Marine Sanctuary Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.429
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 550 $331,997,451 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 13-1450-0-1-306
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, under CFDA 11.429, awarded grants as recently as October 1, 2026, and the Marine Sanctuary Program funds K-12 watershed education, marine sanctuary research and monitoring, resource protection initiatives, and graduate scholarships in oceanography and marine disciplines.
The program distributes $332 million in combined federal obligations across 550 awards since 2001. Awards are predominantly Project Grants (77 percent, 421 awards) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (23 percent, 129 awards). All funding flows through NOAA alone. Recent award volume has contracted: 34 awards in 2022, declining to 12 in 2025, with 17 awarded through mid-2026.
Awarded activities cluster into three categories. First, K-12 environmental education via Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)—classroom and field programs coupling teacher professional development with student hands-on learning in local watersheds, often integrating Indigenous knowledge and climate resilience. Recent examples include programs in Hawaii teaching watershed ecology through traditional ahupuaa (land division) management; projects in the Pacific Northwest engaging rural Title I schools in stream monitoring and salmon stewardship; and programs across the Great Lakes region connecting students to water quality and flood resilience. Second, marine research and monitoring—cooperative agreements funding contaminant assessment in sea otters, ocean acidification impacts on coral skeletal records, seagrass blue carbon sequestration, wooden shipwreck preservation under climate change, and vessel-traffic monitoring across all U.S. sanctuaries. Third, major facility partnerships: mega-awards such as $15 million to FEIRO Marine Life Center for an Olympic Coast Discovery Center, $7 million to California State University Monterey Bay for a science building with sanctuary offices, and $5 million to Charles County, Maryland for a Mallows Bay Heritage Center. Typical K-12 education awards range from $56 thousand to $400 thousand; research agreements average $48 thousand to $183 thousand over four years.
Open opportunities include the 2025 Pacific Northwest B-WET program (due April 14, 2025) soliciting MWEEs with climate resilience and Indigenous knowledge priority in Oregon and Washington; the 2025 Hawaii B-WET program (due January 31, 2025, now closed); and the FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship for master's and doctoral students in oceanography, marine biology, and maritime archaeology (due February 14, 2025). Eligible applicants include school districts, nonprofits, universities, state and local governments, and tribal entities.
Objective and description
- Objective
The National Marine Sanctuary Program conducts and supports research and monitoring, education and outreach, and resource protection programs tailored to the management needs of each sanctuary. These programs target a wide array of topics involving n
- Description
The National Marine Sanctuary system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most valued ocean and Great Lakes places. A healthy ocean is the basis for thriving recreation, tourism and commercial activities that drive coastal economies. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries also leads the National Marine Protected Areas Center, the nation's hub for building innovative partnerships and tools to protect our special ocean.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals, Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), State Agreements to solicit private donations may only be made with nonprofit organizations. Agreements to solicit private donations may only be made with nonprofit organizations.
- Beneficiary eligibility
State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals, Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals). The scholarship program benefits individuals who do not have the financial means of pursuing graduate level studies.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Typically, ONMS awards have a 1 year period of performance. However, applicants should rely on the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov for specific details pertaining to the financial assistance being sought.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms, as furnished by NOAA and required by 15 CFR Part 24, must be used when applying for Federal funding. These forms can be obtained from the NOAA Grants Management Division. Informal preapplication conferences are recommended. Consultation and assistance is available from NOAA in the preparation of an application. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. For the scholarships to individuals, there is no preapplication requirement.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
1) Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposal to the program goals; (2) Technical Merit; (3) Overall qualifications for applicants; (4) Project costs, and (5) Financial need of students.
- Award procedure
Applications are required for competitive and non-competitive grants. Grantees must apply by the due date published in the announcement posted on www.grants.gov. Application packages must be submitted on time, be complete, and meet minimum requirements in order to be considered for funding.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Up to 240 days
- Appeals
No formal procedure.
Grant opportunities
Show all 43
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 550 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Marine Sanctuary Foundation | $181,733,628 | 55% |
| 2 | Feiro Marine Life Center | $18,260,157 | 6% |
| 3 | City Of Santa Cruz | $8,940,000 | 3% |
| 4 | University Of California, Santa Barbara | $8,325,675 | 3% |
| 5 | University Corporation At Monterey Bay | $7,705,403 | 2% |
| 6 | Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. | $5,768,900 | 2% |
| 7 | Charles County Government | $5,000,000 | 2% |
| 8 | The Global Foundation For Ocean Exploration, Inc. | $1,867,762 | 1% |
| 9 | Sea Research Foundation, Inc. | $1,519,500 | <1% |
| 10 | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | $1,112,095 | <1% |
10 of 205 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $9,250,259 |
| FY2025 | $57,420,249 |
| FY2024 | $32,951,463 |
| FY2023 | $28,979,820 |
| FY2022 | $19,552,058 |
| FY2021 | $7,796,907 |
| FY2020 | $11,092,379 |
| FY2019 | $12,295,701 |
| FY2018 | $11,847,852 |
| FY2017 | $7,201,349 |
| FY2016 | $7,109,680 |
| FY2015 | $8,567,751 |
| FY2014 | $8,901,061 |
| FY2013 | $4,700,735 |
| FY2012 | $7,332,039 |
| FY2011 | $5,172,885 |
| FY2010 | $13,809,760 |
| FY2009 | $9,495,188 |
| FY2008 | $7,471,346 |
| FY2007 | $5,143,341 |
| FY2006 | $14,496,191 |
| FY2005 | $20,700,806 |
| FY2004 | $8,256,367 |
| FY2003 | $5,842,228 |
| FY2002 | $6,033,628 |
| FY2001 | $265,580 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.429?
Assistance Listing 11.429 is Marine Sanctuary Program, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Marine Sanctuary Program?
Its CFDA number is 11.429: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.429 awarded?
550 grant awards under 11.429 have obligated $331,997,451 in federal funds to 205 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.429?
The recipients obligated the most under Marine Sanctuary Program are National Marine Sanctuary Foundation ($181,733,628), Feiro Marine Life Center ($18,260,157) and City Of Santa Cruz ($8,940,000).
How much did 11.429 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.429 obligated $57,420,249 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.429?
No opportunity listed under 11.429 is open now. The latest, 2025 Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training, was posted on December 30, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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