The NERRS Science Collaborative funds user-driven, collaborative research and knowledge exchange activities that address critical coastal management needs identified by reserves. Projects supported by the NERRS Science Collaborative must be grounded in reciprocal relationships and developed in close collaboration with at least one reserve within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System to ensure the work addresses a reserve management or knowledge exchange need.
We offer two styles of grants:
The table below offers a side by side comparison of these funding opportunities.
| Collaborative Research | Catalyst / Knowledge Exchange (previously Catalyst / Science Transfer) | |
Purpose | Generate new applied science that informs management and decision-making | Targeted investment to develop new collaborative science ideas (objective 1), enhance existing collaborative science (objective 2), or promote the use of science through exchange (objective 3) |
| Funding amount | < 5 reserves: Up to $200,000 / year 5 or more reserves: Up to $250,000 / year | $45,000 - $200,000 |
| Project length | 3 or 4 years | 12 or 18 months |
| 2025 Deadlines | Pre-proposals are due Dec 11, 2024 | Letters of intent are due Dec 18, 2024 Proposals are due March 3, 2025 |
Which funding opportunity is right for my project idea?
Use this decision tree to identify the funding opportunity most suitable for your project idea.
