National Coastal Resilience Fund
The National Coastal Resilience Fund from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds science-based, nature-based projects to boost coastal community and ecosystem resilience to storms, flooding, and environmental change.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates: March 31, 2026 (Pre-Proposal) | June 24, 2026 (Full Proposal, by invitation) | July 6, 2026 (Questions deadline – Ecosystem Services Valuations) | July 13, 2026 (Q&A posted – Ecosystem Services Valuations) | July 24, 2026 (Proposal deadline – Ecosystem Services Valuations)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: $100,000–$1,500,000 (planning/design) and $1,000,000–$7,000,000 (implementation); no maximum; Ecosystem Services Valuation contract: one award, two-year term.
Summary: Supports nature-based solutions that protect U.S. coastal communities and habitats from storms, flooding, and environmental change.
Key Information: Non-federal match not required but encouraged; federal agencies ineligible as direct applicants.
Description
The National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), funds projects that use nature-based solutions to enhance the resilience of U.S. coastal communities and ecosystems against storms, flooding, erosion, and other hazards. The program supports a pipeline from capacity building and planning through site assessment, design, permitting, and restoration implementation. NCRF emphasizes projects that deliver measurable community risk reduction and ecological benefits, with a focus on community engagement, transferability, and long-term sustainability. The program is open to a wide range of applicants and includes both standard grant cycles and special contracts, such as the 2026 solicitation for ecosystem services valuation.
