The Sonar Equipment Fund
Expanding Access to Underwater Technology for Education, Safety, and Environmental Stewardship
Program Description:
The Sonar Equipment Fund is helping institutions, researchers, and community partners gain access to professional-grade sonar systems that have traditionally been out of reach. These grants are expected to transform training, research, and public engagement by enabling high-resolution underwater imaging and precise navigation across a range of uses—from student learning and environmental monitoring to search and recovery and shoreline mapping.
Grantees anticipate that the new sonar equipment will enhance student education through hands-on fieldwork, improve collaboration between academic programs and local agencies, and provide valuable environmental and safety data for communities. By equipping universities, colleges, and research programs with affordable, modern sonar systems, the Fund is laying the groundwork for stronger regional capacity, a more skilled workforce, and greater public understanding of the underwater world.
Program Goal:
The Sonar Equipment Fund was established to provide financial resources to nonprofit organizations and educational institution-based programs in the United States specifically for the purchase of low-cost sonars to increase the awareness and use of such equipment in furtherance of their curriculums and missions, thereby enhancing their existing programming and curriculums related to aquatic science, environmental studies, oceanography, and related fields.
Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Applications submitted by September 30, 2025 at 12am will be reviewed and awarded in the Fall of 2025. Applications submitted between October 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026 at 12am will be reviewed and awarded in the Winter of 2026. Funding decisions will be communicated to the applicant within 30 days of the application deadline.
Funding Amount:
Up to $10,000 per successful applicant towards the purchase price of underwater sonar equipment.
Approved applications will be paid in advance of equipment purchase. Organization will not need to upfront the purchase price of the equipment.
Only one approved application per calendar year will be accepted.
Declined applicants may reapply no more than 2 total times (including initial decline) per calendar year.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for funding, applicants must:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a public or private K-12 school, or an accredited higher education institution located in the United States.
- Demonstrate a clear and compelling need for underwater sonar equipment to enhance existing programming or curriculums.
- Provide a detailed description of how the sonar equipment will be integrated into current activities and learning objectives.
- Outline the anticipated impact of the equipment on participants (e.g., number of students reached, new research opportunities, enhanced community engagement).
- Submit a budget outlining the total cost of the desired sonar equipment and how the requested funds will be utilized. Preference may be given to projects where the requested funding represents a significant portion of the total cost.
- Currently have, or plan to obtain, skills within your organization to operate and maintain the underwater sonar equipment safely and effectively.
- Commit to providing a brief report on the outcomes and impact of the equipment use within one year of receiving funding. The report should include images/video of the purchased equipment in project use, including permission for further usage of images by the Foundation.
- Adhere to all applicable safety guidelines and regulations related to the operation of underwater sonar equipment.
Reporting Requirements:
- Within 90 days of the completion of the grant period, a summary report is due. The report should include a narrative of the program or curriculum where the equipment was used. The report should include information including the number of participants, specific activities undertaken, challenges encountered, successes achieved, photos or videos.
If you have any questions on how to apply, please email grantsadministration@mplsfoundation.org.
The Sonar Equipment Fund
The Sonar Equipment Fund
Expanding Access to Underwater Technology for Education, Safety, and Environmental Stewardship
Program Description:
The Sonar Equipment Fund is helping institutions, researchers, and community partners gain access to professional-grade sonar systems that have traditionally been out of reach. These grants are expected to transform training, research, and public engagement by enabling high-resolution underwater imaging and precise navigation across a range of uses—from student learning and environmental monitoring to search and recovery and shoreline mapping.
Grantees anticipate that the new sonar equipment will enhance student education through hands-on fieldwork, improve collaboration between academic programs and local agencies, and provide valuable environmental and safety data for communities. By equipping universities, colleges, and research programs with affordable, modern sonar systems, the Fund is laying the groundwork for stronger regional capacity, a more skilled workforce, and greater public understanding of the underwater world.
Program Goal:
The Sonar Equipment Fund was established to provide financial resources to nonprofit organizations and educational institution-based programs in the United States specifically for the purchase of low-cost sonars to increase the awareness and use of such equipment in furtherance of their curriculums and missions, thereby enhancing their existing programming and curriculums related to aquatic science, environmental studies, oceanography, and related fields.
Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Applications submitted by September 30, 2025 at 12am will be reviewed and awarded in the Fall of 2025. Applications submitted between October 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026 at 12am will be reviewed and awarded in the Winter of 2026. Funding decisions will be communicated to the applicant within 30 days of the application deadline.
Funding Amount:
Up to $10,000 per successful applicant towards the purchase price of underwater sonar equipment.
Approved applications will be paid in advance of equipment purchase. Organization will not need to upfront the purchase price of the equipment.
Only one approved application per calendar year will be accepted.
Declined applicants may reapply no more than 2 total times (including initial decline) per calendar year.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for funding, applicants must:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a public or private K-12 school, or an accredited higher education institution located in the United States.
- Demonstrate a clear and compelling need for underwater sonar equipment to enhance existing programming or curriculums.
- Provide a detailed description of how the sonar equipment will be integrated into current activities and learning objectives.
- Outline the anticipated impact of the equipment on participants (e.g., number of students reached, new research opportunities, enhanced community engagement).
- Submit a budget outlining the total cost of the desired sonar equipment and how the requested funds will be utilized. Preference may be given to projects where the requested funding represents a significant portion of the total cost.
- Currently have, or plan to obtain, skills within your organization to operate and maintain the underwater sonar equipment safely and effectively.
- Commit to providing a brief report on the outcomes and impact of the equipment use within one year of receiving funding. The report should include images/video of the purchased equipment in project use, including permission for further usage of images by the Foundation.
- Adhere to all applicable safety guidelines and regulations related to the operation of underwater sonar equipment.
Reporting Requirements:
- Within 90 days of the completion of the grant period, a summary report is due. The report should include a narrative of the program or curriculum where the equipment was used. The report should include information including the number of participants, specific activities undertaken, challenges encountered, successes achieved, photos or videos.
If you have any questions on how to apply, please email grantsadministration@mplsfoundation.org.