Many federal grant programs provide funds that assist in developing and implementing effective coastal resource management and waterfront revitalization. These include programs that provide grants to state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens. A comprehensive resource for information on available federal grant programs is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provides grant funding for projects ranging from wetland protection and restoration, environmental education, water quality improvement, environmental justice, and brownfield redevelopment. The USEPA Brownfields program provides assistance to link environmental protection with economic and community revitalization. USEPA also participates in the Brownfields Environmental Development Initiative (BEDI) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the source of a wealth of information relevant to waterfront communities and coastal managers. NOAA's Coastal Services Center maintains a "Funding Opportunities for Coastal Managers" web site compiling information on a variety of federal and other grant programs of interest.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) administers a variety of important natural resource protection and land management grant programs, including Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants, North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants, and Endangered Species Grants. USFWS also assists the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with various additional grant programs.

The National Park Service (NPS) administers several grant programs focused on cultural resources and historic preservation, as well as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high quality recreation areas and facilities, and stimulate non-federal investments in recreation resources.