Applications Invited for 11th Hour Racing Grant

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About the Organization

Inspired by the dynamics of sailboat racing and the urgency for climate action, 11th Hour Racing is committed to the health and resilience of ocean systems. Supporting innovative, sustainable solutions in the maritime industry and beyond through sport, storytelling and grant-making, 11th Hour Racing works to build healthy planetary systems and strong communities. Under the 11th Hour Racing umbrella, activities are provided through 11th Hour Racing, Inc., which serves as the impact entity and provides programmatic direction to its philanthropic partners, including 11th Hour Racing Charitable, LLC, which engages in charitable work, and 11th Hour Racing Action, LLC, which engages in social welfare programs and advocacy.

We work to mobilize sports, maritime, and coastal communities with an innovative approach to inspire solutions for the ocean and promote collaborative, systemic change through three primary areas of engagement: sponsorships, grantees, and ambassadors.

About the Grant

Our vision for the future includes cleaner, healthier waterways through strong local stewardship and collective action around the world.

As the climate crisis intensifies, so does the impact on ocean health. We need a global paradigm shift from an extractive economy that depletes our natural resources to a sustainable economy that uses resources wisely and protects our ocean. We work to facilitate this transition by supporting local solutions to global problems, led by community organizations and industry leaders.

By supporting local pilot programs that model best practices of sustainability, restore coastal ecosystems, and advance ocean stewardship, our grantees are creating systemic change to restore ocean health.

We prioritize projects led by 501(c)(3) organizations, but other types of nonprofit or charitable entities may apply as long as the proposed project addresses one or more of 11th Hour Racing’s strategic goals. We award grants in the U.S. and globally; however, we prioritize funding on the East Coast of the United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. 11th Hour Racing seeks proposals that align with one or more of our focus areas:

Ocean Literacy and Stewardship:

We believe in the power of ocean literacy and stewardship to change how humanity sees the ocean. We support opportunities for students and adults to personally experience their local waterways or gain a new perspective of the sea through powerful storytelling. Our goal is to shift how we treat the ocean – from a resource we exploit to a respected, essential ecosystem.

Our grant giving program includes outreach and education initiatives for any age group focused on improving our knowledge and treatment of the ocean. We prioritize youth-led initiatives, citizen science, and experiential education. We are interested in supporting programs specializing in increased stewardship, access, and ocean literacy within historically under-resourced communities. We support a limited amount of ocean-focused investigative journalism and storytelling. We do not support curriculum development or general funding for educational programming.

Clean Technologies and Best Practices:

We believe in the power of technological ingenuity and collective behavior change to overcome the environmental impact of human-made systems. From composting to ghost gear removal to preventing plastic pollution through the elimination of single-use plastic, the capacity for systematic change that leads to significant results has untapped potential.

Our grant giving program includes community campaigns that shift to more sustainable practices, as well as technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of coastal communities, sailing-related activities, and the maritime industry. Activities may involve improving practices regarding plastic pollution prevention or food waste, such as composting, techniques that improve water quality, environmentally responsible vessel disposal methods, or construction materials or processes. We do not invest in proven technologies or support offshore marine debris clean-ups or advertising.

Ecosystem Restoration:

We believe in the power of nature to restore itself. In the face of an overwhelming climate crisis, nature has solutions to mitigate coastal flooding, erosion, and ocean acidification. Whether it’s the small but mighty oyster or stretches of seagrass and mangroves, when we support restoration efforts, our funding helps nature and the people who depend on it.

Our grant giving program includes using coastal habitats like mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass to sequester carbon (commonly referred to as “blue carbon”) or using nature-based solutions such as living shorelines, oysters reefs or kelp farming to improve coastal water quality or build coastal resilience to a changing climate. Priority goes to community-led projects and initiatives that involve collaborations amongst multiple organizations and stakeholder engagement. We do not support hard infrastructure projects, conservation easements, or land acquisition.

Evaluation Criteria:

Project submissions are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Environmental impact: the magnitude of the project’s environmental benefits.
• Capacity and organizational expertise: organizational capacity and qualifications necessary to implement the proposed project.
• Innovation and creativity: how unique the project or the methodology used are.
• Feasibility of implementation: technological, financial, and political factors that may influence the success of the project.

Strong consideration will be given to projects that involve collaborations and stakeholder engagement, model best practices, can demonstrate measurable outcomes in a one-year timeframe, and share successes broadly. For anything we fund, particularly demonstration projects or place-based work, we prefer opportunities for broader impact through replicating or scaling.

Grant Awards:

• Grants are typically one year in length, and we generally offer fewer multi-year grants.
• Typical grant awards range from $40,000 – $150,000, with an average grant size of $75,000. First-time grants to new organizations are generally smaller.
• Our grant funding must be tied to a specific project with measurable outcomes. We currently do not offer general funding, capital or infrastructure grants, or endowment funding.

How to Apply

Deadline: March 31, 2025.

Apply

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Innovations and Technology Others