FAQs

NAAEE is interested in forging lasting partnerships between the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) Network, ocean acidification experts, and NOAA to increase understanding and stewardship of our oceans and coasts.

The 2026 Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants competition is now open. This competition aims to significantly advance ocean, coastal, and/or Great Lakes acidification (OA) literacy and outreach through the CELC Network. Project proposals should be responsive to the NOAA Ocean Acidification Education Implementation Plan and the following goals:

• Increasing literacy in OA among students, stakeholders, rights-holders, and the public;
• Building the capacity of the CELC Network to offer high-quality programming in informal and formal settings by matching OA communication needs with existing research; and
• Developing creative approaches for public engagement that promote a culture that values innovation, exploration, and community-relevant learning as a context for improving public OA literacy.

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are meant to supplement the Request for Proposals. Please read the entire Request for Proposals for all requirements and information on submission of an application.

The deadline to submit proposals to NAAEE’s Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants competition is 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, June 18th, 2026. Review of proposals will occur from June 22 through July 31, 2026. It is anticipated that recommendations for funding under this Request for Proposals will be made by early August 2026. Projects funded under this Request for Proposals will be announced on August 15, 2026, contingent upon funding availability. Project start dates can be flexible, with the earliest project start date in October 2026, after decisions are announced publicly.

An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 3–4 pm (EST). This webinar will be recorded and made available to watch on YouTube.

If you have any other questions not in this list of FAQs nor answered in the Request for Proposals, please email eeBLUE@naaee.org.

Q: Are there any models for the budget-related elements of the application?
A: Yes; a model for the budget table is available here.

Q: Are there any checklists to help me ensure I submit a complete application?
A: Yes, a checklist for completing an application is available here. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Q: How do I submit my application?
A: The Lead Principal Investigator (PI) on the proposed project should submit their application as a PDF file to eeBLUE@naaee.org. Please include your project title as the subject line of the email. Formatting guidance can be found here. 

Q: What types of project activities are allowed?
A: NAAEE will consider funding a wide range of project types, but all projects must support innovative approaches to ocean, coastal, and/or Great Lakes acidification (OA) literacy. Projects should implement activities or programming that build the collective environmental literacy necessary for people to become more familiar with OA, its context in the broader changing ocean, and empowering actions. In general, eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Literacy Mini-Grant projects should: 

• Increase OA literacy, including regional or local relevance to the general public or target audiences, and also increase reach; 
• Draw from or incorporate NOAA data and best available information, relevant NOAA and other resources aiding decision making, NAAEE assets, best practices for environmental education and communicating ocean acidification, and/or activities that CELC members are expert; 
• Utilize best practices for engaging with the public on the complex topic of OA that avoid misconceptions and provide information and/or tools for informed decision-making; 
• Create innovative and/or new approaches that increase OA literacy through CELC programming.

Proposed projects can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

• Creating a (partial) exhibit or installation;
• Developing workshops or classes for visiting teachers or students;
• Producing or incorporating multimedia tools or digital content, games, infographics, apps, or tools;
• Creating traveling exhibits or other activities;
• Creating innovative and interactive experiences. 

Q: What are anticipated program outcomes?
A: Audiences served by projects will: 

• Improve their understanding of ocean acidification, its impacts to marine life and people, and potential solutions; 
• Gain awareness of the importance and impacts of OA in their region;  
• Understand that OA is one stressor to marine life and ecosystems and its role in the broader context of our changing ocean; 
• Be more engaged and enthusiastic about learning about ocean acidification and its community-level actions; 
• Get access to relevant NOAA resources that support informed decision-making;
• Gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and motivations to participate in discussions  about OA; 
• Connect to their regional coastal acidification networks; and
• Feel confident in sharing what they know about OA and potential solutions. 

Participating CELC institutions will: 

• Learn how to successfully disseminate complex information and build consistency in  messaging related to ocean acidification; 
• Learn more about the importance of environmental education in advancing ocean acidification literacy; 
• Contribute significantly to increasing reach of OA content and understanding;
• Increase confidence and competence in delivering OA information; and
• Be aware of relevant NOAA resources to enhance audience experiences and get information they need for decision-making.

Q: Is it required that my project reach children and youth?
A: No. However, engaging youth in community conversations about OA and other environmental topics can benefit the planning process. We expect projects involving children and youth to address their need for improved scientific skills and provide opportunities for them to engage in the process of building collective knowledge about OA.

Q: What is the goal of this Request for Proposals?
A: The goal of this Request for Proposals is to support CELC members in integrating OA into their institutions' education and outreach efforts so people can better prepare and adapt to the consequences of changing ocean chemistry.

Q: At what scale should projects be implemented?
A: Projects will likely be implemented on the local level (e.g., county, city, or township), but projects may be implemented in more than one locality. Projects should clearly identify and describe the geographic location(s), the OA topic(s) that will be the focus of the project, the target audience(s), and how groups living in those location(s) may be in need of support to develop such knowledge.

Projects can occur anywhere within the United States and U.S. territories. However, projects must be implemented only within the United States and its territories – which include Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not include Freely Associated States – the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Palau.

Q: Must my project focus on or include impacts that occur in coastal communities?
A: No, this Request for Proposals does not have a focus on coastal communities. Projects can choose to focus on coastal communities, but it is NOT a requirement.

Q: How do I access the application?
A: The application is now available on the NAAEE website on the eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page.

Q: I am having technical problems submitting my application. What should I do?
A: Please email eeBLUE@naaee.org for further help submitting your proposal.

Q: When are the applications due?
A: The deadline for proposals is 11:59 pm EST on June 18th, 2026. After this deadline passes, we will no longer accept proposals. We will only accept proposals submitted to eeBLUE@naaee.org. (Please note: staff will only be available to answer questions Monday through Friday until 5:00 PM Eastern Time.)

Q: Are original ("wet") signatures required on any part of the application?
A: No, wet signatures are not required on any part of the application. Certified digital signatures are required.

Q: May I submit an application by mail, email, or fax?
A: We will only accept proposals submitted through eeBLUE@naaee.org. We will not accept proposals submitted through mail or fax.

Q: What if my internet connection is unavailable at the submission deadline?
A: Please avoid this problem by submitting early. If you choose not to submit until the last minute, you do so at your own risk.

Q: Can I request an extension of time to submit an application?
A: No.

Q: I submitted my application to eeBLUE@naaee.org, but later discovered a mistake or missing element in my application. What should I do?
A: As long as the problem was discovered before the posted proposal deadline, you may re-submit the corrected proposal to eeBLUE@naaee.org. Please notify the Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants team by including in the subject line [CORRECTION!]. Once the proposal deadline has passed, submitted proposals may not be corrected or updated.

Q: What types of applicants are allowed to apply to this Request for Proposals?
A: Eligible applicants are limited to members of the CELC Network. The application must be led by a CELC member, but may include other partners or collaborators, including but not limited to institutions of higher education; K–12 public and independent schools and school systems, other nonprofits, including community-based organizations and informal education institutions such as museums, zoos, and aquariums; state and local government agencies; for-profit aquaculture organizations and operations; and Indian tribal governments in the United States. Federal agencies, foreign institutions, and individuals are not eligible to apply; however, federal agencies, foreign institutions, and individuals may participate with an eligible applicant as a project partner.
 
Q: Who may serve as a PI or a co-PI?
A: Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to be employees of the organization submitting an application. Principal Investigators (or Project Directors) should have a vested interest in the outcome of the project, are typically subject matter experts in the field being studied/addressed, and must have financial and programmatic control of the project on behalf of the applying organization. Because consultants or contractors of an organization do not typically have this level of authority, they cannot serve as PIs. Also, federal employees cannot serve as PIs or co-PIs for this Request for Proposals. Additionally, many applicant organizations have restrictions about who can serve as co-PIs. PIs should check with their applying organization to inquire about possible restrictions.

Q: May a federal employee serve as a PI or co-PI?
A: Federal employees may not serve as PIs or co-PIs on any application; however, they may be included as key personnel or project partners.

Q: May NOAA personnel (both federal employees and contractors) serve as co-PIs?
A: No, NOAA federal employees cannot serve as co-PIs, but should be listed as project partners.

Q: Are individuals unaffiliated with an organization allowed to apply?
A: No, individuals are not eligible to apply; only organizations may submit proposals.

Q: May foreign (non-US) institutions apply?
A: No, foreign institutions are not allowed to apply to this Request for Proposals. However, they may serve as project partners.

Q: May graduate students serve as PIs for this Request for Proposals?
A: No; however, they may serve as co-PIs or key personnel.

Q: Can federal agencies apply for funds?
A: Federal agencies cannot apply for funds.

Q: Are there any templates for applications?
A: Yes, there are suggested templates for the title page, project description, and models for the budget table. Although use of these templates is optional, we recommend you use them to ensure that the information is provided in a manner that facilitates processing of your proposal. These templates are posted on our eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page.

Q: Where should I upload the required application elements?
A: Please see the "Application Elements Checklist" found on our eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page. This document provides information about how to bundle the required application elements and email them to eeBLUE@naaee.org.

Q: Will you enforce the page limits on applications?
A: Yes. There are page limits for the project description (5 pages maximum), resumes (2 pages maximum per resume) and project milestones (2 pages maximum). The page limit on the project description is inclusive of figures and other visual materials.

Q: Does the list of references cited in the application count against the 5-page limit on the project description?
A: No. References, budget information, resumes, current and pending support, and letters of commitment are separate components of the application and are not included in the 5-page project description limit.

Q: What elements are required as part of the application?
A: A checklist of all required elements for an application is available on our eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page.

Q: I do not have any current or pending support to report. Do I still need to include this required element of the application?
A: Match or cost-sharing is not required for this project, and will not be taken into consideration as part of the review.

Q: Can I submit letters of commitment as part of my application? If so, how?
A: Yes, letters of commitment are required as part of the application and should be no longer than one page each. They will not count against the 5-page project description limit. For instructions on how to submit the letters, please see the Application Checklist of Required Elements on our eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page.

Q: Can additional letters of commitment be submitted after the application deadline?
A: No. All letters must be included as part of the original application submitted to eeBLUE@naaee.org by the application deadline.

Q: May I submit appendices to the project description with additional information on the proposed project activities?
A: No, you may not submit any appendices beyond the required application elements listed in the Request for Proposals. Any non-requested elements submitted as part of an application will be removed from the application prior to review.

Q: Can a project have an impact in a foreign country?
A: No, projects must be implemented only within the U.S. However, foreign institutions or U.S. institutions located outside of the U.S. are able to serve as project partners.

Q: If my project involves collecting data of any sort, am I required to have a data management plan?
A: If the data your project is collecting are meant for educational use and not meant for research purposes, they are not considered 'environmental data' in this context. Therefore, the data do not need to be made publicly available, so you do not need a data sharing plan. You can state this in the "Project Activities" section of your application so that reviewers are aware you considered it. Please contact eeBLUE@naaee.org if you are collecting data for research and need further guidance.

Q: What is the total amount of funding for which I may apply?
A: The total amount requested for each project must be no more than $50,000 for the duration of the project, including direct and indirect costs.

Funding requested should be appropriate for the number of sites and/or audiences to be served with the proposed project model, and applicants should provide a justification for the scale of project implementation in their applications.

Q: Should I include matching funds in my total funding request?
A: Matching funds are not required nor will the proposed project be evaluated on that basis. If matching funds are included voluntarily, the applicant will be required to provide that match as part of the terms of their award.

Q: Can I use funds for salaries, overhead, etc.? Is there anything I cannot use funds for?                
A: Applicants will be asked to submit a budget that clearly identifies how funds will be spent and specify support needed for travel, supplies, etc. Overhead/indirect costs may be charged as long as the applicant organization can provide an official written organizational policy regarding the overhead rate used. NAAEE considers overhead to include administrative fees of a sponsoring organization, or line items such as rent, utilities, insurance, etc. Also, salary/personnel/fringe support may not constitute 100% of your funding request. All funds allocated to the project must be considered allowable according to the Code of Federal Regulations Cost Principles.

Q: What categories should be included in the budget table?
A: Categories should match those in the budget table template linked on the eeBLUE Ocean Acidification Education & Outreach Mini-Grants Program page.

Q: Is there a cap on the amount I can allot for any particular budget category?
A: As long as the costs are justified in the project description, there is no cap on any budget category.

Q: May equipment be included in the budget?
A: Yes. Equipment that is necessary to carry out the proposed project may be requested and should be justified in the budget table and project description.

Q: Can funding be allocated to our federal partners on the proposed project?
A: No. You are not allowed to request funding for any federal partner. Federal employees should do all work associated with the proposed project in kind.

Q: Are subawards allowed?
A: Yes. All mini-grant recipients and sub awardees will be required to provide spending reports.

Q: Is there guidance on how funding should be distributed across partners?
A: As long as distribution of funds is justified in the project description, there is no requirement to how they are spread across partners. 

Q: If my project is chosen, how will funds be distributed?
NAAEE will provide grantees with a template and instructions for grantee invoicing. Grantees will submit invoices for reimbursement on a quarterly basis, with the option of submitting monthly.

Q: What types of project partners would make an application more competitive?
A: Applicants are strongly encouraged to incorporate the regional OA Storymaps, if applicable, or create an additional Storymap for this collection for their region. These OA Storymaps were collaboratively created by OAP, the OA Alliance, and Aquarium Conservation Partnership, for implementation into aquariums and other environmental learning centers. 

Projects may focus on education and outreach that incorporate NOAA ocean and coastal acidification data or visualizations. Projects that incorporate these or other ocean acidification data (e.g., university-generated ocean acidification data) are encouraged, as are those that offer locally and/or regionally relevant context and solutions. Projects that plan for longevity beyond the duration of this grant, as applicable, are preferred.

Applicants may, but are not required to, partner with other CELC members or external partners.

Q: Where can I find more information on NAAEE and NOAA assets that might be used in my project?
A: Applicants can find assets on the NAAEE resources page, including the Community Engagement: Guidelines for Excellence. We also encourage applicants to review the mutual goals of NOAA's Office of Education and Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), included in the 2025-2045 NOAA Education Strategic Plan and NOAA Ocean Acidification Education Implementation Plan. 

Q: Who should letters of commitment come from?
A: Each project partner must submit a letter of commitment. In the case of the NOAA partner being a contractor to NOAA, the letter should come from the person whose expertise is most appropriate for supporting the project. Contractors must also include a signed statement of support from their direct supervisors.

Please contact eeBLUE@naaee.org with any additional questions!