Ocean Currents Workshop: Emerging Practices in Blue Finance and Ocean Philanthropy
Building off last year’s panel and happy hour with Mission Investors Exchange, Impact Assets, Allen Family Philanthropies, SeaForward Fund, Builders Vision, Conservation International Ventures, and Octave Capital, this year’s event shifts from inspiration to activation. We are hosting a practitioner-level workshop designed to address the deployment of capital across the full spectrum - from traditional philanthropy and catalytic capital to program-related investments (PRIs) and market-rate ocean impact investing.
Target Audience:
* This event is invite-only and strictly for active family offices and foundations. If you are interested in joining us please contact kathryn@maritimeblue.org.
Active Participants: Family offices, private foundations, and community foundations currently deploying or looking to deploy capital toward ocean health and the blue economy.
Two Tracks of Attendees:
The Experienced: Desiring deep dives into the mechanics of blue economy investments, including a case example of blended finance, snapshots from a variety of investment opportunities and a workshop on the collaborative use of impact measurement frameworks. Investor narratives and pipeline discussions will reveal the opportunities ripe for investment.*
The Emerging: Desiring an introduction to a variety of financial tools for ocean investing, strategies for communicating about impact, how grants and credit enhancements can create the environment for investment capital to flow, and a conversation about collaboration that furthers an active and intentional blue economy community.
* Hosts, sponsors, and speakers do not recommend specific investment opportunities, and participants are encouraged to seek advice directly from your registered investment advisor and qualified legal counsel prior to investing.
Workshop Schedule & Outline
Part 1: Context & Grounding (30 Mins)
Welcome & Framing: Setting the stage for One Ocean Week Seattle and defining the day's objective: turning dialogue into collaborative asset deployment.
Opening Fireside Chat: The State of the Blue Economy & Ocean Philanthropy
Focus: A high-level overview of the most urgent capital gaps facing our oceans, regional opportunities in the Pacific Northwest, and global emerging practices.
Part 2: Lightning Showcase & Panel – Blue Finance in Practice (45 Mins)
The Full Capital Spectrum Showcase: Short, tactical case studies focusing on different financial mechanisms. Rather than standard panel Q&A, speakers present specific deal structures, collaborative models, or grant frameworks they have used.
Philanthropy & Catalytic Capital: (e.g., Allen Family Philanthropies / local foundations on grant-making that derisks early tech).
Cooperative Models for Blended Finance & Market-Rate Impact Investing: (e.g., Builders Vision SeaForward CI Ventures on how they blend philanthropic capital with venture dollars to scale solutions).
Impact Metrics: A brief look at common and shared impact metrics for ocean-based investments (e.g., 1000 OS Ocean Impact Navigator)
Part 3: Interactive Breakout Circles (60 Mins)
Participants self-select into one of three facilitated rooms/tables designed to surface concrete next steps. Each table will have a designated scribe and a lead facilitator from our partner organizations.
Table A: "Getting Your Feet Wet" (For Emerging Investors/Funders)
Focus: Introduction to the ocean asset class. How to map your existing foundation/family office mission to ocean health (e.g., climate, food security, coastal community resilience).
Outcome: A starter framework for ocean grant-making or impact investing.
Table B: Blended Finance & Co-Investment (For Active Investors/Funders)
Focus: How can family offices and foundations pool capital to de-risk blue tech, regenerative aquaculture, or marine conservation projects? Sharing actual pipeline opportunities.
Outcome: Identification of 2–3 collaborative investment syndicates or shared funding opportunities.
Table C: Measuring What Matters (Impact Metrics & Community Outcomes)
Focus: Emerging practices in measuring the ROI of ocean health. How do we ensure blue finance structures result in community-centered, regenerative, and ecologically sound outcomes?
Part 4: Report-Back, Action Steps & Mixer (45 Mins)
The Synthesis (15 mins): Facilitators from Tables A, B, and C share the top 3 insights, barriers, and next steps surfaced during the breakouts.
Closing & Call to Action (5 mins): Introduction to a shared resource folder, a local deal-flow pipeline sharing mechanism, or future events, quarterly follow-ups.
Networking Reception (25 mins): Continuing the conversation into a light lunch, paying homage to the successful happy hour format from last year.