Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants — Small grants for island nations

About this program

The Waitt Foundation’s Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants provide small, rapid-turnaround awards (up to $20,000) to support emerging solutions for ocean protection, with a programmatic focus on sustainable fisheries and marine protected areas. Funding is restricted to projects in island nations partnered with the Blue Prosperity Coalition (Azores, Bermuda, Federated States of Micronesia, Maldives, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu) and projects are expected to be completed within approximately six months. Applicants must be affiliated with an academic institution or NGO, demonstrate relevant experience, and position ROC funding as the primary support for a discrete, implementable project; applications must include a budget, project timeline, and proof of nonprofit status. Proposals are reviewed on a monthly rolling basis with funds typically disbursed within two weeks of approval, and indirect/administrative fees are not permitted.