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Coral Reef Conservation Funding Opportunities

CRCP supports projects through several financial assistance opportunities, in accordance with the Coral Reef Conservation Act (CRCA) of 2000, as reauthorized and amended by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Pub. L. 117-263, December 23, 2022, 136 Stat 2395; reauthorized CRCA). The general information about each grant program can be found below. Not all programs are available for open competition and the frequency of competitions will vary. However, information for past competitions may be found below and used as a general guide for the next competition. If a competition is "OPEN SOON!", please check back frequently here and on Grants.gov (search CFDA 11.482 for all opportunities except the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund and Coral Emergency Response Fund, which are administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) or set up automatic notifications (see below). Please visit grants.gov for the full competition information once posted.

You can sign up for automated Grants.gov alerts of funding opportunities according to topics or federal agencies. For more information on the notification process, refer to: https://grants.gov/connect/manage-subscriptions/ and use CFDA 11.482.

Funding Opportunities Overview

Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program
This competitive program is a tribute to the work and life of Dr. Ruth D. Gates with separate competitive grant opportunities available to promote the conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems. Projects will be prioritized by coral conservation and coral reef restoration priority areas identified in the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and consistent with any Federal and non-Federal coral reef action plans in effect covering a coral reef or ecologically significant reef unit of a coral reef affected by the project.

Fishery Management Council Cooperative Agreements
Financial assistance is available to the Regional Fishery Management Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries. Projects funded through this opportunity are for activities that: 1) Improve compliance with coral reef fisheries laws and essential fish habitat designations; 2) Provide better scientific information to improve the management of shallow coral reef fisheries and associated essential fish habitat; and 3) Advance ecosystem-based fisheries management through the application of existing data and fisheries management tools.

Competition Information

  • Eligible Entities: Eligible applicants are limited to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.
  • Timeline: Applications are due in grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
  • Award Amounts: Available funding is expected to be approximately $1,000,000. Applicants are expected to request between $125,000 to $300,000 per application, and requests over $350,000 will not be accepted.
  • Project Periods: Proposals may cover up to a 12-month period.
  • Matching Funds: Matching funds requirements may be waived for Regional Fishery Management Councils.
  • Federal Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-OHC-2025-29484
  • Point of Contact: Liz Fairey, Liz.Fairey@noaa.gov

OPEN NOW! Supporting Hawaii's Sustainable Coral Reef Fisheries Management Plans
The purpose of this notice is to solicit financial assistance applications that will support state and national management goals through the creation of Sustainable Coral Reef Fisheries Management Plans (CR-FMPs) across the Hawaiian Islands. The applicant will work closely with partners at the State of Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and NOAA Pacific Island Regional Office (PIRO) to support development of CR-FMPs as part of the State's Holomua Initiative. The State will lead this process, driven by local, island-based Navigator Teams; this award will focus on providing technical support and creating decision making tools to aid this process.

Competition Information

  • Eligible Entities: Eligible applicants are nongovernmental organizations or research institutions that have demonstrated expertise in coral reef conservation or restoration and/or scientific research.
  • Timeline: Applications are due in grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on Friday, June 13, 2025
  • Award Amounts: Up to $600,000 over three years.
  • Project Periods: Proposals may cover up to a 36-month period.
  • Matching Funds: Matching funds from non-U.S. Federal sources are required at a 1:1 ratio for all proposed projects.
  • Federal Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-30196
  • Point of Contact: Craig Reid, Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov

Coral Reef Stewardship Fund (formerly the Coral Reef Conservation Fund)
This competitive grant program, administered through a long-standing public-private partnership between the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), was created to support coral reef stewardship activities with funding provided by NOAA CRCP's public-private partnership agreement, non-Federal donations, and applicant matching funds

Competition Information

  • Eligible Entities: Eligible applicants include all persons, organizations, and non-U.S. Federal agencies
  • Timeline: This is an annual competition occurring in the winter/spring of each year.
    • Pre-Proposal Webinar: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET (Register here)
    • Pre-Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET
    • Full Proposal Webinar: March 2025 (by invitation)
    • Full Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET (by invitation)
  • Award Amounts: Available funding is expected to be approximately $3,500,000. Average grant awards will range from $80,000 to $600,000 (with higher amounts going to threat reduction and BMP implementation projects).
  • Project Periods: Proposals may cover a 12- to 18-month period.
  • Matching Funds: Matching funds from non-U.S. Federal sources are required at a 1:1 ratio for all proposed projects.
  • More information: Program information is available on the NFWF Coral Reef website at: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/coral-reef-stewardship-fund/coral-reef-stewardship-fund-2025-request-proposals
  • NOAA Point of Contact: Scot Frew, Scot.Frew@noaa.gov; Tori Barker, Victoria.Barker@noaa.gov

Reef Research Coordination Institute Designations This competition will establish two Reef Research Coordination Institutes (RRCIs) through cooperative agreements to support the research, restoration, and management of shallow-water coral reef ecosystems within the U.S. states and territories. The two RRCIs will be to be known as the “Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute'' and the “Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute.'' This funding opportunity focuses on:

  • conducting federally directed research to fill national and regional gaps;
  • collaborating with relevant states and territories, Native entities, coral reef managers, NGOs, and other CRRCs;
  • assisting in the development and implementation of the National Resilience Strategy and coral reef action plans;
  • building non-Federal capacity; and
  • conducting public education and awareness programs.

Competition Information

  • Eligible Entities: Eligible applicants are limited to the 32 previously designated coral reef research centers.
  • Timeline: Applications are due in grants.gov by 11:59 ET pm on Friday, January 31, 2025. Informational Webinar (by invitation): November 6, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST, 12:00 pm Hawaii Standard Time (HST), and November 7, 2024 at 8:00 am Chamorro Standard Time (ChST). This will be recorded and made available for those who are unable to attend.
  • Award Amounts: Applicants may request up to $4,500,000 per year (up to $22,500,000 over five years).
  • Project Periods: Proposals may cover up to a 60-month period (five years).
  • Matching Funds: Matching funds from non-U.S. Federal sources are not required.
  • Federal Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-28920
  • Point of Contact: Craig Reid, Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov

Emergency Assistance: The Coral Emergency Response Fund
Emergency assistance is available to respond to immediate harm to coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems arising from exigent circumstances. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has been selected to non-competitively award grants and contracts in coordination with NOAA CRCP under a public-private partnership agreement. Eligibility is limited (by statute) to the states and territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and to coral reef stewardship partnerships as they are developed. The Coral Reef Emergency Fund is replenished annually by the CRCP (pending availability of funds) and available until expended. Non-Federal matching funds are not required from the recipient.
Point of Contact: Craig Reid, Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov

Block Grants: State and Territorial Governments
Beginning in 2025, block grants and cooperative agreements will be awarded to designated resource management agencies in the states and territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support coral reef management and restoration activities and further the implementation of coral reef action plans in effect. The All Islands Committee of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force is also eligible to apply for cooperative agreements to support its activities. These opportunities are non-competitive and do not require non-Federal matching funds.
Point of Contact: Craig Reid, Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov