Program Development (“Seed”) Grants

Each year, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium provides Program Development (“Seed”) Grants of up to $10,000 for one-year projects that support emerging, emergency response, or pilot scientific/technical and outreach/education projects. Seed grants that may lead to a larger scale biennial research grant or a Consortium extension program effort are encouraged.

All projects must align with the Consortium’s strategic priorities and demonstrate clear relevance to coastal South Carolina.

Funding decisions are based on peer review and contingent on the availability of federal appropriations.

Funding Timeline

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are issued annually. Anticipated dates include:

Proposal submission: June 15 – August 3
Proposal deadline: Monday August 3 at 11:59 pm
Funding decisions: October 1
Project start date: February 1

Note: Emergency response proposals considered time-sensitive can be submitted off-cycle and considered on a case-by-case basis. All proposals will be subject to peer review.

Proposal Guidelines and Evaluation

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Consortium staff prior to submission to discuss project ideas, partnerships, and alignment with program priorities consistent with expectations for Consortium funding programs.

Proposals are reviewed by Consortium staff and via an external peer review process. Funding decisions are typically made within 30–60 days of the proposal deadline. Expedited reviews can be requested for time-sensitive “emergency response” projects.

Competitive proposals will:

Address at least one objective identified in the Consortium’s Strategic Plan
Clearly define a pressing problem or opportunity relevant to South Carolina’s coastal communities and/or marine ecosystems, with strong potential for measurable outcomes and practical application of results
Include clear pathways for application through extension, outreach, stakeholder engagement, or decision-support activities
For scientific/technical projects, demonstrate strong scientific or technical merit through sound and feasible methods
For education/outreach projects, demonstrate strong educational value through evidence-based, achievable approaches for audience engagement and impact
Be led by an investigator affiliated with a Consortium member and demonstrate appropriate subject matter expertise
Include a required non-federal match of at least $1 for every $2 of federal funds requested