Community Collaborative Research Grants

The Community Collaborative Research Grant (CCRG) Program is administered through a partnership between North Carolina Sea Grant, the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), and the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science (KIETS). These organizations collectively focus on advancing research, education, and outreach related to environmental challenges, particularly those impacting water systems and coastal communities in North Carolina. The CCRG program is designed as an innovative funding mechanism that intentionally bridges the gap between scientific research and community-based knowledge, recognizing that both perspectives are essential to developing effective, locally relevant solutions. The primary purpose of the CCRG program is to support collaborative research projects that address pressing environmental and water-related issues across North Carolina. Eligible topic areas include water resources, water quality, coastal challenges, flooding, resilience planning, post-storm recovery, invasive species, and other related environmental concerns. A defining feature of the program is its requirement that projects integrate scientific expertise with local ecological knowledge. This approach ensures that research is both technically sound and grounded in the lived experiences and historical understanding of community members, thereby increasing the likelihood of meaningful and implementable outcomes. Funding is available for one-year projects with a maximum duration of twelve months. Awards range from 5,000 to 25,000 dollars, and approximately two to five projects may be funded depending on available resources and proposal quality. Funds provided through this program do not include federal dollars, and indirect costs are not allowable. While matching or in-kind contributions are not required, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate additional support where possible. The anticipated project start date for funded proposals is May 15, 2026, although adjustments may be made based on funding decisions. Eligibility requirements emphasize the collaborative nature of the program. Each proposal must be led by a two-person team consisting of one scientific expert and one local knowledge expert. Eligible participants may include faculty from North Carolina-based institutions of higher education, local or state government staff, nonprofit organization staff, business owners, and private residents within North Carolina. Federal employees and staff affiliated with Sea Grant or WRRI are not eligible to receive funding but may participate as unfunded collaborators. Projects must be novel, not duplicative of existing work, and must include clear research objectives or questions. Certain project types, such as those focused solely on monitoring, literature reviews, or workshop planning, are not eligible for funding. The application process requires submission through the eSeaGrant online portal. Applicants must complete an application form and provide supporting documentation including two-page resumes or CVs for all participants, a detailed project budget with justification, and a data management plan. University-affiliated principal investigators must also include a signed letter of intent from their sponsored programs office. Optional materials such as letters of support and references may be included. Proposals must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 23, 2026, and late submissions are not accepted. Applications undergo a rigorous review process beginning with anonymous peer review, followed by evaluation by a technical panel of experts. Proposals are assessed based on criteria including the appropriateness of the project team, the strength of the collaborative approach, alignment with the missions of the funding partners, methodological feasibility, communication planning, stakeholder relevance, and budget reasonableness. Final funding decisions are made at the discretion of program directors. Applicants can expect notification of award decisions around May 1, 2026. For inquiries, applicants may contact program staff via email, including John Fear or Kaitlin Tucker, for guidance on proposal development or submission procedures.

Ensure strong integration of local knowledge and scientific expertise; align clearly with funder missions; demonstrate stakeholder relevance and communication plan