Engagement & Stewardship Grant

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP), operating under the guidance of its Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), offers funding through the Engagement and Stewardship Grant program to support community-based environmental initiatives within the Albemarle-Pamlico region. APNEP is a collaborative partnership focused on protecting and restoring one of the largest estuarine systems in the United States, spanning portions of North Carolina and Virginia. The CAC plays a key role in connecting communities, agencies, and stakeholders to advance the implementation of APNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), a strategic five-year plan addressing regional environmental priorities. This grant program is designed to fund projects that advance community engagement, stewardship, and environmental education in alignment with the 2025 CCMP. Funded initiatives are required to implement at least one specified engagement action, such as promoting volunteerism, enhancing public understanding of ecosystem and human health connections, supporting environmental education for educators, or strengthening decision-making capacity around environmental investments. Projects must also align with one or more of APNEP’s designated focus areas, including water quality, wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster habitats, and community resilience. Funding is available for projects that directly benefit the APNEP management boundary, which includes designated regions within North Carolina and Virginia. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, interstate and intrastate agencies, Tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions such as K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities. Projects must take place on public lands or educational grounds and must provide public access where applicable. Individuals and projects on private land are not eligible for funding. The program offers a total funding pool of up to $300,000, with individual awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Projects are expected to be completed within one to two years, with final expenditures anticipated between late 2027 and mid-2028. While matching funds are not required, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate leveraged resources or in-kind contributions as part of their project budget. Indirect costs are limited to 10 percent of direct project expenses, and certain costs such as political activities, fundraising, and completed projects are not allowable. Applications opened on March 2, 2026, and will close on April 30, 2026. Applicants must submit a completed Scope of Work application as a single PDF file through the designated submission portal. Proposals are initially screened for eligibility and alignment with CCMP priorities before undergoing a competitive review process. Evaluation criteria include measurable impact, reach of the proposal, organizational capability, evidence of community need, budget appropriateness, and strength of partnerships. Award notifications are expected by May 29, 2026, with contracts anticipated by June 30, 2026. Funded projects will be required to produce final reports documenting outcomes and deliverables, including measurable metrics tied to engagement actions. Additional requirements include compliance with accessibility standards for digital materials and proper attribution to APNEP in all outreach materials. Applicants seeking assistance or clarification during the application process may contact program staff directly via email.

Focus on measurable outcomes, clearly defined community impact, and alignment with CCMP priorities while demonstrating strong partnerships and realistic budgets.