Marine Debris Grants

Marine Debris Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Marine Debris Foundation
Amount: Up to US $25,000
Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Summary

The Marine Debris Foundation is launching its Marine Debris Grants to combat marine debris and plastic pollution. This initiative prioritizes projects focused on reduction, prevention, removal, and assessment of marine debris. Grants of up to $30,000 will be awarded to eligible organizations that demonstrate innovative solutions and sustainability. The foundation seeks to empower communities disproportionately affected by environmental injustices, encouraging diverse partnerships to enhance collective impact and foster long-term environmental health.

Overview

Our Mission The Marine Debris Foundation leads efforts to eliminate marine debris and plastic pollution through innovative grantmaking, effective advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Our Vision The Marine Debris Foundation envisions a planet free from marine debris and plastic pollution. Our Values Dedicated to environmental justiceWe commit to empowering frontline communities to address marine debris and plastic pollution.    InclusiveWe create a welcoming environment for all and honor a diversity of perspectives and people in all of our work.    CollaborativeWe pursue strategic partnerships with the marine debris community to enhance collective impact.Solutions orientedWe encourage innovation and creativity to foster holistic, long-term interventions.Committed to scientific integrityWe are guided by the best available science, including place-based and traditional knowledge.    TransparentWe disclose our sources of funding and are accountable in our grantmaking. Marine Debris Grants The Marine Debris Foundation (MDF) is pleased to launch the first round of its Marine Debris Grants! The MDF seeks to address the problem of marine debris through diverse partnerships, initiatives, and creative solutions. It prioritizes grantmaking 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: ReductionPreventionRemovalAssessment The MDF’s Grantmaking Initiative is focused on strengthening, enhancing, and improving domestic and international efforts that address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the economy, environment, and/or maritime safety. Evaluation Criteria The MDF aims to provide fair and equitable consideration to all grant requests. All grant requests are evaluated based on the following criteria: Environmental impact: the net environmental benefit of the proposed activities;Human health and environmental justice: the net benefits of improving air quality, water quality, water quality and human health from proposed activities;Innovation: novel and creative proposed interventions, methodologies, service models, and technologies to be tested/used (if applicable);Feasibility of implementation: political, financial, technological, and behavioral science circumstances required to successfully execute proposed activities;Solution-oriented: direct application of research, interventions, and campaigns to produce solutions to marine debris and plastic pollution;Sustainability: likelihood of the project continuing to make an impact following the term of the grant;Organizational capacity: necessary logistical and technical qualifications of the applicant to execute proposed project/activities Award Information For this open call, grants will be given for up to $30,000 per award. 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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 Marine Debris Foundation awards grants in the United States of America and internationally. The MDF provides both project-specific and general operating grant funding to eligible organizations.

Ineligibility

The following types of activities are not eligible for MDF grant support:LobbyingLitigation Legally mandated mitigation projects MDF does not provide funding for large capital or infrastructure projects or endowments.