Conservation Program

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation Conservation Program is a private philanthropic initiative dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans and preserving marine biodiversity. The foundation operates with a strategic focus on addressing urgent environmental threats impacting ocean ecosystems, including climate change, overfishing, habitat degradation, and marine pollution. Through its conservation program, the foundation supports efforts that strengthen long-term ocean stewardship by investing in organizations working at the intersection of science, policy, and applied conservation. The primary purpose of this grant program is to fund high-impact initiatives that advance sustainable ocean management and biodiversity protection. Priority investment areas include the implementation and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas, reform of international fisheries governance, conservation of coral reef ecosystems, protection of vulnerable marine species such as sharks and rays, expansion of legal and policy frameworks for ocean conservation, reduction of marine plastic pollution, and advancement of ocean-based climate solutions including maritime decarbonization. These focus areas reflect the foundation’s strategy to target underfunded yet critical opportunities where philanthropic capital can drive measurable environmental outcomes. Funding is flexible and may be structured as project-based grants, general operating support, or multi-year funding depending on the scope and needs of the proposed work. The foundation does not prescribe fixed award amounts, instead encouraging applicants to submit budgets that accurately reflect the scale of their initiatives. However, funding is generally not provided for academic research, baseline data collection, technology development, commercial ventures, clean-up efforts, or education and outreach activities that fall outside the program’s core strategic priorities. Eligibility includes both U.S.-based and international organizations that meet nonprofit equivalency standards, such as 501(c)(3) status or comparable international designations. The program prioritizes organizations with demonstrated capacity to achieve measurable conservation outcomes and those engaged in policy-driven or systems-level work aligned with the foundation’s priority areas. Emphasis is placed on initiatives that influence governance structures, legal mechanisms, and large-scale environmental impact. The application process is highly selective and operates primarily on an invitation-only basis. Organizations may initiate engagement by submitting a brief description of their work via email, outlining alignment with the foundation’s strategic priorities. Program staff review these inquiries and determine whether to invite applicants to submit a full proposal. Only invited organizations are eligible to apply, and proposals are evaluated based on strategic alignment, potential for impact, and organizational capacity. The program operates on two annual grant cycles, typically in April and November, with defined timelines for the 2026 funding year. For the November 2026 cycle, the application period opens on June 1, 2026, with full applications due by July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time, and award announcements expected in late November. The April 2026 cycle opened on December 1, 2025, with applications due on January 23, 2026 for Performing Arts and Social Impact programs and January 30, 2026 for Conservation, with awards announced in early May 2026. While Conservation program applicants remain invitation-only for both new and returning grantees, other program areas may allow limited open access for recent grantees. Award timelines, funding durations, and reporting requirements vary depending on the nature of each grant, and funding is not guaranteed for previously supported projects. Each application is evaluated independently within its respective cycle. Organizations interested in the Conservation Program are encouraged to contact the foundation through its designated email channel to explore alignment. The foundation also collaborates with funding consortia and peer organizations to amplify impact, reinforcing its commitment to coordinated, large-scale solutions for global ocean conservation challenges.

Align proposals closely with stated priority areas such as marine biodiversity conservation and policy impact; emphasize measurable outcomes and evidence-based approaches