Federal grant programs / Department of the Interior

Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance (15.683)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$7.1 million
• Grant awards66
• Typical award$95,000
• Awarded in FY 2025$300,681
• Size rank1,559 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceGrant

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $1.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $300,681 in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1559th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 94% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 9 states and territories.

What the program funds

To provide financial assistance to eligible entities for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears; the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these species; and facility operation costs for these species, as appropriate.

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

Open opportunities

• F26AS00023 FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program
  Open · Closes November 30, 2026 (23 days left) · up to $150,000

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Applicants must be a U.S. eligible marine mammal stranding participant or stranding network collaborator that is not an employee of the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce. The term “eligible marine mammal stranding participant” means a person who is authorized by the FWS under MMPA section 104(c) for response to injured or distressed marine mammals or for scientific research regarding marine mammal health, or under MMPA section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in MMPA section 109(h) in response to a stranding. Eligible entities also include Federal, state, or local government employees operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under MMPA section 109(h). Applicants may reach out to the FWS for technical assistance to clarify and/or document applicability of the exemption under MMPA section 109(h).

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds will be awarded to and must be used by recipients for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of marine mammals under the management jurisdiction of the Service (i.e., West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears); the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these marine mammal species; and facility operation costs, as appropriate. Projects must address identified program and species-specific priorities. Funds will not be awarded to any entity under current enforcement investigation involving the take of marine mammals.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Per sections 408(d) and (e) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the program provides for a maximum Federal award for each project of up to $150,000 and a minimum non-Federal cost share of 25 percent of total project costs. The agency may apply in-kind contributions (i.e., the fair market value of property and services) to the non-Federal share. Matching requirements are mandatory.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Range: $10,000 to $95,000. Average: $60,000.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Program approved 11?projects to support the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals, as well as related scientific research and associated operational costs. Species benefitted under this program include manatees, sea otters, walruses, and polar bears.Fiscal Year2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that support the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals, as well as related scientific research and associated operational costs.

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

Nonprofits received 64% of the money, state and local governments 25% and colleges and universities 5.6%.

By state

3 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Florida, Alaska and California.

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