Shark Conservation Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_B8F4C76E

Annual Expenditure: £3.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Over $30 million total since 2016 (averaging ~$3-4 million annually)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: Large grants decided at biannual board meetings (May and November); Small grants reviewed annually
  • Grant Range: $25,000 (Small Grants) to over $1,000,000 (Large Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Global, with priority countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, South Africa, Taiwan, Canary Islands, and Bahamas

Contact Details

Website: www.sharkconservationfund.org

Twitter: @SharkRayFund

Instagram: @sharkconservationfund

Note: SCF is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., a US 501(c)(3) public charity, not a UK registered charity.

Overview

The Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) is a collaboration of leading philanthropists dedicated to restoring ocean health through sweeping shark and ray conservation. Formally launched in 2016 by founding partners including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (now re:Wild), Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Oceans 5, and the Helmsley Charitable Trust, SCF has funded 68 projects in more than 50 countries, leveraging over $30 million for shark conservation. Current members include the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Oceans 5, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Moore Charitable Foundation, re:Wild, the Save our Seas Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies Ocean Initiative, and the Volgenau Foundation. SCF's mission is to halt the overexploitation of sharks and rays and prevent extinctions through strategic, collaborative, and catalytic grantmaking. Key achievements include 198 shark and ray species receiving full legal protections, 90% of global fin trade listed in CITES, and 207,185 square kilometers of marine protected areas established.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to $25,000 over maximum 18 months

  • Annual open call for applications, typically solicited in March
  • For emerging conservation opportunities, scientific studies directly linked to policy advancement, scoping larger projects, and capacity building
  • Priority given to first-time applicants, projects implementing CITES listings, projects linked to conservation policy improvement, and small NGOs in developing countries

Large Grants: $50,000 to over $1,000,000 per year, 1-3 year duration

  • By invitation only
  • Funding decisions made at biannual board meetings (May and November)
  • For strategic conservation initiatives with direct policy impact

Priority Areas

SCF supports projects that advance three core objectives:

  1. Regulating Global Trade: Ensuring effective regulation of global trade of shark and ray products through CITES listings and implementation
  1. Preventing Extinctions: Preventing extinction of the most imperiled sharks and rays by enhancing legal protections in priority countries and through international forums, including protection of Sawfish, Angel Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks
  1. Combating Unsustainable Fishing: Combating unsustainable shark and ray fishing globally through adoption and implementation of conservation and management measures

Investment Focus Areas:

  • Fisheries management reform
  • Protecting endemic and endangered shark species
  • Identifying and protecting important shark habitats
  • CITES species listing and implementation
  • Engaging Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
  • Policy development, outreach and advocacy
  • Conservation science
  • Communications and media
  • Capacity-building
  • Long-term monitoring

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct grants to governments
  • Research not directly connected to management
  • Conference attendance (unless part of a larger project)
  • Projects inconsistent with SCF's Investment Strategy
  • Projects without direct connection to near-term policy change
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Governance and Leadership

Staff

  • Lee Crockett, Executive Director
  • Megan O'Toole, Program Director
  • Valerie Zundel, Program Associate
  • Brenna Goldner, Grants and Operations Manager

Advisory Board

  • J. Charles Fox (Executive Director, Oceans 5)
  • Yuta Masuda (Director of Science, Allen Family Philanthropies)
  • Ann Colley (Director of Public Relations, Moore Capital Management)
  • Trevor Bacon (Marine Program Officer, Moore Charitable Foundation)
  • Barney Long (Senior Director of Species Conservation, Re:wild)
  • Andi Pearl (Executive Director, The Volgenau Foundation)
  • Emily Small (Director of Program Delivery, Bloomberg Ocean Fund)
  • Amanda Nickson (Senior Director of Conservation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation)

Expert Advisory Panel

Includes Professor Nicholas Dulvy, Sarah Fowler, Dr. Rima Jabado, and Dr. Hollie Booth

Key Quote: "SCF's comprehensive approach, extraordinary human capital, and extensive international reach positions it well to influence all major shark fishing, processing, and consuming countries."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants:

  • Open application announced on SCF website and social media, typically in March
  • Letter of Intent required
  • Must be associated with a non-profit organization or academic institution
  • Undergraduate and graduate students eligible for discrete 18-month projects
  • Current grantees not eligible; former grantees may apply

Large Grants:

  • By invitation only
  • No application deadlines

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have legal presence in country of proposed work
  • Prefer organizations with 501(c)(3) or equivalent status
  • Must demonstrate financial efficiency and accountability

Decision Timeline

Small Grants: Annual review cycle following March application period

Large Grants: Decisions made at biannual board meetings in May and November

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The fund receives hundreds of applications annually, indicating high competition. Lee Crockett and other reviewers acknowledge that “rejection is very common” due to limited funding available.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants who have been turned down may apply again. However, unsuccessful applicants are strongly urged to contact SCF to learn how to modify a new proposal to increase the likelihood of funding. Former grantees may apply for Small Grants, but current grantees are not eligible.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from SCF Leadership

Lee Crockett, Executive Director, offers this guidance:

  • On rejection and perseverance: "Rejection is very common in research, and everyone has some experience with it. Keep going, reach out for help when needed, and don't lose heart if you don't succeed the first time. You'll get there, and it'll be so worth it in the end."
  • On seeking support: "Lee and other funders offer the support of SCF and recommend sending an email to them or successful applicants for help. It may feel daunting, but everyone has been in an applicant's position and are only too willing to help."

Key Success Factors

  1. Demonstrate direct connection to near-term policy change: Projects must show clear pathway to conservation policy advancement
  1. Align with SCF's Investment Strategy: Review the fund's three core objectives and ensure your project directly addresses one or more
  1. Prioritize CITES implementation: Projects implementing CITES listings receive priority consideration
  1. Focus on policy cycle: Research, regulation, and enforcement components strengthen applications
  1. Emphasize results within timeframe: Small grants must produce results within 18 months

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Taiwan CITES Implementation: Capacity building workshops for government officials on shark fin identification
  • Kenya Fisheries Data Collection: Improving species catch data collection for sharks and rays ($24,800)
  • Indonesia Wedgefish Research: Increasing biological information for threatened wedgefish and guitarfish species
  • Philippines Shark Conservation Act: Outreach and advocacy for legislative passage ($25,000)
  • Marine Megafauna Foundation, Mozambique: Preventing extinction through research, education and conservation

Language and Terminology

Successful applications emphasize:

  • Policy implementation and enforcement
  • CITES listings
  • Conservation management measures
  • Capacity building in developing countries
  • Near-term conservation outcomes
  • Direct linkages to management

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Policy connection is essential: Every project must demonstrate a clear, direct connection to near-term policy change and conservation management—pure research without policy implications will not be funded
  1. Small grants favor newcomers: Priority given to first-time applicants and small NGOs in developing countries—if you haven't received SCF funding before, highlight this advantage
  1. CITES implementation is a golden ticket: Projects that implement CITES listings receive priority consideration—align your work with CITES species if possible
  1. Don't fear rejection—seek feedback: SCF encourages unsuccessful applicants to contact them for guidance on improving proposals; leverage this support rather than simply resubmitting
  1. Think comprehensively: SCF values the “full policy cycle” approach—research, regulation, and enforcement—showing how your project fits this framework strengthens applications
  1. 18-month results requirement for small grants: Ensure your small grant project has achievable outcomes within the short timeframe—ambitious multi-year visions should be scoped appropriately
  1. Geographic targeting matters: Priority countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and South Africa—projects in these locations may have competitive advantage

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References