Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS USCG NONPROFIT 2026
The National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the United States Coast Guard (CFDA 97.135) aimed at improving safety across the recreational boating community nationwide. Its core mission is to help ensure the public has a safe, secure, and enjoyable recreational boating experience by supporting programs that reduce loss of life, prevent personal injuries, and limit property damage on the water. The program also emphasizes alignment with broader environmental and national security efforts, meaning funded work is expected to complement responsible stewardship of waterways and contribute to safer, more resilient maritime activity overall. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically indicates a more collaborative relationship with the agency than a standard grant, with the Coast Guard potentially remaining more engaged in project direction, oversight, or coordination as the work proceeds.
A key requirement of this opportunity is that proposed projects must be national in scope. In practice, this means the Coast Guard is not looking to fund isolated, single-state, or narrowly local initiatives under this announcement. Instead, projects must be designed to deliver recreational boating safety services across the full set of Coast Guard-defined regions shown in the program documentation (referenced as Appendix A, the Grant Regional Map). Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. To qualify as a national nonprofit applicant under this program, an organization must meet at least one of three definitions: first, it can already have the ability to provide RBS services in all regions; second, it can be currently providing recreational boating services in all regions; or third, it can propose a concrete, credible plan and timeline showing how it will partner with and/or contract other national, state, and local organizations across all regions to ensure nationwide coverage of RBS services.
From a funding and competition standpoint, the opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number DHS USCG NONPROFIT 2026. The Coast Guard anticipates making around 30 awards, with an award ceiling of $600,000 per award. The posting date for this opportunity is listed as June 5, 2026, and the original application closing date is July 7, 2026. Overall, this program is best suited for established national nonprofits (or nonprofits that can convincingly assemble and manage a nationwide delivery network) that can demonstrate the capacity to implement consistent, coordinated boating safety initiatives across every required region, rather than efforts limited to a single geographic area.Apply for DHS USCG NONPROFIT 2026
- The United States Coast Guard in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program
What is the National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the United States Coast Guard (CFDA 97.135) to support efforts that improve safety across the recreational boating community nationwide. The goal is to help ensure the public has a safe, secure, and enjoyable recreational boating experience.
What outcomes is this program designed to support?
The program supports initiatives that reduce loss of life, prevent personal injuries, and limit property damage on the water within the recreational boating community.
Does the program have priorities beyond boating safety?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes alignment with broader environmental and national security efforts. Funded work is expected to complement responsible stewardship of waterways and contribute to safer, more resilient maritime activity overall.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements. This typically indicates a more collaborative relationship than a standard grant, with the Coast Guard potentially remaining more engaged in project direction, oversight, or coordination as the work proceeds.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS USCG NONPROFIT 2026.
Is this opportunity competitive?
It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity, and the Coast Guard anticipates making multiple awards, which indicates a competitive selection process.
How many awards does the Coast Guard expect to make?
The Coast Guard anticipates making around 30 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $600,000 per award.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date is June 5, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is July 7, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are colleges and universities eligible if they are nonprofits?
No. Institutions of higher education are excluded from eligibility under this opportunity.
What does "national in scope" mean for this grant?
Projects must be national in scope, meaning the Coast Guard is not looking to fund isolated, single-state, or narrowly local initiatives under this announcement. Proposed work must be designed to deliver recreational boating safety services across the full set of Coast Guard-defined regions shown in the program documentation (Appendix A, the Grant Regional Map).
Can a project focused on one state or a local area be funded?
No. The announcement indicates projects that are isolated, single-state, or narrowly local do not meet the national-scope requirement.
What geographic coverage is required for proposed services?
Proposed projects must provide recreational boating safety services across all Coast Guard-defined regions shown in Appendix A (the Grant Regional Map) referenced in the program documentation.
How does a nonprofit qualify as a "national nonprofit" applicant for this program?
An organization must meet at least one of the following definitions: (1) it already has the ability to provide RBS services in all regions; or (2) it is currently providing recreational boating services in all regions; or (3) it proposes a concrete, credible plan and timeline showing how it will partner with and/or contract with other national, state, and local organizations across all regions to ensure nationwide coverage of RBS services.
If an organization does not currently operate in every region, can it still apply?
Yes, if it can propose a concrete and credible plan and timeline showing how it will partner with and/or contract other national, state, and local organizations across all required regions to ensure nationwide delivery of RBS services.
Are partnerships or contracted delivery networks allowed under this program?
Yes. One of the qualifying approaches is to propose a plan and timeline to partner with and/or contract other national, state, and local organizations across all regions to ensure nationwide coverage.
What kinds of applicants is this program best suited for?
This program is best suited for established national nonprofits, or nonprofits that can convincingly assemble and manage a nationwide delivery network, and can demonstrate the capacity to implement consistent, coordinated boating safety initiatives across every required region.
What agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is from the United States Coast Guard.
What is CFDA 97.135?
CFDA 97.135 is the identifier listed for this United States Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) grant program in the opportunity description.
Where is the regional coverage requirement defined?
The regional coverage requirement references Coast Guard-defined regions shown in the program documentation, specifically Appendix A, the Grant Regional Map.
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