The Waitt Foundation is accepting proposals for its Rapid Ocean Conservation Grants Program, which provides small grants with a quick turnaround time for solutions to emerging conservation issues.

The program is designed to be responsive to conservation opportunities, support higher-risk ideas at a low financial cost, and engage with small, local nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations on a global scale. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to support projects related to the Waitt Foundation mission of supporting sustainable fishing and marine protected areas (MPAs). Project funds will be distributed within two weeks of funding decisions, which are made on a monthly rolling basis throughout the year. In addition, spending of the funds must commence within one month of granting, and be completed within six months.

To be eligible, applicants need not hold advanced degrees, but must demonstrate a commensurate level of experience and expertise with respect to the proposed project; and must have and maintain legitimate affiliation with an academic institution or NGO for the duration of the grant project. In addition, ROC grants should constitute the sole or primary source of funding for the proposed project, not serve as complementary funding for larger, more costly projects.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Waitt Foundation website.