Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative: Houston
Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative: Houston supports collaborative teams implementing science-based, community-driven disaster adaptation solutions to improve Houston’s health and resilience.
Funder: National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine
Due Dates: October 2, 2026 (Applications open) | October 21, 2026 (Application workshop) | December 18, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $250,000–$625,000 per award for up to 24 months; $1.25 million total funding
Summary: Supports collaborative, science-based and community-driven implementation of disaster adaptation solutions that improve Houston communities’ health and resilience.
Key Information: Only ACT Houston Planning Grantees and their project teams are eligible for implementation funding.
Description
The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program (GRP) runs ACT Houston, a multi-phase initiative focused on Harris County Precincts 1 and 2, Texas. Launched in 2025, it brought together local nonprofits, foundations, academia, and government to develop an evidence-based, community-driven framework for what communities need to deal with disasters. Planning grants supported working groups and the development of place-based project ideas.
The Phase 2 implementation opportunity supports planning grantees in putting those solutions into practice. Projects should leverage relationships developed during planning, advance selected ACT Houston Framework priorities, and demonstrate early changes in community assets, health, and resilience. Its two priority areas are planning and preparing together for response and recovery, and supporting collaborative research and solutions. Lessons learned will be shared with local stakeholders, GRP partners, and other Gulf communities.
