2026 Dorrance Marine Conservation Initiative

Island of Hawaiʻi

PRIMARY PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:

To provide support to high-performing non-profits with demonstrated expertise in improving ocean health through the recovery, restoration, regeneration, and protection of marine habitat and biodiversity.

TARGET POPULATION AND ECOSYSTEMS:

➢ Marine Habitat and Biodiversity

• Coastal and nearshore ecosystems and the imperiled species they harbor

o Coral reefs, estuaries, and bays
o Watersheds, waterways, and land directly impacting coral reefs, estuaries, and bays

LOCATIONS:

➢ Island of Hawaiʻi

➢ Programs and projects requesting funding can include communities, watersheds, waterways, land mitigation, and advocacy, having a direct impact on the coral reefs, estuaries, and bays in the identified locations. Priority is given to West Hawaiʻi coastal, nearshore, and related watershed (ridge-to-reef) projects, North Kohala to Miloliʻi.

Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY:

1. Must be a public charity and have had tax-exempt 501(c)3 status for a minimum of 3 years. Start-ups are not eligible.
2.  Must be based in the USA.
3. Only one grant application per organization will be accepted.
4. Joint and collaborative proposals are accepted.
5. Government agencies are not eligible to apply directly. Programs and projects that include integration, partnership, and collaboration with state and federal management agencies are acceptable.
6. Universities and colleges are eligible to apply.
7. Multi-year funding requests (up to three years) are accepted from current grantees only or by invitation only.
8. If you are the supporting organization or fiscal sponsor for another entity, you must specify whether you are requesting funding for your organization or the organization you support/sponsor. Your responses must identify and reflect the organization that will be carrying out the proposed work.

CRITERIA FOR REVIEW:

The Dorrance Family Foundation will use the following criteria to review and select grantees:

1. The extent to which the project meets the program goal of The Dorrance Family Foundation.
2. The extent to which the project supports, protects, enhances or scales the outcomes of currently funded projects in the identified priority areas of coastal and nearshore ecosystems and impacted communities. See the Locations section for details.
3. Fully completed letter of inquiry. Letters of inquiry that are incomplete or missing required attachments will not be considered.
4. Grant request does not exceed 30% of the organization’s annual budget.
5. Organizational capacity, expertise, and credibility of the applicant to achieve the intended outcomes.
6. Clear, measurable, and identifiable objectives, benchmarks, and timelines that demonstrate the project’s impact.
7. Access to the work through site visits and site-specific progress reports; locations and habitats where the work is being done.
8. The extent to which the project:
   • focuses on species/suite of species
   • is place-based
   • engages with local communities and leadership
   • incorporates science and cultural expertise
   • is tangible
   • is measurable
   • is ready-to-proceed with direct interventions (shovel/fin ready)
   • addresses major habitat and ecosystem stressors and threats, and identifies solutions
   • can be scaled up or replicated in the future with additional resources and partners, if applicable
   • is addressing a demonstrated need and is connected to long-term strategies, proof-of-concept, or systems change, and is collaborative and community driven
9. The project for which proposed funding will be used can include watersheds, waterways, land mitigation, and advocacy, having direct impact on the coral reefs, estuaries, and bays in the identified locations and regions.
10. Long-term research only or advocacy only projects without tangible outcomes are not suggested.

USE OF GRANTS:

Grants MAY NOT be used for the following:

1. Benefit of specific individuals.
2. Capital campaigns except for capital needs and/or equipment that significantly and measurably improve organizational or program effectiveness and impact.
3. General operating expenses (overhead and other administrative costs are acceptable for the program and project for which funding is being requested).
4. Endowment.
5. Re-granting to other organizations without prior approval and a signed grant agreement.
6. Re-granting to other individuals.
7. Activities that promote religious beliefs.
8. Lobbying – IRS-defined lobbying activities that are prohibited by federal law.
9. Partisan research and analysis and non-permissible policy-related activities.

ANNUAL GRANT AWARD RANGE:

$100,000 – $1,000,000*
*If you are submitting a multi-year request, or would like to discuss a project under $100,000, contact Shaun Breese, Program Director, at shaunb@dfenterprises.com or 808-269-1315, to schedule a meeting.

ONLINE SUBMISSION:

Submission of a letter of inquiry will only be accepted online. Letters of Inquiry serve as your Grant Proposal. If your organization meets the Request for Proposal guidelines, CLICK HERE TO APPLY  to begin your submission according to the Request for Proposal schedule and deadline. Please note that if you have received a grant from The Dorrance Family Foundation in the past, you may already have an organization account and log-in information.

QUESTIONS:

Contact Shaun Breese, Program Director, at shaunb@dfenterprises.com or 808-269-1315 if you have any questions regarding our LOI or grantmaking process. If you’ve forgotten your password or need technical help, contact Tennille Williams at twilliams@dfenterprises.com, 480-208-2175.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

We will ask you to provide information through an initial online letter of inquiry process through our grant portal. Be sure to select “CREATE A NEW LOI” and select “MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE”.  Letters of Inquiry serve as your Grant Proposal. Please be specific and concise about the location/s and details of your proposed work. Be sure to click the “SUBMIT LETTER OF INQUIRY” button to submit your information successfully.

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS:

1. Proof of IRS federal tax-exempt status, 501(c)3.
2. Operating budget (organizations with multiple branches or chapters must submit a state-specific budget). Supporting organizations must submit an operating budget for the organization for which funding is being requested.
   • Include by percentage primary sources of funding (individual, corporate, government)
   • Include by percentage total annual expenses for operations, admin, fundraising, and programs
3. Project budget that includes a list of other current and prospective funders to the proposed project/program.
4. Most recently filed 990 and most recently audited financial statement (if available).

DEADLINES:

Submit your letter of inquiry by clicking the “SUBMIT LETTER OF INQUIRY” button at the end of the online form on or before May 30, 2026, 5:00 pm HST. Letters of inquiry will only be accepted through our online process. Early submissions are encouraged. If you are a current grantee, you may receive a separate email requesting a progress report for your active award.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY