About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy unites science, people and policy to protect our ocean, today and for generations to come.
Focus Areas
biodiversityclimateplasticsocean conservationmarine lifeplastic pollutionfisheriesArcticFloridaghost gearshipping emissionsclean ocean energy
Who They Fund
Tribal and Indigenous communities (Arctic, Pribilof Islands, Yukon-Kuskokwim, East Coast Indigenous)Coastal and Bering Sea coastal communities
About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy’s grantmaking is anchored in ocean policy and conservation work that reaches from Alaska’s tribal and coastal communities to national research and advocacy groups. Its largest recent award went to Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska for fish conservation, and other substantial grants supported Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, Aleut Community of St Paul Island Tribal Government, and Native American Rights Fund for North Bering Sea and tribal conservation work. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs science, education, habitat protection, and policy efforts tied to biodiversity, climate, plastics, and fisheries. The foundation also funds urban and coastal initiatives outside Alaska, including conservation education and ocean-focused collaboration through Global Resilient Cities Network, along with shipping decarbonization work through Pacific Environment and Resources Center and Asociacion Interamericanca Para La Defensa Del Ambiente. Its portfolio shows a mix of research support, operating support, and project-based grants, with many awards in the $15,000 to $40,000 range and some much larger commitments for specialized programs. Recipients range from tribal governments and Indigenous organizations to universities, environmental nonprofits, and policy groups.
What Ocean Conservancy Funds
In fisheries and Indigenous-led conservation, Ocean Conservancy gave $865,000 to Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska for fish conservation and $96,200 to Yakutat Tlingit Tribe for ocean conservation. The foundation also supported North Bering Sea work through Native American Rights Fund, including $150,000 for North Bering Sea fisheries and $73,000 for climate resilience area implementation support. Science and modeling appear in several awards. Arizona State University received $243,632 for fisheries modeling research and analysis, while University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc received $49,238 for Circularity Assessment Protocol work. In education and outreach, the foundation gave $375,000 to Global Resilient Cities Network for conservation education and $120,466 to Debris Free Global Inc dba Debris Free Oceans for conservation education. Ocean Conservancy also supports policy and systems work on plastics and shipping. Conservation Action Fund Sponsored by Environmental Groups received $65,000 for the CA Plastics Ballot Initiative, and Pacific Environment and Resources Center received $560,000 for decarbonizing international shipping.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.6M
Total Assets
$97.9M
Total Revenue
$48.8M
Total Expenses
$49.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
Geographic Reach
National22 states funded
About 4% of grants go to recipients in AK.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JANIS SEARLES JONES
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