Some programs will fund a U.S. nonprofit directly for work overseas. Others want an in-country partner, a local project lead, an eligible fishery, a research team, or a project inside a specific geography. For a small organization, those details are better checked before anyone starts drafting.
The opportunities below cover both sides: Massachusetts and New England funding for work closer to home, plus international grants where a U.S.-based nonprofit can have a real role. Some are realistic for small organizations. Others are much larger and make more sense once the nonprofit already has partners, financial systems, and a project with some history behind it.
The status shown here was checked for the 2026 to 2027 cycle. Always open the official link before adding a deadline to the calendar because grant dates, funding levels, and eligibility rules can change.
Quick list
Grant | Status | Funding | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
Oceanic Global x Corona Beach 100 Grant | Open through Oct. 9, 2026 | $5,000 to $100,000/year | Overseas coastal and marine projects |
Vendée Globe Foundation 2027 | Open through Oct. 31, 2026 | Up to €50,000/year | International ocean conservation |
Blue Action Fund | Open through Oct. 16, 2026 | Current call has €17M total | Larger projects in Asia |
CORDAP Coral Accelerator Program | Open through Oct. 19, 2026 | Up to $1 million | Coral research and restoration |
MSC Transition Assistance Fund | Open through Dec. 1, 2026 | Up to £50,000 | Fisheries working toward certification |
MSC Science and Research Fund | Open through Oct. 18, 2026 | Up to £50,000 | Fisheries research |
MSC Recertification Assistance Fund | Rolling | Up to £30,000 | Existing certified fisheries |
Conservation, Food & Health Foundation | Opens Oct. 15, 2026 | Usually $25,000 to $50,000 | U.S. nonprofit with overseas partners |
Fields Pond Foundation | Rolling | $500 to $25,000 | New England conservation |
Davis Conservation Foundation | Oct. 1, 2026 and Apr. 1, 2027 | Varies | Gulf of Maine and New England |
NOAA Fisheries Broad Agency Announcement | Through Sep. 30, 2026 | Varies | Fisheries and marine research |
UNESCO Rapid Response Facility | Emergency/rolling | Up to $40,000 | Conservation emergencies |
PADI Foundation 2027 | Nov. 1, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027 | Smaller project grants | Aquatic research and education |
PADI AWARE Community Grant Program | Reopens in 2027 | Up to $10,000 | Small marine nonprofits |
Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants | Reopens in 2027 | Around $5,000 | Sharks, rays, and related species |
Woodard & Curran Foundation Impact Grant | Opens late fall 2026 | $100,000 | U.S. water projects |
IDEA WILD | Rolling | Equipment under $1,500 | Field equipment |
Rufford Small Grants | Rolling | £7,000 to £18,000 by stage | Local conservation leaders overseas |
1. Oceanic Global x Corona Beach 100 Grant Initiative
Open through October 9, 2026. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 for microgrants and $50,000 to $100,000 per year for larger projects.
If the nonprofit is based in the U.S. but the conservation work happens overseas, start by checking this one. The funded project must take place outside the United States, and eligible work includes plastic pollution, marine debris, coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, marine protected areas, blue carbon, coastal erosion, living shorelines, habitat restoration, and species recovery.
Legally registered NGOs and community organizations can apply. For a smaller nonprofit, the microgrant track is the obvious place to check first. Organizations with a more established overseas program, local partners, and a larger project budget can also look at the multi-year track.
Check before applying: Confirm the project country is eligible, the organization meets the current NGO requirements, and the project fits one of the stated marine priorities.
Check the current requirements and apply through Oceanic Global
2. Vendée Globe Foundation 2027 Call for Projects
Open through October 31, 2026. International projects can request up to €50,000 per year.
The Vendée Globe Foundation accepts international nonprofits, NGOs, foundations, and research organizations working on marine biodiversity, ocean science, citizen science, marine species, coastal restoration, seabed restoration, and habitat protection.
A Massachusetts-based nonprofit can apply with an international program, but the foundation does not expect to carry the entire project budget. The application needs to show what other funding or resources are already supporting the work.
Check before applying: Review the co-funding requirements, eligible expenses, project duration, and any geographic priorities in the current call.
Read the full 2027 call from Vendée Globe Foundation
3. Blue Action Fund
Open through October 16, 2026. The current call has a €17 million funding envelope and focuses on Asia.
Blue Action Fund supports marine protected areas, mangroves, blue carbon, coastal livelihoods, and other large-scale marine conservation work in developing countries. Both national and international NGOs can participate.
For a small nonprofit, the better question is whether it belongs in the proposal as the lead organization or as a local, technical, research, or implementation partner. The funding size and partnership requirements make this a very different application from a $10,000 community grant.
If the nonprofit has strong local relationships but does not yet have the systems to manage a large international award, joining a consortium may be the more realistic route.
Check before applying: Review the minimum organizational requirements, partnership rules, eligible geography, and financial capacity expected from the lead applicant.
See the current Blue Action Fund call
4. CORDAP Coral Accelerator Program
Open through October 19, 2026. Funding can reach $1 million.
CORDAP funds research and development that can improve coral conservation and restoration across tropical, cold-water, and deep-water coral systems. Projects are international and usually involve multidisciplinary teams.
A small nonprofit can still have a place in the application when it brings something specific: field access, local relationships, technical knowledge, research capacity, community engagement, or implementation experience. What usually will not work is treating a million-dollar international research program like a solo project.
Check before applying: Confirm the required international team structure, research expectations, eligible countries, budget rules, and whether the nonprofit makes more sense as a partner than the lead applicant.
Review CORDAP's current funding opportunities
5. Marine Stewardship Council Transition Assistance Fund
Open through December 1, 2026. Funding can reach £50,000.
This fund supports fisheries that are already participating in the MSC Improvement Program and working toward certification.
That makes the fit easy to test. If the nonprofit works directly with fishing communities, cooperatives, fishery managers, or other partners moving an eligible fishery toward certification, keep reading. If the project is general marine conservation with no connection to an MSC fishery, this grant is not the one.
Check before applying: Confirm the fishery is enrolled in the correct MSC program and check which organization or partner is allowed to receive the funding.
Check the current MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund opportunities
6. MSC Science and Research Fund
Open through October 18, 2026. Grants can reach £50,000.
This fund supports research that helps MSC-certified fisheries deal with practical sustainability problems such as bycatch, habitat impacts, missing data, climate pressure, and fisheries management.
A Massachusetts nonprofit doing international research can qualify when it already has a working relationship with the fishery involved. That relationship should be part of the existing project, not something added after the funding opportunity appears.
Check before applying: Make sure the fishery meets the MSC requirements and confirm who needs to participate in the research partnership.
Review the MSC Science and Research Fund
7. MSC Recertification Assistance Fund
Applications are rolling. Funding can cover up to £30,000 or 75% of eligible reassessment costs.
This fund helps eligible fisheries pay for their second or later MSC reassessment.
For a nonprofit already supporting an established sustainable fishery, that can remove a very practical cost. The money is not for creating a new marine program. It is there to help an existing certified fishery stay in the system.
Check before applying: Confirm the fishery is at the correct recertification stage and that the requested costs qualify.
Check the current MSC recertification funding rules
8. Conservation, Food & Health Foundation
The next concept-note window opens October 15, 2026 and closes December 22, 2026. Typical grants are often around $25,000 to $50,000.
The foundation is administered from Boston and supports conservation work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Its conservation interests include biodiversity, natural-resource management, climate, local capacity, and community stewardship. Organizations based in wealthier countries can participate when they work with appropriate local partners.
For a Massachusetts nonprofit with an overseas program, the local partnership needs to be part of the actual project structure. The application should make clear who is doing what locally, how decisions are shared, and what the U.S. organization contributes.
Check before applying: Confirm the project country qualifies, the partnership meets current requirements, and the request amount makes sense for the nonprofit's size and project history.
Review the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation application process
9. Fields Pond Foundation
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Grants range from $500 to $25,000, with many awards falling between $2,000 and $15,000.
Fields Pond Foundation is based in Massachusetts and funds community conservation across New England and upper New York. Projects can include coastline and river access, stewardship, land protection, and environmental education connected to conservation work.
The award range is manageable for many smaller nonprofits, and organizations with an unusual or complicated project can send a short outline before preparing a full proposal. That gives the nonprofit a chance to check fit before putting hours into a longer application.
Check before applying: Confirm the project falls within the geographic area and review which project costs the foundation will support.
Read Fields Pond Foundation's current guidelines
10. Davis Conservation Foundation
The next deadlines are October 1, 2026 and April 1, 2027. Funding varies by project.
Davis Conservation Foundation focuses on wildlife, habitat, and environmental protection, with the Gulf of Maine among its strongest geographic priorities. Previous grants have supported marine habitat, Atlantic salmon, ocean advocacy, and related New England work.
Smaller nonprofits should pay attention to the financial-document policy. Organizations without audited statements or a full Form 990 can explain their situation rather than being screened out automatically.
That makes the first eligibility check much simpler for a nonprofit operating with a smaller annual budget.
Check before applying: Review the geographic priorities, recent grantees, award sizes, and current financial-document requirements.
Check the Davis Conservation Foundation application page
11. NOAA Fisheries Broad Agency Announcement
Open through September 30, 2026. Award amounts depend on the project and the funding authority used.
NOAA's Broad Agency Announcement covers fisheries, marine science, protected species, habitat, technology, outreach, and international cooperation.
For a small nonprofit, the bigger issue may be the federal grant requirements rather than the project topic. Registration, reporting, allowable costs, compliance, and the specific funding authority behind the proposal all need to be checked before deciding whether the application is realistic.
An organization that already manages federal awards will have a much easier starting point than one opening SAM.gov for the first time a week before the deadline.
Check before applying: Read the full funding notice, confirm the eligible applicant type, and make sure all required federal registrations are active.
See NOAA Fisheries' open funding opportunities
12. UNESCO Rapid Response Facility
Available for qualifying emergencies. Funding can reach $40,000.
The Rapid Response Facility funds urgent conservation work at natural World Heritage sites when biodiversity faces a sudden threat. That can include natural disasters, oil spills, wildlife emergencies, and conflict-related damage.
This is not regular program funding. It belongs in the emergency file for organizations working around qualifying marine or coastal World Heritage sites.
Previous funding has supported emergency conservation work in the Galápagos, so marine projects can qualify when the situation meets the program's criteria.
Check before applying: Confirm the site qualifies under the World Heritage rules and that the situation meets the fund's definition of an emergency.
Read the UNESCO Rapid Response Facility requirements
13. PADI Foundation 2027 Grants
Applications open November 1, 2026 and close January 15, 2027.
The PADI Foundation supports research and education connected to aquatic environments, including marine ecosystems and conservation.
For a small nonprofit, the known application window gives enough time to prepare properly. The project scope, budget, partners, supporting documents, and expected outcomes can all be lined up before the portal opens.
Check before applying: Review the 2027 guide when it becomes available because project categories, funding amounts, and document requirements can change between cycles.
Check the PADI Foundation's 2027 deadlines and guidance
14. PADI AWARE Community Grant Program
The 2026 cycle is closed, but the program is confirmed to reopen in 2027. Grants can reach $10,000.
This is one of the cleaner options for smaller marine nonprofits because eligible nonprofit applicants must have annual operating budgets below $1 million.
Projects can cover vulnerable marine species, coral reefs, marine debris, marine protected areas, and climate-related ocean work.
Even while the application is closed, the organization can prepare the project scope, budget, outcomes, local partnerships, and evidence from previous work. Then the 2027 round becomes an application task rather than a scramble.
Check before applying: Confirm the 2027 opening date and check whether the organization-size limit or eligible project themes have changed.
Read the PADI AWARE Community Grant criteria
15. Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants
The next Small Grants cycle reopens in 2027. Average awards are around $5,000.
Save Our Seas focuses on sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, and chimaeras. Its Small Grants program supports early-career conservationists, emerging practitioners, and community-led projects.
The program favors work led by people from the country where the project happens. A Massachusetts nonprofit can still support the work, but the overseas conservationist needs to hold a genuine leadership role.
For a small U.S. nonprofit with a strong local partner, that can work well. For a project being designed entirely from the U.S. and handed to somebody locally afterward, the fit is much weaker.
Check before applying: Confirm the 2027 opening date, species eligibility, local-leadership requirements, and whether the applicant should be the conservationist or the nonprofit.
Review the Save Our Seas Foundation Small Grants program
16. Woodard & Curran Foundation Impact Grant
The 2027 application opens in late fall 2026. The grant is $100,000 for one year.
The Woodard & Curran Foundation funds U.S.-based projects involving water-resource protection, restoration, environmental management, and community participation.
For a Massachusetts nonprofit, this belongs on the domestic side of the funding pipeline. The $100,000 award is large enough that organizational capacity needs to be part of the decision.
Before applying, look at staffing, financial controls, reporting, project management, cash flow, and whether the nonprofit can realistically administer a one-year award at this size.
Check before applying: Review the current eligibility rules and make sure both the project and the organization are ready for the size of the grant.
See the Woodard & Curran Foundation Impact Grant
17. IDEA WILD Equipment Grants
Applications are rolling. Requests must be for equipment worth less than $1,500.
IDEA WILD funds practical conservation equipment such as cameras, GPS units, monitoring devices, recording equipment, and other field tools.
For a small nonprofit supporting teams overseas, this can cover a very specific need without building an entire program proposal around it. A U.S. contact must be able to receive the equipment, which can work well when the nonprofit is based in Massachusetts and the field team is abroad.
It will not pay for the whole project, but it can pay for the equipment the project keeps borrowing, sharing, or postponing because it never quite fits into the main budget.
Check before applying: Review the equipment limit, shipping rules, recipient requirements, and the current list of eligible items.
Read the IDEA WILD application guidelines
18. Rufford Small Grants
Applications are rolling throughout the year. Funding starts at £7,000 and increases through later grant stages up to £18,000.
Rufford funds conservation work in developing and emerging economies, with a strong focus on early-career and locally based conservation leaders.
A Massachusetts nonprofit can be involved, but the overseas conservationist is central to the application. An NGO or university can receive or support the funds, while the conservation leader remains at the center of the project.
For a small U.S. nonprofit with trusted local partners, that structure can work well as long as everyone understands who is applying, who is managing the project, and who is receiving the funds.
Check before applying: Confirm the country is eligible, the conservationist meets the career-stage requirements, and the organization receiving the money is acceptable.
Go to the Rufford Small Grants application portal
Before Spending Time on an Application
For a small nonprofit, a grant only becomes useful when the eligibility, amount, project, and workload make sense together.
Before opening a proposal document, check who is allowed to apply, where the project can happen, whether a local partner or project leader is required, what financial documents are expected, whether matching funds are needed, and how much reporting comes with the award.
A $10,000 grant that fits the project cleanly can do far more good than a $500,000 opportunity that needs a consortium, audited accounts, several funding partners, and administrative capacity the organization does not have yet.
RAEFORM is not affiliated with the grantmakers listed here. Grant availability, deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility can change, so always confirm the current requirements on the funder's official website before applying.