NFWF Announces Release of the National Coastal Resilience Fund 2024 Request for Proposals

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2024) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the release of the 2024 Request for Proposals for the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) and expects to invest approximately $140 million in grants—including approximately $96 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—to support nature-based solutions for coastal resilience that provide a first line of defense for coastal communities and ecosystems from increasing impacts due to rising sea levels and more intense storms.

The NCRF focuses on projects that increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as flooding and erosion, while enhancing coastal habitats vital for fish and wildlife. NFWF also prioritizes projects that address the disproportionate risks faced by communities on the frontlines of climate change and projects that are community led or incorporate direct community engagement. 

NCRF is a public-private partnership between NFWF, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, Shell USA and Oxy. 

“This funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, offers communities a transformational opportunity to take steps to prepare for the impacts of climate change by using nature-based infrastructure,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “Investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law help NOAA and our partners go further and faster to support coastal communities as they build resilience to safeguard people and ecosystems.”

“As storms and other flood hazards increasingly impact coastal regions across the country, the NCRF is a vital tool to help protect communities and enhance fish and wildlife habitat,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “Our significant investments in nature-based solutions are critical in developing more resilient communities while at the same time providing a range of additional benefits, including essential habitat restoration, improved air and water quality, and increased recreational opportunities for local communities.”

The demand for NCRF funding continues to outpace need as coastal communities and ecosystems face increasing threats. In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28 separate weather and climate disasters causing $92.9 billion in damages. NOAA research indicates that flooding will increase ten-fold in many coastal communities by mid-century as sea-levels continue to rise. At the same time important natural buffers—like wetlands and barrier islands—are being lost to erosion, inundation and development, which is diminishing the resilience of coastal communities and threatening many fish and wildlife species that depend on these habitats to breed, feed and rest.

NCRF pre-proposals are due April 10, 2024. The full Request for Proposals can be found here: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/national-coastal-resilience-fund  

For additional information about the NCRF please visit: https://www.nfwf.org/coastalresilience. 

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest private conservation grant-maker, funding more than 21,600 projects and generating a total conservation impact of $8.1 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at www.nfwf.org. 

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Contact:

Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org