Apply for Marine Debris Grant Program

Focus Areas

• The Marine Debris Foundation prioritizes grant making to eliminate marine debris and plastic pollution, and to augment the efforts and impact of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. As such, any proposed project should fit into one or more of the following marine debris/plastic pollution focal areas:
  • Reduction
  • Prevention
  • Removal
  • Assessment
• Through regular consultation with the NOAA MDP, the MDF will prioritize its annual grant making on focal areas that increase the scale, scope, and impact of efforts seeking to address marine debris, and in areas where the NOAA MDP may be unable to allocate resources. In general, they will award funding to project submissions that deliver the biggest impact in and across the focal areas.

Priorities

• Priority/Strong consideration will be given to:
  • Replicable and scalable models across different geographies
  • Cost-reducing technologies and best practice solutions
  • Community-led initiatives, particularly from frontline communities
  • Collaboration with existing organizations and a high level of stakeholder engagement
  • Initiatives with strong community engagement and informed by behavioral change science
  • Organizations with strong diversity and/or headed by Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) leaders
  • Projects that advance Environmental Justice

Funding Information

• For this open call, grants will be given for up to $30,000 per award.

Duration

• The MDF awards grants annually during a call-for-proposal process, with grant periods ranging from 12 to 24 months; multi-year grants will also be considered.
• The MDF provides both project-specific and general operating grant funding to eligible organizations. However, the MDF does not provide funding for large capital or infrastructure projects or endowments.

Geographic Priorities

• The Marine Debris Foundation awards grants in the United States of America and internationally. The MDF understands that many localities and communities are disproportionately impacted by the plastic crisis and, thus, projects in these areas will be given priority. Internationally, the MDF will emphasize funding in the Global South–defined as countries or regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania that are low or middle income and historically marginalized.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any U.S. or international charity, non-profit organization, state, municipality, city, town, or indigenous community working on issues pertaining to marine debris reduction, prevention, removal, or assessment is encouraged to apply. Organizations and/or communities disproportionately affected by environmental injustices as a result of plastics production, pollution, and/or marine debris are also encouraged to apply.
• The MDF grant funding prioritizes initiatives led by nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations or the equivalent; however, other nonprofit or charitable organizations (including international charities) are eligible for funding if their proposed initiatives fit within at least one of the strategic focal areas.
• For-profit organizations, while not prioritized, are eligible for funding for projects that fit with at least one of the strategic focal areas or offer great potential for positive impact. For-profit entities are encouraged to collaborate with one or more non-profits to maximize impact.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following types of activities are not eligible for MDF grant support:
  • Lobbying
  • Litigation
  • Legally mandated mitigation projects

For more information, visit Marine Debris Foundation (MDF).