The Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grants
competition is a tribute to the work and life of Dr. Ruth Gates and aims to build on her efforts to
address the decline in the abundance and health of coral reefs due to climate change, through
innovative research. The work funded through this program is aimed at promoting long-term
persistence of corals by supporting the science needed to incorporate resilient corals into
restoration activities, enhance coral survivorship, and improve restoration methods. The principal
objective of this grant program is to move coral intervention and restoration science towards
field application in order to increase restoration scalability and coral survivorship and to promote
resilient, genetically diverse, and reproductively viable coral populations. Projects funded
through the Ruth D. Gates Restoration Innovation Grants are expected to have an overarching
goal of bringing coral intervention research or techniques into restoration efforts. These projects
should 1) advance the research and development of coral interventions to improve resilience to
environmental stressors or 2) research innovations to improve coral restoration practices,
survivorship of post larval settlers, and growth/survival of mid-sized corals.
Deadline: Feb. 14, 2024
Eligible applicants are nongovernmental organizations or research institutions that have
demonstrated expertise in coral reef conservation or restoration and/or scientific research;
U.S. states, territories, or local governments with authority over coral reefs; and Native
entities with interests in a coral reef ecosystem.
One-year or multi-year awards up to three funding years will be considered, and
recipients of multi-year awards will not need to compete for funding in subsequent years.
NOAA anticipates typical federal funding awards will range from $100,000 to $750,000
over one to three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of
less than $100,000 or more than $1,000,000 over three years. Funding may be divided
among the U.S. Pacific and Atlantic regions to maintain the geographic balance of the Ruth
D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program as required by the reauthorized Coral Reef
Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. ยง 6401-15.