Congratulations on receiving a Whale Tail^® Grant!

Please submit invoices, reports, and other grants correspondence by email rather than postal mail whenever possible.

The below items will help you comply with your contract requirements. Please don't hesitate to contact your Grant Manager at Annie.Frankel@coastal.ca.gov with any questions.

• Funding credit logo for you to use on webpages, social media, flyers, booklets, or any other printed or visual materials that will be created as part of the program receiving funding. Funding for our grants program is made possible by sales of the WHALE TAIL® License Plate, donations to the Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund on the California state tax return, and funds from the State of California. Your contract includes language requiring acknowledgement of support from the Coastal Commission and funding sources, including using the logo where possible.
  • Funding credit icon
  • Funding credit icon no frame
• Invoicing instructions for reimbursement. Please share this document with those who will be working on submitting invoices. This guidance document includes detailed instructions and our typical reporting requirements. For your specific final report requirements, please check your signed contract.
• Example invoice format, with additional tips on completing a Whale Tail^® Grant invoice. (Word / PDF)
• Invoice Checklist to review before submitting an invoice. This checklist is just for your use and does not need to be submitted with your invoice.
• Travel Expense Claim form for you to complete, sign, and include with your invoice if you are billing for travel expenses. Here's an example of what your completed Travel Expense Claim form might look like, with the sections you will complete highlighted in yellow. If you are unable to edit an Excel spreadsheet, or have any trouble with this form, please contact Annie.Frankel@coastal.ca.gov for assistance with your travel invoice. (The above form has a mileage reimbursement rate of 65.5 cents/mile effective as of January 1, 2023. When invoicing for mileage that took place between July 1 and December 31, 2022, please use this form, which has the previous reimbursement rate of 62.5 cents/mile. If you are invoicing for mileage that took place before July 1, 2022, the rate was 58.5 cents/mile.)