Grants & Scholarships

Community Grant Program

Wellfleet Oyster Alliance is devoted to fostering a greater understanding of the history and traditions of aquaculture and wild fisheries, and to enhance the Town of Wellfleet by supporting its community. 

We are a nonprofit organization firmly rooted in the community we serve.

Our intent for our community grant program is to be a reflection of WOA’s commitment to the local aquaculture industry by granting funds to projects that increase public awareness and advance scientific understanding of issues affecting Wellfleet’s shellfishing industry. This may include research and studies examining invasive species, environmental changes, or other emerging threats. The result of such would help identify challenges, deepen knowledge, and better inform efforts to protect and sustain the industry.

Community grants are awarded on a rolling basis. Organizations and individuals are invited to propose projects or initiatives that support Wellfleet’s aquaculture or wild shellfishing community and align with WOA’s mission.

WOA also considers general grant requests for programs and projects that enrich the quality of life in Wellfleet. These grants support organizations addressing the community’s health, social, educational, cultural, and environmental needs. Please note that projects funding individual salaries or directly benefiting a single family farm are not eligible for these grants.

Previous Recipients of the Community Grant Program Include:

  • The Massachusetts Oyster Project: $10,000

  • Center for Coastal Studies bamboo worm impact study: $7,000

  • The Wellfleet Shellfish Harvester Relief Program: A series of initiatives developed and sponsored by WOA to help local shell fishermen and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic: $100,000

  • Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary: Funds earmarked to support the organization’s Coastal Ecology of Wellfleet Harbor program for 4th and 5th grade students at Wellfleet Elementary School

  • Friends of Herring River: Working with marine ecology researchers John Portnoy and Barbara Brennessel, WOA helped fund the pre-restoration evaluation efforts of a baby oyster (spat) settlement in the sands of the Herring River Estuary.

Please fill out a grant application to be considered for the community grant program.