National Coastal Resiliency Fund Opens With Pre-Proposals Due March 31
March 30, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting pre-proposals for the National Coastal Resiliency Fund through March 31, 2026—giving coastal communities just days to enter one of the most significant nature-based resilience funding programs available.
Awards range from $100,000 for planning and capacity-building grants to several million dollars for full implementation projects. The fund targets communities facing escalating threats from coastal flooding, storm surge, sea-level rise, and erosion-driven habitat loss.
What Gets Funded and Who Should Apply
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, local governments, and Tribal organizations in U.S. coastal areas. Projects must deploy nature-based solutions—living shorelines, wetland restoration, oyster reef construction, mangrove planting, or dune stabilization—that reduce community vulnerability while enhancing critical habitat.
NFWF has historically favored proposals demonstrating clear community benefit, measurable resilience outcomes, and strong partnerships between conservation organizations and local governments. Multi-partner proposals that leverage matching funds from state or local sources receive priority consideration. Projects combining ecological restoration with protection of community infrastructure tend to score highest in competitive review.
A Rare Overlap of Resilience Funding Streams
The NFWF deadline coincides with an unusually rich period for coastal resilience funding. FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program is accepting applications through July 23 with $1 billion available, and NOAA's coastal research programs retained full funding in the FY2026 budget. Communities that secure NFWF planning grants can use those results to strengthen subsequent FEMA BRIC applications.
Grant seekers should note that the NFWF pre-proposal is a screening step—successful applicants will be invited to submit full proposals in a subsequent round. Organizations that miss the March 31 deadline will need to wait for the next cycle, which typically opens in fall.
Coastal resilience practitioners can track federal, state, and foundation funding on grantedai.com.
For coastal resilience grant strategies and deadline tracking, visit the Granted blog.