Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 21 102
Ocean Matters: Safeguarding Ocean Health in the Indo-Pacific (Funding Opportunity Number: C NOFO 21 102) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India discretionary grant opportunity focused on ocean health education, citizen science, and community action in India, with an explicit aim to build a model that can later scale across the broader Indo-Pacific. The project is built around the GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) and its ocean-related protocols, pairing hands-on student-led scientific monitoring with public outreach and behavior-change activities that highlight issues like marine debris and responsible coastal stewardship.
The opportunity funds a single award of up to $50,000 (expected awards: 1) under CFDA 19.040. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities). The notice was created on March 19, 2021, with an original closing date of May 18, 2021. In practical terms, this is a relatively small, targeted grant meant to catalyze a high-visibility campaign and a structured school-based citizen science pipeline rather than support large infrastructure or long-term institutional operations.
A central requirement is the launch of an "Ocean Matters" campaign that visibly brings together stakeholders across government and technical communities. The grant emphasizes formal collaboration with federal agencies connected to GLOBE deployment, and with local governmental ministries in India, including coordination tied to the Ministry of Environment, Government of India. The collaboration is not meant to be informal or behind the scenes; it is expected to be demonstrated through letters of support as well as public-facing validation such as announcements, press coverage, and social media engagement by participating organizations and departments. In other words, the project is designed to build credibility and momentum through recognized institutional backing while reaching a public audience.
On the implementation side, the program calls for identifying up to 100 high schools and secondary schools across three Indian cities, with a clear emphasis on inclusion of underserved communities and schools in coastal areas. Progress is expected to be trackable, for example through the creation of a registration database of partner schools and the assignment of coordinators to manage participation. This sets up a hub-and-spoke structure where multiple schools can participate consistently, rather than a one-off workshop model.
Curriculum and experiment design are another major deliverable, with a tight timeline. Within three months, the grantee is expected to customize and package an "Ocean Health" curriculum that blends locally relevant experiments with established GLOBE resources and partner protocols. The notice specifically points to the GLOBE End-User Ocean Protocol training materials (via GLOBE protocol e-training) along with the DEAKINUNI-LTCREA GLOBE Italia marine plastic monitoring protocols. The intent is to take internationally recognized methods and translate them into a practical school setting in India, including securing school commitments for laboratory space and student engagement and distributing appropriate equipment for the experiments. The opportunity also builds in visibility and recognition for educators by calling for teacher stories to be featured on the GLOBE portal, reinforcing that teacher participation and narrative impact are part of the program design, not an afterthought.
The student training and research component is scaled to be ambitious for the grant size, emphasizing reach and measurable learning outcomes. The project aims to train up to 1,000 high school student volunteers in the GLOBE End-User Ocean Protocol and involve them in larger-scale testing aligned with the DEAKINUNI-LTCREA GLOBE Italia marine testing protocols, with a nine-month window from project launch to reach this training and participation target. Students are expected to build real capacity, not just attend awareness sessions: identifying sampling sites, conducting experiments, using approved laboratory equipment or apparatus, capturing images, documenting procedures, and analyzing results. The opportunity frames this as a community of students, researchers, and scientists working around shared methods, with data and outcomes recorded through the GLOBE portal.
Evidence of impact is expected to be both quantitative and qualitative. The notice points to concrete outputs like the number and quality of student research reports, the volume and usability of collected datasets, and the completion of collaborative experiments as well as independent or group projects. It also encourages formal student research write-ups that may resemble theses or dissertations, along with blogs and video blogs documenting their work and learning journey. The program expects participant surveys designed to measure awareness and action generated in partner school laboratories, and it explicitly calls for mentoring support to encourage deeper student research. Beyond generating data, the project is meant to nurture STEM interest and career pathways by spotlighting student growth and outcomes on the GLOBE portal.
Public engagement and community stewardship are woven into the science component rather than treated as separate outreach. The opportunity calls for organizing beach cleanups, plogging activities, turtle walks, and events promoting responsible fishing awareness, timed around commemorative days throughout the year and branded under "Ocean Matters." It also encourages leveraging local coastal culture, heritage, and traditions to design outreach that resonates in specific regions instead of relying on generic environmental messaging. This is important because it signals an expectation of culturally grounded programming that communities can see themselves in, which can improve participation and sustained behavior change.
Technology-enabled citizen science is another explicit pillar. The grant pushes for growth in usage of the GLOBE Observer App by encouraging volunteers to download and use it, with success partially reflected in increased downloads during the project period. This aligns with the broader goal of building an enduring citizen science cohort that continues contributing observations beyond the life of the grant.
To sustain motivation and broaden participation, the opportunity includes incentives and recognition mechanisms. It encourages competitions such as mobile app creation challenges and proposes rewarding standout participants with attractive prizes, including unique online learning opportunities offered through major science partners like NASA, NOAA, and NSF. The grant also expects active amplification of success stories through reports, press coverage, and social media storytelling, reinforcing that communications deliverables and public visibility are core outputs, not optional extras.
Finally, the program is designed as a scalable model. After demonstrating successful implementation in India, the opportunity expects the approach to expand to partner countries across the Indo-Pacific, creating a regional network of trained citizen scientists using shared protocols and platforms. This scaling goal ties together the campaign branding, standardized methods, app-based participation, and documentation through the GLOBE portal, positioning the initial India-focused work as a launchpad for a broader regional cohort focused on safeguarding ocean health.Apply for C NOFO 21 102
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ocean Matters: Safeguarding Ocean Health in the Indo-Pacific" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 19, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2021. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants
Previous opportunity: SPECIAL NOTICE FOR ADVANCED AI/AA ANALYTICS
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for C NOFO 21 102
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (C NOFO 21 102) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY 2021-22 Region 7 Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Materials Management Grant Apply for EPA R7 LCRD 2021 Funding Number: EPA R7 LCRD 2021 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| 2021 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM Apply for EPA R1 HC 2021 Funding Number: EPA R1 HC 2021 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Cleaner Air and Better Health (CABH) Apply for 72038621RFA00004 Funding Number: 72038621RFA00004 Agency: Agency for International Development, India USAID-New Delhi Category: Environment Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere Apply for EPA G2021 STAR C1 Funding Number: EPA G2021 STAR C1 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Early Career: Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere Apply for EPA G2021 STAR C2 Funding Number: EPA G2021 STAR C2 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Pilot Watersheds Initiative 2021 Apply for EPA R1 SNEP 2021B Funding Number: EPA R1 SNEP 2021B Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Southeast New England Program Watershed Implementation Grants Program Apply for EPA R1 SNEP 2021A Funding Number: EPA R1 SNEP 2021A Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Air Quality Management Community of Practice in Southern Africa Apply for SFOP0008001 Funding Number: SFOP0008001 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific Category: Environment Funding Amount: $440,440 |
| Air Quality Management Community of Practice in West Africa Apply for SFOP0008000 Funding Number: SFOP0008000 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific Category: Environment Funding Amount: $440,440 |
| Natural Resources and Endangered Species Research and Support at Fort Hood, Texas Apply for W81EWF 21 SOI 0015 Funding Number: W81EWF 21 SOI 0015 Agency: Department of Defense, CEERD-CERL Category: Environment Funding Amount: $977,000 |
| Sustainable Materials Management Grants Apply for EPA R5 LCRD 2021 Funding Number: EPA R5 LCRD 2021 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Improve the oversight functions of key stakeholders in the mining sector Apply for AF MWI FY21 01 Funding Number: AF MWI FY21 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Conservation Works Apply for 72066921RFA00001 Funding Number: 72066921RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Liberia USAID-Monrovia Category: Environment Funding Amount: $19,500,000 |
| 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal and Insular Area Grants Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 21 04 Funding Number: EPA OAR OTAQ 21 04 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| 2021 Targeted Airshed Grant Program Apply for EPA OAR OAQPS 21 03 Funding Number: EPA OAR OAQPS 21 03 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
| Public outreach to address demand for endangered and protected species in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Apply for SFOP0008107 Funding Number: SFOP0008107 Agency: Department of State, Office of Acquisitions Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT GRANTS Apply for EPA LCRD SMMS 2021 1 Funding Number: EPA LCRD SMMS 2021 1 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $85,000 |
| Region 2 Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA REG2 WPDG 21 22 Funding Number: EPA REG2 WPDG 21 22 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Region 8 Sustainable Materials Management Grants Apply for EPA R8 2021 SMM Funding Number: EPA R8 2021 SMM Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Region 3 Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA R3 WPDG 21 05 Funding Number: EPA R3 WPDG 21 05 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $800,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "C NOFO 21 102", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.