Frequent Questions: Ruth D. Gates Coral Innovation Grants
Find answers to frequent questions about the FY2024 Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grants
When will proposals be due?
The deadline for proposals is February 14, 2024.
Are pre-proposals required?
No. There is no pre-proposal requirement for this funding opportunity.
Will match or cost-share be required for this grant opportunity?
NOAA CRCP financial assistance awards are subject to statutory and regulatory matching fund policies. Federal funds for any coral conservation project under 16 U.S.C. § 6410 may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the award. Therefore, projects funded under this grant opportunity require a 1:1 contribution of non-Federal matching funds. However, applicants may request match waivers in limited circumstances, as described in the announcement.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligible applicants are nongovernmental organizations or research institutions that have demonstrated expertise in coral reef conservation or restoration and/or scientific research; U.S. states, territories, or local governments with authority over coral reefs; and Native entities with interests in a coral reef ecosystem. All in-water work must be conducted within the U.S. coral jurisdictions. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to work with states, tribes, non-governmental organizations, municipal and county governments, and others that are eligible to apply.
Will there be any educational resources (webinars, phone calls, etc.) on how to apply or improve applications?
Applicants may reach out directly to the federal program officer to have one-on-one conversations about the application process. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Financial Assistance page has a section focused on the grant application process. We do not plan to hold an applicant webinar. Applicants may also request feedback about how to improve an application after the competitive process is complete.
What is the minimum and maximum NOAA funding request?
NOAA will accept proposals with a NOAA federal funding request of between $100,000 and $1 million over a 3-year award period.
When can funded projects start?
September 1, 2024 is the earliest potential start date for awards.
Are there ineligible project types?
Yes, a complete list is in Section III.C of the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Some examples include activities that:
- Alleviate the liability associated with legally required mitigation
- Constitute compensatory restoration
- Are required by a separate consent decree, court order, statute, or regulation.
Is there a limit on the number of proposals from any one applicant, geographic area, or region?
No. There is no limit on the number of proposals from any one applicant, geographic area, or region.
Will a letter from my state or territory’s governor be required?
No, a letter from your state or territory governor is not required. However, applicants who propose in-water pilot testing of coral intervention/restoration methods are requested to provide evidence of project support or collaboration with relevant representatives of states or government authorities who manage the areas where the work takes place.
Will NOAA ensure geographic distribution of selected awards?
Yes. The NOAA Selecting Official will recommend applications for funding in rank order unless there is justification to select out of rank order based upon standard selection factors outlined in the funding opportunity, including the availability of funding and balanced distribution of funds according to geography, type of institution, type of partner, research/focus area, and project type. Additionally, the Coral Reef Conservation Act requires that all funding under the wider Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program has a 40% Atlantic/Caribbean and 40% Pacific split. This competition is one of two competitions under the Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program.
Will there be another Ruth Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity issued next year (FY2025)?
Availability of funds for future competitions is based on the annual federal appropriations process and the final budget. Depending on the level of funding made available by Congress, NOAA anticipates an additional $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 may be available over the next two years (FY2025 - FY2026) to support selected awards.
Is the Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grants opportunity part of a broader NOAA initiative?
The Ruth Gates Coral Reef Restoration Innovation Grants falls under the umbrella of the Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program, which is authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 16 U.S.C. § 6410, as amended by James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Pub. L. 117–263, December 23, 2022, 136 Stat 2395, reauthorized Coral Reef Conservation Act). The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) administers multiple competitions under the Ruth D. Gates Grant Program to target activities that support conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems. In FY2024, the NOAA CRCP has an additional competition under the broader Ruth D. Gates Grant Program - Local and National Capacity Building Support Grants and Cooperative Agreements.