Foundation aims to promote the protection of nature by conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions; promoting sustainable management and use of natural resources; and fostering a strong and effective conservation community.

The Foundation takes an eco-regional approach in its grant making. Its regional priorities are the Mediterranean Basin, the coastal zone of West Africa, and the Alpine Arc of Switzerland.

Additionally, Mava supports initiatives for a more sustainable economy, and for actions that contribute to conservation at a global level.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

The following are Mava’s programs for eco-regional conservation in the developing world (i.e., not including the program for the Alpine Arc of Switzerland).

1 – Mediterranean Basin. The Foundation aims to help conserve terrestrial and marine biodiversity in the climatic Mediterranean regions of North Africa, the Middle East, the Balkan states, and the North Mediterranean. Themes include the integration of protected areas into wider landscapes and seascapes; sustainable use of natural resources; and networking and capacity building with partner organizations.

About the program

2 — Coastal West Africa. Mava’s program in West Africa is coordinated with the West African Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas (comprising Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). Thematic areas include support for marine protected areas; fisheries management; and promotion of sustainable practices in extractive industries and tourism.

About the program

3 — Sustainable Economy. The program addresses the need to reduce planetary over-consumption through a consideration of environmental costs and benefits. Thematic areas include environmental accounting; directing investment towards more sustainable management of natural resources; improving methods of producing goods and services; and fostering communities of cooperating actors.

About the program

4 — Global Projects. Mava considers funding for conservation initiatives that have global importance, but that do not fit the Foundation’s regional programs, or its program in Sustainable Economy. Global projects satisfy at least one of the following criteria: contribute broadly to conservation; address cross-cutting issues that influence conservation globally; address framework conditions for conservation; address global policy or international conventions; or link research with field work.

About the program

The Foundation’s grant recipients are primarily international NGOs, research institutes and universities, and local NGOs.

APPLICATION (for 1-2-3-4 preceding): The Foundation is currently not accepting any unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. New proposals will be by invitation only.

About grant making

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

In the geographical structure of the Terra Viva Grants Directory, Mava’s programs for the Mediterranean Basin and Coastal West Africa correspond to the countries below.

Eurasia and Central Asia: Turkey

Eastern Europe and Russia: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro

Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia

Sub-Saharan Africa: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone

Note: Mava’s program for the Mediterranean Basin includes additional countries in the “North” not defined as “developing” in this Directory. Similarly, the program for Alpine Arc focuses on Switzerland.

Mava’s website is available in English and French.

The Foundation’s list of projects can be helpful for grant seekers who want to understand Mava’s priorities. Additionally, Mava summarizes its funding history by key categories.

Contact Us provides complete information for the Foundation’s office in Gland, Switzerland.

January 2021

Marisla Foundation

Grants for marine conservation, and for managing and reducing the use of toxic chemicals

Principal Office: USA

The Marisla Foundation is a private charitable institution in the USA, with office in southern California. The Foundation has two program areas for competitive grants, in addition to grants made directly by its Board of Directors.

The Foundation makes grants in a Human Services Program, and an Environment Program. The Environment Program promotes the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable ecosystem management.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Environment. The Foundation’s primary environmental emphasis is conservation of marine resources in western North America, Chile, and the Western Pacific.

The Environment Program also makes grants for managing and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.

About programs

Eligibility for grants extends to tax-exempt charitable organizations in the USA, and to governmental entities. Most grants range from US$20 thousand to US$100 thousand.

APPLICATION: Marisla uses an online application process.

Interested grant seekers take an online eligibility quiz to validate that they are eligible.

The Foundation reviews applications quarterly, and it publishes the application deadlines for each quarter.

About how to apply

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands

Latin America and Caribbean: Chile, Mexico

Apart from marine conservation and toxic chemicals, Marisla’s past grants for international environment include projects in primate conservation, organic agriculture, and Amazon conservation.

Some of the Foundation’s international funding is provided through donor-advised partners.

Marisla offers contact information.

January 2021

Lighthouse Foundation

Support for research, education, and capacity building in coastal and marine conservation

Principal Office: Germany

The Lighthouse Foundation promotes science and research, teaching, culture, and the principles of environmentalism and international development in relation to the world’s seas and oceans.

The Foundation supports projects which aim to solve long-term problems in marine locations within the context of sustainable development. Thematic areas are:

Climate Change and the Rising Sea Level;
Fisheries and Marine Resources;
Education, Culture, Tourism, and Science; and
Sustainable Development and Oceans.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Support for coastal and marine conservation. The Lighthouse Foundation is engaged in many facets of coastal and marine management, including the following examples among its funded projects:

Coastal and marine ecotourism at the community level;
Artisanal fisheries (management, equipment, processing, marketing);
Mariculture;
Training local government leaders on marine policy and management;
Lobbying against marine pollution;
Support for marine reserves;
Coastal and beach waste management;
Mangrove restoration and ecology.

Funded partners of the Lighthouse Foundation are conservation NGOs, community NGOs, universities and educational organizations, and government organizations. Most partners are based in the recipient countries, although some grants are to international and German organizations.

Most projects range from €5 thousand to €50 thousand, with some larger grants over €200 thousand (data from annual reports).

APPLICATION:The Foundation posts the criteria it considers when reviewing applications.

The Foundation states that it applies these criteria individually and flexibly. There is no application form.

Criteria for cooperation with the Foundation

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

The Foundation’s website is available in German, English, and Spanish. Some information is available in German only.

The Foundation offers ecological fellowships in Germany (information available in German only).

Grant seekers can study the Foundation’s ongoing and completed projects.

The Foundation provides complete contact information.

December 2020

Leakey Foundation

Grants for environmental conservation in the USA and developing countries

Principal Office: USA

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants for environment, education, human services, and other causes.

The Foundation makes both program and operating grants, and it has no geographical restrictions on its funding.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Environment. The Lawrence Foundation makes grants for environmental conservation in the USA and developing countries. Past grants include several in the following subject areas:

Support for politically-active environmental organizations;
Wildlife conservation;
Marine conservation.

The Foundation makes grants to nonprofit charitable organizations in the USA, including organizations whose environmental programs operate nationally and/or internationally. It also makes grants to non-U.S. organizations that have a 501(c)3 representative in the USA.

Most grants range from US$5 thousand to US$10 thousand, with a few that are larger.

About programs

APPLICATION: The Foundation’s application guidelines are available on its website — including eligibility criteria, funding restrictions, and calendar deadlines for submitting proposals.

Lawrence uses the Common Grant Application, which is an online submission. Grant awards are made twice a year.

About how to apply

Note: Grants are to US-based charitable organizations only, but projects have no geographical restrictions.

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

Environment is the Foundation’s largest program area.

Contact offers an email form.

December 2020

Lawrence Foundation

Grants for environmental conservation in the USA and developing countries

Principal Office: USA

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants for environment, education, human services, and other causes.

The Foundation makes both program and operating grants, and it has no geographical restrictions on its funding.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Environment. The Lawrence Foundation makes grants for environmental conservation in the USA and developing countries. Past grants include several in the following subject areas:

Support for politically-active environmental organizations;
Wildlife conservation;
Marine conservation.

Most grants range from US$5 thousand to US$10 thousand, with a few that are larger.

About programs

APPLICATION: The Foundation’s application guidelines are available on its website — including eligibility criteria, funding restrictions, and calendar deadlines for submitting proposals.

Lawrence uses the Common Grant Application, which is an online submission. Grant awards are made twice a year.

About how to apply

Note: Grants are to US-based charitable organizations only, but projects have no geographical restrictions.

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

Environment is the Foundation’s largest program area.

Contact offers an email form.

December 2020

John Ellerman Foundation

Grants for habitat management and marine conservation

Principal Office: UK

The mission of the John Ellerman Foundation is to advance the well-being of people, society, and the natural world.

The Foundation has three program areas: the arts, environment, and welfare. The program in environment includes limited international grant making.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Environment. This program area supports UK-based non-governmental organizations in the following two themes:

Better-managed habitats; and
Conservation of marine ecosystems.

Eligibility for grants extends to UK-based charities that have an income over £100 thousand.

The Foundation will consider a small number of grants for work in the UK’s Overseas Territories, and exceptionally for marine projects outside UK waters.

Most grants are for two or three years. Ellerman’s minimum grant is £10 thousand, and the average is about £26 thousand.

About programs

APPLICATION: The Foundation posts eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and frequently asked questions (FAQ) that describe how to apply for funding.

In the first stage, applicants submit a brief description of their organizations and their funding requests, plus some financial information. There are no calendar deadlines.

The Foundation invites full applications from among some of these requests.

About how to app

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

Worldwide

Grant seekers should consult Ellerman’s grant lists to understand the activities and organizations that Ellerman supports.

Ellerman provides complete contact information for its administrative staff, and it posts annual reports.

December 2020

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