Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program

The Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program (GCCGP) seeks to build and maintain the resilience of the Gulf Coast’s ecosystems, living resources and communities by supporting critical gaps in conservation and catalyzing conservation solutions that can be taken to scale. It is a competitive grants program that supports priority conservation needs of the Gulf Coast that are not otherwise expected to be funded under NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund or other funding opportunities associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 

Specific priorities focus on strengthening coastal resilience; advancing conservation and management on working lands for wildlife and water quality; and conserving living resources, in particular coastal birds.

The GCCGP is made available with funding provided by the Shell Marine & Wildlife Habitat Program, Southern Company’s Power of Flight Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service​ (NRCS) and other sources.

Since the program’s inception in 2015, more than $18.6 million has been awarded to 62 grants. These projects have generated an additional $29 million in matching support, for a total on-the-ground impact of nearly $47.7 million. These projects will sustain, restore or enhance more than 86,700 acres of coastal habitat along the Gulf of Mexico.