WHOI Sea Grant Program: General Program Development Funds

The WHOI Sea Grant Program offers General Program Development Funds ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 annually to support small research projects, educational initiatives, and outreach efforts. These funds aim to enhance strategic goals, with a preference for projects that align with WHOI Sea Grant’s focus areas such as coastal ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. Applicants must be affiliated with a Massachusetts institution and are encouraged to discuss their project ideas with the Research Coordinator prior to application.

NOTE: We strongly encourage all potential applications to reach out to Jennie Rheuban, WHOI Sea Grant’s Research Coordinator via the email seagrant-research@whoi.edu to discuss project ideas prior to preparing application materials.
Background
Each year WHOI Sea Grant allocates part of its budget for Program Development (PD) funds. The National Sea Grant Office allows state programs to award these funds to enhance their strategic plan goals. Typical awards are $1,000 - $5,000. Projects exceeding $5,000 should be discussed with the Woods Hole Sea Grant director prior to submission. Awards are generally for small research projects and proof-of-concept with the intent of seeding an idea for later development into larger funding proposals. Other credible uses of these funds include extension, education, communications, travel, graduate student support, and workshops or conferences. Applicants must express how the proposed project will add value to WHOI Sea Grant’s research, extension, education, and outreach efforts in the program’s current strategic focus areas. The WHOI Sea Grant management team will make decisions on Program Development awards two times per year.
Strategic Focus Areas:

• Healthy coastal ecosystemsSustainable Fisheries and AquacultureEnvironmental Literacy and Workforce DevelopmentResilient Communities and Economies

Eligibility

Applicants must be based at a Massachusetts institution.These funds will be provided to projects that align with WHOI Sea Grant’s strategic goals and objectives.Although these funds can be used for workshops, conference, and travel support, less than 25% of the funds will be used in that manner with preference for research, extension, and education-related projects.Development funds are limited such that we often have many more requests for funding than we can support.