Federal grant programs / Department of the Interior

National Outreach and Communication (15.653)

Also known as NOC

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$54.8 million
• Grant awards2
• Typical award$27.4 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$0
• Size rank1012 of 1824
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements (discretionary grants)

Key findings

• It is the 1012th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• Awards went to recipients in 1 states and territories.

What the program funds

To improve communications with anglers, boaters, and the general public regarding angling and boating opportunities, to reduce barriers to participation in these activities, to advance adoption of sound fishing and boating practices, to promote conservation and the responsible use of the nation's aquatic resources, and to further safety in fishing and boating.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

To apply for grant funds, the applicant must provide documentation of marketing expertise in sport fishing and boating. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

What the money can and cannot pay for

The recipients’ work is focused on strategies and activities identified in the “Strategic Plan for the National Outreach and Communication Program as required by the “Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998”. These activities are intended to increase participation in recreational boating and fishing. For example, program funds have been used to develop a national database of fishing and boating locations that is available on the internet. Current focuses of the program are angler and boater R3 efforts (recruit, retain and reactivate) and development of pilot R3 projects with state fish and wildlife agencies. If work is to be conducted outside of those identified in the original plan, the activity must show a clear relevance to the Strategic Plan.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: N/AFiscal Year2026: The National Fishing in Schools Program will continue the organization’s efforts to recruit the next generation of anglers in the one place future anglers gather day in and day out, year after year: the 130,000 schools attended annually by 50,000,000 youth across the United States. Guided by the belief that every youth should experience nature through fishing, the National Fishing in Schools Program was established 16 years ago as an academic standards?based, all?inclusive program designed to teach youth how to fish over 10 days during their physical education class. Since its inception in 2009, the program has certified more than 600 educators to teach fishing knowledge and skills in physical education classes during regular school hours. To date, more than 500,000 students have been taught in over 375 schools across 33 states. Research has long shown that lifelong anglers typically begin fishing during childhood. A recommendation from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies President’s Task Force on Angler Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation highlights the importance of engaging potential anglers in meaningful fishing opportunities at an early age. The report further notes that nearly 83 percent of adult anglers were introduced to fishing during childhood, and that the likelihood of a person trying fishing for the first time after age 12 is quite low.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Almost all of the money went to nonprofits.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.