Alaska Native Organization Comanagement Grant Program | NOAA NMFS AK 2025 29367

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2025 29367

The Alaska Native Organization Comanagement Grant Program is a NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) funding opportunity that supports Alaska Native-led conservation and comanagement work for marine mammals that are important for subsistence and fall under NMFS jurisdiction. The program is grounded in federal authority (16 U.S.C. 1388) and is designed to strengthen cooperative, government-to-organization partnerships that conserve marine mammal populations while supporting lawful Alaska Native subsistence use. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means NMFS expects an active partnership role during the project rather than a hands-off pass-through award.

Projects funded under this program can cover a broad range of on-the-ground and community-based activities tied to conserving subsistence marine mammals. Examples include developing or implementing species management approaches, monitoring subsistence harvests, collecting harvest samples, conducting scientific research, and delivering public education and outreach. A key expectation is that proposed work lines up with priority actions already identified in relevant Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans or Marine Mammal Protection Act Conservation Plans (when those plans apply), as well as the priorities laid out in the notice itself. Proposals that focus on marine mammals managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are specifically excluded and will not be considered under this NMFS program.

Eligibility is intentionally narrow. Applicants must be tribally authorized Alaska Native Organizations (or in the process of renewing that tribal authorization) that already have a signed comanagement agreement with NMFS for marine mammals. If an ANO uses a fiduciary agent to manage funds, the application must include a written agreement describing the relationship and each party's responsibilities, and the ANO must still be shown as the lead entity on the application. ANOs that do not currently hold a comanagement agreement with NMFS cannot apply as the primary applicant, but they may participate as subrecipients under an eligible lead applicant; in that case, the application must include documentation of the subrecipient arrangement and clearly explain roles and responsibilities.

Applicants also have to document the ANO's legal status at the time they apply. If the ANO board is a nonprofit, acceptable proof includes current IRS recognition of 501(c)(3) status (or equivalent evidence that donations are tax deductible), a certification from a state taxing authority or the state attorney general confirming nonprofit status and that net earnings do not benefit private individuals, or incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status. If a tribal government directly holds the comanagement agreement with NOAA, a letter from an authorized tribal representative confirming that status can be used as verification.

Administratively, this is a discretionary opportunity run by the Department of Commerce, NOAA (NMFS). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, the CFDA number listed is 11.439, and the eligible applicant type shown is federally recognized Native American tribal governments (with the program narrative emphasizing tribally authorized ANOs with NMFS comanagement agreements). The opportunity number is NOAA NMFS AK 2025 29367, the original closing date is 2025-02-25, and the listed award ceiling is $1,500,000. The notice also flags that some details have changed from the prior year, so applicants are expected to read the full announcement closely and follow the updated requirements, especially around eligibility, documentation, and partner or fiduciary arrangements.

• The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alaska Native Organization Comanagement Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.439.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-25. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2025 29367

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: