Now Accepting Proposals for 2026 Community Collaboration Research Grants
North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), NC Sea Grant, and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science (KIETS) are accepting proposals for the Community Collaborative Research Grant (CCRG) program for projects to start in May 2026. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on January 23, 2026.
“The CCRG is an innovative research opportunity, because each project requires a researcher to partner with a local knowledge expert,” says Kaitlin Tucker, WRRI’s coordinator for research and engagement.
Solving resource problems requires both scientific skill and community input. While researchers can offer technical, scientific, or policy expertise, the social, environmental, and cultural history of a community rests with the people who live there. CCRG creates a unique opportunity for collaboration between science and local knowledge.
“This type of collaborative research—linking local knowledge expertise with scientific researchers—has a proven track record in developing new tools and solutions in resource management,” shares Tucker.
New grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000 for one-year projects. Successful CCRG projects must justify how their work would be relevant to the missions and interests of NC Sea Grant, NC WRRI, or KIETS. Previously-funded CCRG projects have supported youth education, community science, air and water quality, human health, and more.
“CCRG projects are ideally suited to creating new partnerships and providing significant returns on investment,” shares John Fear.
Interested applicants can contact Kaitlin Tucker at ktucker@ncsu.edu with questions or to help identify potential research partners with relevant technical or local knowledge. All proposals must be submitted via the eSeaGrant online proposal management portal, no later than 5pm local time on January 23, 2026.
This post was originally published in NC Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI).
