National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

46 U.S.C. 13104 authorizes federal financial assistance for "national boating safety activities of national nonprofit public service organizations." The USCG has developed the following eligibility criteria based on federal law and regulations, legal rulings and interpretations, and guidance from other federal agencies. Organizations do not need to be boating related.

• Applicants must be a nongovernmental organization.
• Applicants must be designated as a nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 501(c) (3). Applicants are required to submit a copy of their letter from the IRS specifying the organization’s status.
• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide recreational boating safety services that are national-in-scope. National-in-scope means the organization must demonstrate the ability to provide recreational boating safety services in all regions; is currently providing recreational boating services in all regions; or proposes a specific plan and timeline to partner and/or contract with other national, state, and/or local organizations across all regions to provide recreational boating safety services. A national membership base does not suffice. For more information regions, please see Appendix B: Grant Regional Map.
• Applicants must demonstrate that one of their primary functions is to provide services to the public.

Please carefully review the full applicant eligibility criteria before submitting an application.