MPA Small Grants Program

MPA Small Grants Program is sponsored by California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) through Coastal Quest. The Marine Protected Area Outreach and Education Small Grants Program aims to increase outreach and education, enhance marine stewardship, and improve compliance with MPA regulations statewide.

MPA Small Grants Program – Coastal Quest You are here: Home 1 / MPA Small Grants Program Outreach and Education Small Grants Program, Marine Protected Area Outreach and Education Small Grants Program The Marine Protected Area (MPA) Outreach and Education Small Grants Program is a program funded by the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) through the Once-Through Cooling Mitigation Fund.

Additional matching funds for Round 3 of this Program are provided by The Marisla Foundation and Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

The goal of this Program is to increase outreach and education efforts to improve compliance with MPA regulations statewide and increase marine life associated with MPAs in the geographic region of Once-Through Cooling facilities and statewide, with a small amount of funds provided by matching philanthropic donors for projects north of Big Sur, with a priority given to Environmental Justice Communities.

Funded projects help produce the following outcomes: Increased ocean stewardship, engagement, compliance, and leadership Increased docent and educator capacity Reduced illegal take of marine life in MPAs Increased diversity of stakeholders engaged, including both traditional and non-traditional audiences as well as underserved audiences (e.g., the recreational fishing community) Additionally, projects funded through this grant program help meet the following objectives: Provide significant value for the state through replicable methods Increase local capacity through project implementation Demonstrate a lasting impact on communities targeted through these projects.

The Small Grants Program has existed for three rounds of funding, the first round in 2017, the second round in 2019, and the third round in 2023. The 3 rd round of the MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program builds on the success of distributing over $1 million in funding to organizations across California to enhance MPA compliance and stewardship. This round of funding is competitive.

Local, state and federal public agencies, public or private universities, non-profits, for-profit entities, and California Native American Tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply. Additional private funds support increased outreach, technical support, and capacity to be given to organizations located in and serving Environmental Justice Communities and to encourage these organizations to submit proposals.

This third round of funding provides grants between $25,000 and $100,000 to proposals that engage or conduct outreach targeting: Recreational and commercial fishing communities. Communities of color that have been underserved in MPA management and education, i.e. Black, Latinx, and Asian users/potential users of MPA spaces and resources. California Native American Tribes or tribal organizations.

Smaller grants of $5,000 – $25,000 are also be available to support projects that maintain momentum for programs that were either funded in Rounds 1 or 2 of the MPA Outreach and Education Small Grants Program, or programs that are already established, especially those focused on K-12 education.

Round 3 Grantees: List of Grantees and Products California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Angler Outreach Effectiveness Report Understanding Recreational Angler Needs for California MPA Outreach and Education Report Updated Brochures and Signs The Anti-racist Surfer’s Guide to Point Dume The Anti-racist Surfer’s Guide to Point Dume (Spanish) Color the Water MPA video Canyon to Coastline Curriculum Preserving Cultural and Natural Riches in the Central Coast Preserving Cultural and Natural Riches in the Central Coast (Spanish) Nature Collective’s project was events based, check out their website to learn more.

North Coast Native Protectors Orange County Coastkeeper Queer Surf’s project was events based, check out their website to learn more. San Mateo MPA Collaborative About the Tidepool Stewardship Management Tool Wishtoyo Foundation’s project was events based, check out their website to learn more.

MPA Science Cruise Programs Catalog Greater Farallones Association Student Rocky Intertidal Fact Sheet (English & Spanish) Student Rocky Intertidal Field Sampling Techniques (English & Spanish) Los Angeles MPA Collaborative Youth Take Home Fishing Guide Youth Take Home Fishing Guide (Guidebook Layout Spanish) Youth Fishing Outreach Posters Monterey and San Luis Obispo MPA Collaboratives MPA Coloring Book (Traditional Chinese) MPA Outreach & Educational Tools Showcase Explore the inspiring tools our small grants program awardees created to engage learners of all ages!

In this video, you will take a journey along the coast where you will learn how to bring a fish drawing to life, dive into the ocean’s depths with a sea lion named Marina using virtual reality, and much more!

Join us as we explore Marine Protected Areas along the California Coast and showcase this powerful collection of tools specifically designed for the following groups: K-12 Teachers, museums, summer camps, outdoor educators Anglers and the Recreational Fishing Community Recreational Users and Explorers [0:00 min] Session 1: MPA Outreach & Educational Tools for K-12 Graders [55:57 min] Session 2: MPA Outreach & Educational Tools for Fishing Communities [1:20:10 min] Session 3: MPA Outreach & Educational Tools for Recreational Users View Presenting Organizations California Marine Sanctuary Foundation California State Parks / Monterey MPA Collaborative Catalina Island MPA Collaborative Del Norte MPA Collaborative Environmental Action Committee of West Marin MPA Collaborative Network NOAA Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Shark Stewards / Golden Gate MPA Collaborative Click on the images below to learn more about past rounds of funding.