Funding Opportunities

Lack of funding can deter or delay a hazards adaptation or mitigation project. See below for potential funding sources for your project. While many of these are not specifically for coastal hazards, they can all be applied to coastal hazards resilience projects or planning. For emergency response funding, see Washington State Department of Ecology or Washington State Emergency Management Division, below.

Do you know of a funding source not listed here? Share it with the network by emailing WAcoastalnetwork@gmail.com!

Floodplains by Design

Floodplains by Design is Washington State Department of Ecology’s primary grant program for projects that help communities live better in their floodplain. Floodplains by Design is a partnership of local, state, federal, and private organizations focused on coordinating investment in and strengthening of the integrated management of floodplain areas throughout Washington. 

Types of projects funded: Local organizations with Floodplains by Design grants are working on projects that are multi-benefit: both reducing flood hazards to communities and restoring natural functions of Washington’s rivers and their floodplains. These projects bring together many different uses in the floodplain to benefit the entire community and ecosystem, improve flood protection for towns and farms, restore salmon habitats, improve water quality, and enhance outdoor recreation.

Example projects: See the program’s “Our Work” page for an interactive map of funded projects.

Funding available: Varies – determined by the State Legislature. Grants are for projects achievable in two to three years. Matching funds are required at 20 percent, but waived for Economically Distressed Communities.

More information: Floodplains by Design (Department of Ecology), Floodplains by Design (program website).

Marine Resource Committees

Marine Resource Committees (MRCs) are county-based committees of volunteers who are appointed by their local elected officials. MRCs represent diverse perspectives related to our marine ecosystems and working with local governances. A typical MRC has representation from local government, tribal government, the local port district, local business, and the scientific, recreational and conservation communities.

Types of projects funded: Projects funded by MRCs include, but are not limited to, topics such as coastal hazards, nearshore restoration, intertidal and estuarine habitats, mapping eelgrass beds, outreach and education for local communities, restoring native shellfish populations, installing rain gardens, and more.

Example projects: Visit or contact your local MRC to identify current and previously funded projects.

Funding available: Varies between MRCs and available funding.

More information:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA’s Coastal Management sector focuses on four programs: coastal zone management, national estuarine research reserves, digital coast (tools, data, and training), and coral reef restoration. Since NOAA is a federal program, many of the NOAA programs and efforts are focused across the US.

Types of projects funded: Depending on the specific grant program, NOAA’s coastal management funding opportunities typically fund planning, agency coordination, research and educational opportunities.  

Example project: The Washington Coastal Resilience Project (WCRP) was a three-year effort by Washington Sea Grant, Washington State Department of Ecology, University of Washington Climate Impact Group, The Nature Conservancy, and other entities to develop cutting-edge sea level rise projections and outreach surrounding this material. For more information, check out the “Sea Level Rise: Research and Tools” page.

Funding available: Varies yearly depending on federal funding opportunities.

More information: NOAA Coastal Management Funding Site

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is one of the largest private conservation grantmakers in the United States. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation focuses on conservation efforts across the nation through a wide variety of programs.

Types of projects funded: Programs include: emergency coastal resilience, coastal resilience, conservation scholars, restoration, watershed programs, and more.

Example projects: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has funded numerous habitat and streamflow restoration projects in Washington, among other types of projects which can support coastal hazards resilience.

Funding available: Varies yearly depending on available funding.

More information: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Programs

Washington Coast Restoration and Resilience Initiative
The Washington Coast Restoration and Resilience Initiative (WCRRI, formerly Washington Coast Restoration Initiative, or WCRI) provides funding for projects in Washington’s Pacific Coast watersheds, with a focus on creating jobs and restoring coastal lands and waters.

Types of projects funded: WCRRI funds projects that restore Pacific Coast lands and waters, with an emphasis on local job creation.

Example projects: Fry Creek Restoration and Flood Reduction (City of Aberdeen), Moon Island Road Project (City of Hoquiam), Grayland Acquisition Project (Ducks Unlimited), Goldinov-Wilson Creek restoration (Wahkiakum Conservation District), Quinault Nearshore Habitat Restoration (Quinault Indian Nation)

Funding available: WCRRI is funded by the Washington State Legislature on a biennial basis, pending legislative approval. 2015-17 funding totalled approximately $12,000,000 across 22 projects. 2017-19 funding totalled approximately $12,000,000 across 17 projects.

More information: See the WCRRI Handout or contact the Coast Salmon Partnership.

Washington Conservation Corps

Washington Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program that connects nonprofit or governmental organizations to work crews and individuals in order to complete projects such as critical habitat restoration, trails, and local and national disaster response. While this is not technically “funding,” added hands can be a valuable resource for resilience projects.

Types of projects funded: Washington Conservation Corps provides services to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies to accomplish projects on public lands.

Example projects: In-stream large woody debris placement, bank stabilization, fish barrier removal, wetland creation or restoration, riparian planting and maintenance, bridge construction and more.

Funding available: The majority of positions offered by the Conservation Corps are 11-month AmeriCorps crew positions, in which members serve on 5-member crews led by a supervisor. The Corps also provide 14 11-month Individual Placement AmeriCorps positions, in which members serve individually with natural resource organizations across the state. There are limited six-month and three-month crew positions offered in spring and summer. Members are young adults (18-25) as well as recently returned veterans.

More information: Find out more at the Department of Ecology’s “Partner with Washington Conservation Corps” webpage.

Washington Sea Grant

Washington Sea Grant offers multiple funding opportunities for many types of projects, with a focus on research, education, public engagement and administrative activities.

Types of projects funded: Sea Grant supports research, outreach and education projects at local, state and regional levels. Sea Grant also funds fellowships and small projects that align with the program’s mission.

Example projects: Research projects include assessments of legal and policy factors affecting a coastal community’s ability to move infrastracture out of the way of tsunamis and other natural hazards (Coastal Hazard Planning: The Role of Governance in Community Resilience), siting criteria for clam gardens that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge and climate adaptation strategies (Reviving the Past to Protect the Future: Developing a Social-Ecological Clam Garden Site Selection Model) and more.

Funding available: Varies depending on annual budget and priorities at the state and national levels.

More information: Washington Sea Grant’s Funding Opportunities

Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
Types of projects funded: Projects which preserve or restore historic cultural elements.

Example projects: Restoration and rehabilitation of historic county courthouses, stabilization and preservation of designated Heritage Barns, preservation of historic cemetaries.

Funding available: Various grants, loans, easements and tax credits.

More information: See “Grants and Funding” at the Department’s website.

Washington State Conservation Commission and Conservation Districts

Washington’s conservation districts are local, non-regulatory subdivisions of state government. Conservation districts match local natural resource concerns and needs with applicable technical assistance and financial resources, solving on-the-ground conservation issues with proven effective conservation practices.

Types of projects funded: Farm planning, habitat restoration, stormwater management and more.

Example projects: Pacific Conservation District has assisted erosion adaptation projects in Chinook and North Cove. Snohomish Conservation District has connected agricultural landowners with tools for assessing groundwater change and salinity intrusion due to sea level rise.

Funding available: Conservation districts support voluntary projects, but may be able to help with planning and implementation costs for work that affects single or multiple properties.

More information: Find your local conservation district’s contact information and meeting times, via the Washington State Conservation Commission.

Washington State Department of Commerce
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information:

Washington State Department of Ecology

The Department of Ecology works to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations. The Department of Ecology primarily provides grants to local governments, municipalities and public entities towards environmental efforts such as clean water, stormwater, relief, floods and more.

Types of projects funded: Stormwater, floodplain management, watersheds & flow, toxic clean-ups, clean water and more.

Example projects: Washington Coastal Hazards Risk Reduction Project Mapper 

Funding available: Funding availability varies on grant and grant cycle.

 More information:

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating the state’s fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. The WDFW provides a variety of grant programs focused around habitat recovery, wildlife recovery and more.

Types of projects funded: Nearshore protection and recovery (Puget Sound-specific and statewide), shore-friendly programs, recovery efforts and more.

Example projects: The Department of Fish and Wildlife provided funding to the Northwest Straits Foundation on their Shoreline Armoring Reduction Project Enhancement. Cognition has also previously received funding for their website development around shore-friendly shorelines, habitat, and armoring resources.

 Funding available: Varies on grant and grant cycle.

 More information:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has a mission to manage, sustain and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Department of Natural Resources focuses on forestry, lakes, recreation and land management work.

Types of projects funded: Forestry-related projects, forestry riparian easement, rivers and open habitats, land management and more.

Example projects: 

Funding available: Varies dependent on the grant program.

More information:

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Types of projects funded: Projects related to safe drinking water, construction loans and source water protection.

Example projects: 

Funding available: Dependent on the funding program (please see DHHS PDF Summary of Drinking Water & Wastewater Projects for more details)

More information:

Washington State Department of Transportation
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information:

Washington State Emergency Management Division
Types of projects funded: The program funds mitigation planning initiatives and cost-effective mitigation projects designed to reduce or eliminate the effects and costs of future disaster damage. Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants (HMPG) are provided to Washington state jurisdictions and tribal governments to reduce the effects of natural hazards and mitigate vulnerability to future disaster damage. Individual homeowners and businesses may not apply directly, but eligible local governments may apply on their behalf.

Example projects: 

Funding available: Specific HMPG grants exist for Post Fire Mitigation, Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Flood Mitigation Assistance.

More information: Washington State Emergency Management Division Site

Washington State Historical Society
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information:

Washington State Office of Financial Management
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information:

Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information:

Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office

Washington State’s Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is a small state agency that manages multiple grant programs.

Types of projects funded: RCO manages grant programs to create outdoor recreation opportunities, protect wildlife habitat and farmland, and help return salmon from near extinction. For example, RCO’s Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program funds estuary and near-shore projects in the Puget Sound, which have the potential to assist resilience efforts for coastal hazards and sea level rise. RCO’s Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account can fund the acquisition, protection or restoration of aquatic lands as well as the creation of public access to waterfronts.

Example projects: RCO has funded a variety of projects, from habitat restoration to public waterfronts (such as Hoquiam’s 28th Street Boat Launch along the Chehalis River/Grays Harbor). RCO is a valuable asset for providing public spaces or habitat improvements that can also assist coastal hazards resilience.

Funding available: Since RCO manages multiple grant programs, funding availability varies. For most RCO grant programs, grant recipients must spend money and request reimbursement for those costs. Grant funding is not awarded upfront, with rare exceptions. Most grants require applicants to provide matching contributions, up to 50% of the cost of the project.

More information: Visit the RCO website for descriptions of available grants, grant schedules and more.

Washington State Pollution Liability Insurance Program Trust Account
The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency provides an effective and efficient government-funding model that helps owners and operators meet financial responsibility and environmental cleanup requirements for underground storage tanks.

Types of projects funded: Funding is provided to assist owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tank systems to remediate past releases and to upgrade, replace or remove petroleum underground storage tank systems to prevent future releases. Efforts include installation of new infrastructure or retrofitting of existing infrastructure for the dispersing of renewable or alternative energy.

Example projects: 

Funding available: Varies as the program’s main source of funding is reliant on the Petroleum Products Tax.

More information: Washington State’s Pollution Liability Insurance Program Site

Washington State Transportation Improvement Board
page in progress

Types of projects funded: 

Example projects: 

Funding available:

More information: