Grant/Contract Program

Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative: New Orleans

The Adaptive Capacities for Transformation Initiative (ACT): New Orleans is a multi-phase effort that seeks to build the capacity of communities in New Orleans to collaborate on shared disaster-related priorities that affect their health and resilience.

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Applications open

Until Dec 19, 2025 5:00 PM

Under review

Dec 20, 2025 - January

Recipient Announcements

January 2026

About Application and Review Process Resources

Key dates

November 14, 2025: Online application submission opens

November 19, 2025: Grant Opportunity Question and Answer Session

December 12, 2025: ACT New Orleans Session 4 (Workshopping Applications)

December 19, 2025: Deadline for submissions of applications due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

January 20, 2026: Award selection and notification

February 15, 2026: Anticipated funding start date

Award details

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) aims to assist communities within the Greater New Orleans metro area1 in enhancing their capacity for disaster preparedness, adaptation, health, and resilience. Through its Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative, the GRP has engaged individuals from local nonprofits, foundations, academia, and government in New Orleans (Participants) to identify and prioritize what their communities need to “deal with” (plan and prepare for, respond to, recover from, and adapt to) disasters. This engagement resulted in the co-development of the ACT New Orleans Framework, which shows the priorities (Priorities) New Orleans communities rated as most critical to prepare for disaster impacts, take advantage of opportunities, and respond to consequences of disasters on health and resilience. The ACT Framework represents a consensus of perspectives among Participants, local plans, and the research literature on disaster resilience.

This grant opportunity supports Participants in the collaborative planning of activities that advance Priorities using science-based and community-driven inputs. Specifically, the goal of this grant opportunity is to build relationships for collaborations within New Orleans that can produce impactful solutions in Priority areas. This grant series supports Participants in (1) establishing a working group committed to advancing select Priorities and (2) developing a program/project idea(s) for place-based solutions that advance selected Priorities. Applicants should outline specific, locally relevant project goals that align with the chosen Priorities and promote collaboration and effective use of shared resources and other assets.

Application

This grant opportunity is intended for all groups, organizations, and institutions that participated in at least one ACT New Orleans activity in 2025. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations (including community- and faith-based organizations) and public charities with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in good standing, as well as academic institutions and local governments. Federal agencies, for-profit organizations, foreign institutions, and individuals are not eligible to apply or receive funding; however, these entities may participate as project partners (Working Group Members).
Project Directors can apply for this grant opportunity via the online application system. Applications submitted by other means (e.g., mail, fax, or email) will not be considered. Application materials must be submitted in English.

Project Directors should review the application preparation and submission instructions and submit any questions to gulfgrants@nas.edu prior to the submission deadlines. The GRP strives to respond to Applicants' questions within two business days but cannot guarantee that Applicants' questions will be answered before submission deadlines.
ACT Planning Grants FAQs

Applicant Resource

ACT Planning Grant RFA

Applicant Resource

Through its Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative, the GRP has engaged individuals from local nonprofits, foundations, academia, and government in New Orleans (Participants) to identify and prioritize what their communities need to “deal with” (plan and prepare for, respond to, recover from, and adapt to) disasters. This grant opportunity supports Participants in the collaborative planning of activities that advance Priorities using science-based and community-driven inputs. This grant series supports Participants in (1) establishing a working group committed to advancing select Priorities and (2) developing a program/project idea(s) for place-based solutions that advance selected Priorities. This grant opportunity is intended for all groups, organizations, and institutions that participated in at least one ACT New Orleans activity in 2025. See the RFA for more details.

Selection process

The GRP reserves the right to select all, some, one, or none of the applications received in response to this solicitation.

When the evaluation of an application is complete, the Project Director will be notified that (1) the application has been selected for funding pending contract negotiations, or (2) the application has not been selected. These official notifications will be sent via email to the Project Director identified on the application. If an application is selected for award, the GRP reserves the right to request additional or clarifying information for any reason deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, indirect cost information or other budget information.

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Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative: New Orleans

Key dates

Award details

Application

Application Process

Eligibility

How to apply

Resources

Selection process

Selection criteria