About this grant programme

While locally-led conservation is central to our mission, there are contexts where complementary partnerships are essential—particularly in advancing policy, providing technical expertise, or navigating institutional or political complexity. The Catalytic Grant stream is designed to support these strategic opportunities in Southeast Asia.

This invite-only funding mechanism is not open for general applications, but we share our approach to foster transparency and collaboration among others working in similar contexts.

Catalytic Grants

Our funding approach

Catalytic Grants are tailored to the needs of each initiative, providing funding to support marine conservation in the region. These grants are designed to:

  • Pilot innovative conservation models with potential for scalability and replication.

  • Advance multi-stakeholder conservation efforts, particularly those involving governments, industry and local communities.

  • Build technical and institutional capacity where local infrastructure, expertise, or narrative power is limited.

  • Fill strategic gaps in areas where local organisations or information ecosystems are underdeveloped.

While many grants support marine protection and restoration, we also fund work in ocean literacy, alternative seafood, and policy strengthening. Although catalytic grants may work through intermediary structures, many partners employ national staff, re-grant to local groups, or collaborate with grassroots actors—ensuring continued investment in local capacity, leadership, and livelihoods. This approach ensures focused, strategic action that amplifies and reinforces our long-term commitment to locally-led conservation.

Eligibility

Catalytic Grants are invite-only and are not open for unsolicited applications.