Restore America's Estuaries
Restore America's Estuaries (RAE) is a national nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, VA, dedicated to protecting and restoring bays and estuaries across the United States. RAE runs grant programs (e.g., SWIG, NEP Watersheds), publishes reports and resources, and organizes events such as the Coastal & Estuarine Summit.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A nonprofit, municipal program, or estuary-focused partnership running community-based coastal habitat restoration projects with a clear, deliverable workplan and a project budget in the tens to a few hundred thousand dollars.
Good Fit
- • Project explicitly focused on coastal or estuarine habitat restoration or watershed/NEP-aligned work.
- • Located in a U.S. state within the organization's observed footprint (examples include Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana).
- • Project budget and timeline that match prior grants (many past awards fall between roughly $25k and $250k, with some larger awards).
- • Capacity to manage a named restoration project and report on measurable ecological outcomes.
- • Willingness to work within program structures (NEP Watersheds, regional grant tracks) and to contact listed program staff.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to recipients in 13 U.S. states, with notable concentrations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts but coverage across multiple regions.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 55 distinct recipients (up from 40 and 46 in prior years), including nonprofits, municipal entities, colleges, and regional partnerships, indicating a broad and diverse recipient set rather than a tiny closed circle.
New Applicants
Direct behavioral evidence shows 33 new recipients in the most recent year (about 60% of grantees) and three years of turnover data, which strongly suggests unfamiliar applicants are routinely funded; however, no formal public application guidelines were identified.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
