Nearshore Marine Resource Conservation Grant

Nearshore Marine Resource Conservation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Harold K. L. Castle Foundation
Amount: US $100 - US $4,000,000
Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Summary

The Nearshore Marine Resource Conservation Grant, offered by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, seeks to enhance Hawaii's coastal ecosystems through collaborative governance. This grant focuses on reducing land-based pollution, improving resource management capacity, and fostering community engagement. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and public schools serving Hawaii. The foundation emphasizes measurable outcomes, aiming for substantial increases in managed marine areas and effective governance practices to assure long-term sustainability for future generations.

Overview

NOTE: Online Inquiry Forms will be reviewed by foundation staff on a rolling basis, so they may be submitted at any time during the year. Within one month of receipt of your Online Inquiry Form, we will contact you to request more information, invite you to submit a full proposal, or inform you that the foundation will be unable to consider a full proposal due to limited resources and/or a mismatch with foundation priorities. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, the 2025 deadlines are: February 11 May 6 August 5 November 4 Vision Statement Hawaii’s near-shore systems are sustainable because they are well regulated by strong, responsible, responsive government authorities and non-profit partners using an ecosystem approach that benefits from broad-based expert opinion and inclusive community involvement in determining management priorities. Goals Make measureable improvements in our nearshore oceans where possible now; promote systemic change by improving governance and a community-based management model of practice for scaled impact in the near term; and foster a collaborative set of stakeholders to maintain a healthy system for nearshore management throughout Hawaii in the long term. Investment Areas/Tactics The most significant change in this third iteration of our Theory of Change is that we have done away with the seven investment areas meant to serve as programmatic foci and evaluation criteria. Instead we have shifted to five specific tactics to improve marine resource health and management. These represent shared, more proactive priorities with several partners, intended to help Hawaii achieve marine management targets over the next 1-5 years that move our islands towards two results: 1) a substantial increase in the number and percentage of nearshore marine acres in the Main Hawaiian Islands that are effectively managed based on more collaborative science, better management and improved enforcement; and 2) a similarly substantial increase in Hawaii’s capacity for ocean management. These tactics are (in no order of priority): Reduce land-based pollution measurably and meaningfully in at least one pilot site: This will focus on watershed regions that partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) have already identified as priority, namely West Maui and the North Kona Coast of Hawaii, where resources and efforts are already being concentrated and can be leveraged. In the ideal, working solutions can be proven in these areas and subsequently exported as a model to be applied elsewhere in Hawaii In this light, the Foundation will not ignore potential projects in other regions that might result in workable solutions. Support Hawaii’s capacity to properly manage the state’s resources: In following the DLNR Chair’s and Division Administrator’s leads, the Foundation will dedicate resources toward strengthening staff positions, programs, and policies that DLNR does not have the resources to carry out on its own. Pursuant with State and Federal law, supporting the State, either directly or through a third-party fiscal sponsor is both legal and ethical. In addition to supporting DLNR, the Foundation is also committed to supporting a robust non-profit marine management sector. And when appropriate, the Foundation is also amenable to granting directly to communities who have the capacity and motivation to carry their own programs. Improve the State’s marine management infrastructure: The Foundation would like to focus on efforts that work collaboratively with fishers and other ocean users to find solutions that suit a broad range of needs and concerns. This will include improving enforcement, broadening education and outreach with users (e.g., tagging programs, improving access to sustainable fishing and fish), and collecting better stock data that inform better management decisions. For example, some form of registry, license or permit for recreational ocean users would provide valuable data to inform better marine management decision-making. Build a community-based co-management model of practice: As supporters and ‘service-providers’ to communities that are defined by use, place and practice, the non-profit sector consists of many organizations working with communities and stakeholders to improve marine resources across Hawaii The Foundation intends to use its giving resources and ability to convene towards an increasingly collaborative and cooperative marine management sector. Organizations in the Federal, State, local government and private spaces need to work collectively to reduce unnecessary redundancy, optimize efficiency in a resource-limited capacity environment, and maximize impact. Discussed in further detail in later sections, a number of collective impact opportunities currently exist to help the sector work toward shared goals. Designate new areas and regulations that sustain resources and benefit all users: Consistent with above tactics, in following the DLNR’s lead and the wishes of local communities of place, use, and practice, the Foundation aims to help support the groundwork necessary to establish new areas and rules that ensure sustainable harvest, habitat protection, and benefit to all users. Invariably, there will be contention associated with these efforts, which is why the Foundation is also wed to improving designation processes to be as fair, open, and inclusive as possible. Nonetheless, the Foundation believes that further efforts are necessary if we are to sustain our nearshore marine resources for future generations. Lastly, the impact of these five tactics will be measured by two performance measures. While still largely undefined now, we anticpate that both of these performance measures will be finalized by summer 2017: The first is the amount of nearshore marine acres effectively managed, whose definition is currently under development in partnership with the Governor’s administration and several marine science and management organizations. ‘Effectively managed’ will be informed by a balanced perspective between biological status and management action. It is important to note that this coincides with Governor Ige’s newly launched environmental platform including his commitment to effectively manage 30% of our nearshore marine areas by 2030, and the cross-sectoral Aloha+ Challenge for sustainability. For more information on these State-led efforts click here. The second metric will focus on measuring Hawaii’s capacity to manage our marine resources. This is a measure of collective capacity in both the government and non-profit spaces. Because it has concluded that there is no single metric for capacity, the Foundation has opted for a shared checklist of priorities with a broad cross section of partners. The degree to which collaborators can work down this shared checklist will serve as a measure of progress. This ‘checklist’ is currently being developed with partners.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants: Nonprofit organizations serving Hawaii with Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) public charity statusPublic schools.The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation only funds organizations that serve the people of Hawaii.

Ineligibility

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation does not make grants to individuals or businesses.We do not provide funding for ongoing general expenses except for those few organizations the Foundation deems critical to the overall success of its strategies Proposals are not considered for: Individuals or businesses Ongoing operating expenses (unless it is a new project or organization needing start-up funding) Vehicles Computers Endowments Annual fund drives Sponsorships, special events, dinners, galas Organizations based outside of Hawaii Projects taking place outside Hawaii that do not benefit Hawaii