10 % For The Ocean

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £213,081 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (described as “micro-grants” and “unrestricted funding”)
• Geographic Focus: International (27 countries)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

• Website: www.10percentfortheocean.org
• Email: hello@10percentfortheocean.org
• Phone: 01444 450901
• Address: 21 Poland Street, London

Overview

10% For The Ocean is a UK registered charity (CIO - Foundation, Charity No. 1186488) founded by Arksen in January 2020. The charity operates as a global alliance of over 60 leading ocean charities and initiatives across 27 countries, working to build the world's largest philanthropic fund for ocean conservation. Their mission is to shift ocean charitable funding from less than 1% to 10% by 2030, which would unlock approximately $80 billion annually for marine ecosystem restoration and protection. The organization provides catalytic, unrestricted funding to grassroots organizations and researchers on the frontlines of marine protection through their Ocean Recovery Network. As of 2024, the charity reported total income of £145,978 and total expenditure of £213,081.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The organization operates primarily through their Ocean Recovery Network, providing unrestricted grants to selected ocean conservation organizations. They describe their grants as “micro-grants for small, locally focused ocean conservation organizations and projects.” Selected grantees become part of the Ocean Recovery Network, with additional funds raised distributed equally to network members.

Funding Model: Described by founder Jasper Smith as “like a mutual fund for the sea,” pooling donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to fund impactful conservation, research, and restoration initiatives worldwide.

Priority Areas

All funded organizations must align with one or more of the 10 targets of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. Priority areas include:

• Marine Conservation Programs: Protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystems
• Legal & Advocacy Efforts: Driving policy change for ocean protection
• Education & Awareness: Bringing people closer to ocean conservation
• Research Initiatives: Supporting scientific research on ocean health
• Habitat Restoration: Focusing on critical issues like coral reefs and seagrass restoration
• Fighting Overfishing: Addressing the fact that 90% of global fish stocks are overfished or exploited
• Pollution Prevention: Tackling plastic pollution and other marine threats

The charity specifically supports grassroots organizations and locally-focused projects that may struggle to access traditional funding sources.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, though the focus is exclusively on ocean conservation and marine protection aligned with UN SDG 14.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Jasper Smith - CEO and Founder of both Arksen and 10% For The Ocean
• Rupert Rohan
• Asker Fawmy
• Michael Penrose

Note: One or more trustees receive payments or benefits for services to the charity.

Advisory Board

The charity has a substantial advisory board with expertise across ocean conservation, climate change, and philanthropy:

• Rose Mann - Raised more than $300 million for science, climate change and ocean protection with 25+ years in ocean conservation fundraising
• Mario Passoni - Head of Conservation projects at World Sustainability Foundation, 10+ years' experience in habitat restoration in Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America
• Marina Psaros - Sustainability expert who has led climate action programs across public, private, and non-profit organizations for more than a decade
• Enock Kiminta - Water resource specialist with 15+ years of experience in water conservation and management in Kenya
• Oscar Vosshage - Works at the cutting edge of technology and business model innovation focused on blue ecosystems
• Céline Yvon - 20+ years of experience across social change, venture philanthropy and international cooperation
• Sidney Opiyo - Expert in environmental conservation and climate advocacy
• Elizabeth Silleck La Rue - 25+ year career in environmental and social progress
• Laura Barron - 12+ years in climate justice and health equity
• Mina Kim - PhD economist specializing in climate and economic development

Key Quote from Leadership

Jasper Smith on funding priorities: "The lack of funding is the key, the thing to change as quickly as possible, and that's our ambition with 10% – to try and move the needle from 0.2% of charitable and philanthropic funding to 10%."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

10% For The Ocean operates through a curated network model rather than open applications. The charity provides grants through their Ocean Recovery Network, where selected organizations become members and receive unrestricted funding. The founder describes it as “a superfund for the ocean” where “every ocean-related charity can come to that superfund for grants.”

Based on available information, the organization identifies and selects grantees through:

• Direct outreach and relationship building
• Consultation sessions held globally in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese)
• Alignment with their strategic priorities and UN SDG 14 targets

The charity has held consultation sessions with potential grantees to gather feedback on their strategy and application process, suggesting they may be developing or refining their approach to accepting new network members.

Getting on Their Radar

While specific strategies are not publicly documented, the organization has demonstrated the following approaches:

Consultation Sessions: The charity periodically holds global consultation sessions in multiple languages where potential grantees are invited to provide feedback on strategy and the application process. Attending these sessions when announced could provide opportunities to connect with the team.

Corporate Partnership Route: Organizations that work with corporate partners who pledge 10% of their charitable giving to ocean conservation may gain visibility, as 10% For The Ocean manages these pooled funds.

Sector Visibility: The organization attended key events in 2024 including the Water Week Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons and the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens, suggesting visibility within these policy and conservation networks may be beneficial.

Direct Contact: Given there is no formal application portal, interested organizations should contact hello@10percentfortheocean.org to express interest and inquire about potential partnership opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The organization's grant-making process and decision timelines are not detailed on their public-facing materials.

Success Rates

Not available. As the charity does not operate an open application process, success rates are not published.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the current funding model. Organizations become part of the Ocean Recovery Network and receive ongoing unrestricted funding as network members.

Application Success Factors

Since 10% For The Ocean does not have a traditional application process, success in securing funding appears to depend on:

Alignment with UN SDG 14: All funded organizations must align with one or more of the 10 targets of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. This is a fundamental requirement.

Local and Grassroots Focus: The charity explicitly states they support “grassroots organisations and researchers on the frontlines of marine protection” and provide funding to “small, locally focused ocean conservation organizations and projects.”

Impactful and Promising Work: The organization describes their approach as providing funding to “the most promising local and regional initiatives,” suggesting they prioritize organizations demonstrating measurable impact or strong potential.

Unrestricted Funding Philosophy: The charity provides “catalytic, unrestricted funding,” suggesting they favor organizations that can use flexible funding effectively and don't require highly prescriptive grant conditions.

Collaborative Approach: Selected grantees become part of the Ocean Recovery Network, suggesting they value organizations willing to work collaboratively within a network of ocean conservation groups.

Examples of Supported Organizations:

• Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) - Recognized worldwide as a benchmark for community-led marine conservation, promoting sustainable marine management and delivering education programmes
• 90 North Foundation - Received a grant in support of pioneering work during the COVID-19 epidemic
• Project Seagrass - Received support (vessel and logistical assistance) for seagrass restoration work in the Solent
• Ocean Now - Environmental initiative using art to promote engagement with SDG 14
• The Sea Horse Trust, National Oceanography Centre, Surfers Against Sewage, ClientEarth - All listed as supported organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - This funder operates through invitation and curation rather than open applications; direct relationship building is essential
• Focus on the underfunded - Ocean conservation receives less than 1% of global charitable giving; this charity specifically targets closing that gap for smaller organizations
• Unrestricted funding model - They provide flexible, unrestricted grants rather than project-specific funding, favoring organizations that can deploy funds strategically
• Network membership matters - Becoming part of the Ocean Recovery Network provides ongoing funding rather than one-off grants; this is a long-term partnership model
• UN SDG 14 alignment is mandatory - All work must connect to one or more targets within Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water
• Grassroots and local preferred - Despite being a global fund, they explicitly prioritize locally-focused projects and grassroots organizations
• Watch for consultation sessions - The charity has held global consultation sessions in multiple languages; these may provide rare opportunities to engage directly with the team
• Consider the corporate route - If your organization works with corporate supporters, encouraging them to pledge 10% of charitable giving to ocean causes through 10% For The Ocean could create a connection

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• TARA GETTY FOUNDATION
• Restore Our Planet
• The Regatta Foundation
• EAST HEAD IMPACT
• The Kreitman Foundation
• The James Gibson Charitable Trust
• The Freshfield Foundation
• The Newcore Foundation
• THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY
• The Silver Lady Fund Incorporating The All Night Travelling Cafe

References

1. UK Charity Commission - 10 % For The Ocean (Charity No. 1186488), Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1186488&subid=0
2. 10 Percent for the Ocean - Official Website, https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/
3. 10 Percent for the Ocean - Grant Making, https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/pages/grant-making
4. 10 Percent for the Ocean - Governance, https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/pages/governance
5. 10 Percent for the Ocean - About Us, https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/pages/about-us
6. 10 Percent for the Ocean - Our Work, https://www.10percentfortheocean.org/pages/our-work
7. WildHub Community - "10% For the Ocean - Grants & Ocean Recovery Network", https://wildhub.community/posts/10-for-the-ocean-grants-ocean-recovery-network
8. Arksen - “Founding 10% Of The Ocean”, https://www.arksen.com/blogs/news/founding-10-of-the-ocean
9. Arksen - “How Arksen and 10% for the Ocean supported Project Seagrass to help recovery”, https://www.arksen.com/blogs/news/how-arksen-and-10-for-the-ocean-supported-project-seagrass-to-help-recovery
10. 90 North Foundation - “10% For The Ocean”, https://www.90northfoundation.org/uncategorized/10-for-the-ocean/
11. Oceanographic Magazine - “Jasper Smith: A simple journey”, https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/jasper-smith/
12. 10 Percent For the Ocean - LinkedIn Company Page, https://www.linkedin.com/company/10-percent-for-the-ocean