National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program

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.

• 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 must demonstrate the ability to provide RBS services via one of the three definitions of national-in-scope. The USCG defines national-in-scope as:
• the ability to provide RBS services in all regions per Appendix A: Grant Regional Map
• is currently providing recreational boating services in all regions
• proposes a specific plan and timeline to partner and/or contract with other national, state, and/or local organizations across all regions to provide RBS services.
• Applicants must demonstrate that one of their primary functions is to provide services to the public.