Open — rolling deadline

California state funding opportunity

Senate Bill 1 Sea Level Rise Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Program

Ocean Protection Council

  • Portal ID141324
  • StatusActive
Rolling / ongoing deadlineApplications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Request grant support

Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.

$2.9M Est. available funding
Between $250,000 and $750,000 Award amount
Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc. Number of awards
Not Required Matching funds

Program summary

Synopsis

The purpose of the Sea Level Rise (SLR) Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Program is to provide funding for tribes to assess and plan for the impacts of SLR on their ancestral lands, cultural sites, lifeways, and resources in a manner that is meaningful and beneficial to the tribe. This program offers an alternative and more flexible funding pathway within the Ocean Protection Council’s broader SB 1 Grant Program.

The Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Solicitation is a dedicated grant opportunity under the Ocean Protection Council’s (OPC) Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program. This program provides direct, flexible funding to California Native American tribes to assess and plan for the impacts of sea level rise (SLR) on tribal cultural resources, ancestral lands, and lifeways. The goal is to promote tribal-led planning that advances climate resilience, equity, and cultural preservation. Eligible project types fall into two stages: Pre-planning activities, such as community visioning, education and outreach, data collection (including traditional knowledge), and vulnerability assessments Planning activities, including setting adaptation priorities and developing culturally appropriate strategies to preserve and protect tribal cultural resources from current and future coastal hazards This solicitation also prioritizes cross-cutting goals, including: Protecting tribal data confidentiality Promoting regional tribal collaboration and shared vulnerability assessments Supporting engagement with local and regional planning processes to ensure tribal voices are integrated into broader land use and SLR adaptation planning Encouraging use of existing data and coordination with local agencies to avoid duplicative efforts Proposals will be received on a rolling, quarterly basis to provide consistent and timely access to funding. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis through four non-competitive review cycles, ensuring eligible projects are considered when ready. This flexible approach is intended to address the urgent needs of tribes impacted by SLR. Projects are anticipated to range from $250,000 to $750,000, though amounts outside this range may be considered with justification. The broader SB 1 Grant Program offers a complementary Technical Assistance (TA) Program to support eligible applicants addressing significant and imminent SLR impacts. Administered by OPC’s grantee Coastal Quest, the TA Program provides tailored assistance based on each applicant’s needs, including grant writing support, work plan development, budgeting, and other resources to strengthen applications and project proposals. This TA Program is also available to support applicants with the development of their Tribal Cultural Resource Planning Project applications. For more information or to request assistance, visit the SB 1 Grant Program webpage or email OPCSB1TA@coastal-quest.org. Keywords: sea level rise; SLR; climate change; adaptation; planning; coastal resilience; California Native American tribes; tribes; cultural resources; ancestral lands; tribal planning

Timeline

Key dates

  • July 19, 2025
    Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal
  • Ongoing/Rolling
    Expected award date

Who may apply

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:

  • Nonprofit
  • Tribal Government
Additional info on eligibility
Eligible applicants include: Federally recognized tribes (must provide evidence of federal status) Non-profit organizations applying on behalf of non-federally recognized tribes, an inter-tribal consortium, tribal conservation district, or tribal partnerships (must provide IRS nonprofit verification) See the Solicitation's "Grant Eligibility" section for details.
Geography
Projects may focus on tribally owned lands and coastal waters, non-tribal lands and coastal waters with cultural significance, or both.

Awarding agency

Additional information

Agency name
Ocean Protection Council
Full announcement
View the full announcement ↗
Grantor contact
Megan Williams
1-669-244-0917
OPC-SB1@resources.ca.gov

Funding

Funding source

Source
State
Funding method
Reimbursement(s)
Notes
The SB 1 Grant Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Government Grants Consulting

Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.

  • What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?

    Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.
  • What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?

    GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.
  • What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?

    GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.
  • Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?

    GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.
  • What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?

    GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.
  • Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?

    Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.
  • What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?

    GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?

    Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Working With GTC 360° Advisors

Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.

  • How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?

    Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.
  • What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?

    Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.
  • How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?

    Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.
  • Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?

    GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.
  • Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?

    Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.
  • How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?

    You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.

Planning for the next cycle?

Tell us the opportunity and we will come back with an honest read on fit, the partners you would need, and what a compliant submission takes.

Request grant support

×

Request Grant Support from GTC 360° Advisors

Our expert team at GTC 360° Advisors can help develop your grant strategy, recruit partner organizations, write your full proposal, compile and manage your budgets, and help you submit a compelling and compliant proposal on time.