• Coral reef activists, universities and government agencies are a few of the groups that can receive thousands of dollars for projects.coral image by Jose Hernaiz from Fotolia.com
  
  Many government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, award grants to other government offices, businesses and higher education institutions for research, management, conservation and restoration projects related to coral reefs.
  
  

NOAA

• NOAA offers grants as part of its Coral Reef Conservation Program, which it created with a formal act of Congress in 2000. Projects that receive federal grants can be in the United States and certain international waters. Projects can involve researching, managing or monitoring reefs. Recipients must match grants and can include non- and for-profit businesses and higher education institutions. Between 2002 and 2009, NOAA gave out $50 million for reef-related projects.
  
  NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
  
  1305 E. West Highway, 10th Floor
  
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
  
  301-713-3155
  
  coralreef.noaa.gov
  
  

EPA

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regularly awards grants to government agencies, higher education institutions and businesses for an array of environmental projects, including those involving coral reefs. The EPA, for example, awarded more than $1.6 million to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for a project that included outreach and education about the importance of coral and other aquatic life to marine ecosystems.
  
  Environmental Protection Agency
  
  Office of Grants and Debarment
  
  1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
  
  Washington, D.C. 20460
  
  202-564-5315
  
  epa.gov
  
  

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awards three types of competitive grants: keystones, charters and ventures. The foundation offers marine and coastal keystone grants. Recipients have included groups such as an activist organization that in 2009 received money to study the depletion of coral reefs in American Samoa.
  
  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  
  1133 15th St., N.W
  
  Suite 1100
  
  Washington, D.C. 20005
  
  202-857-0162
  
  nfwf.org
  
  

Department of the Interior

• The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs oversees a coral reef initiative. With the intention of improving coral reef life, the initiative provides technical and financial help to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the North Mariana Islands. The initiative awards $500,000 every year.
  
  U.S. Department of the Interior
  
  Office of Insular Affairs
  
  1849 C Street, N.W.
  
  Washington, D.C. 20240
  
  202-208-6816
  
  doi.gov/oia