Project AWARE Foundation Grant Program
Information and Guidelines
About Us
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Courtesy of Jeffrey de Guzman
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Project AWARE Foundation, established in 1992 is a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE offices located in United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan combine efforts to conserve aquatic resources in 175 countries of the world. Grant program funding is made possible by direct contributions from divers and water enthusiasts and operates on a quarterly funding cycle.
Project AWARE Foundation provides grants to a variety of nonprofit organizations, institutions and individuals involved in activities directly related to the conservation of underwater environments - both marine and freshwater. We work to accomplish our mission through support of programs in selected focus areas including: Coral reef conservation
- Shark protection
- Sustainable fisheries
- Ecotourism (as related to underwater environments)
- Aquatic education with a special interest in children
- Direct activities to conserve underwater resources such as shoreline and underwater cleanups, mooring buoy installations and maintenance.
Within these focus areas, projects may include:
- Public education (formal and informal)
- Grass roots conservation and enhancement projects
- Environmentally focused research that leads to conservation measures
- Public awareness initiatives
- Environmental assessment and monitoring projects
- Volunteer-support community activism
We do not fund:
- Legislative advocacy to influence policy; political campaigns
- Projects whose methods are not environmentally accepted
- Overhead expenses including salaries of any kind, stipends, benefits or tuition
- Capital expenses including computer hardware/software or office furnishings
- Travel and living expenses
- Dive equipment or instruction
- Products designed for resale
Funding Limitations
Funding requests will be accepted up to a maximum of US $10,000, AU $2,500 or UK £5000. The average grant awarded ranges between US $500 and $3000. Project AWARE Foundation funding is limited and very competitive. Therefore, we cannot provide support for every project. Grant proposals requesting funds for projects falling outside the program focus areas will not be considered. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make all funding decisions at their discretion. In some instances, partial funding may be awarded.