Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00403
The NAWCA FY18 U.S. Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00403) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.623. It is designed to fund on-the-ground wetland conservation work in the United States that advances the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The program emphasizes collaborative, public-private partnerships and supports projects that deliver tangible habitat outcomes rather than studies or academic research.
Projects funded through this program must focus on long-term conservation actions involving wetlands and associated upland habitats. Eligible project activities include the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and related uplands, with the explicit purpose of benefiting migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on wetland ecosystems. The intent is to produce durable conservation benefits, meaning proposals should be oriented toward lasting habitat improvements or protections (for example, through restoration work, enhancement of existing wetland functions, or securing habitat through protection mechanisms), rather than short-term efforts.
A central requirement of the U.S. Small Grants Program is cost sharing: applicants must provide a 1:1 match, meaning every federal dollar requested must be matched by an equal amount of non-federal contributions. This match typically comes through partner contributions and can include cash and qualifying in-kind support, reinforcing the program's partnership-driven approach and ensuring that projects leverage federal funds to generate broader investment in habitat conservation.
Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $100,000 per grant. This ceiling reflects an increase approved by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) in June 2016, when the maximum award amount rose from $75,000 to $100,000. The opportunity anticipated making approximately 50 awards, underscoring that it is competitive and that proposals likely need to be well-scoped, clearly justified, and strongly supported by partners to stand out.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally means a wide range of applicants may apply, provided they can meet program requirements and propose eligible work. The funding activity category is Environment and Natural Resources, consistent with the program's habitat conservation mission. The application closing date for this cycle was October 19, 2017, and the opportunity was created on August 15, 2017, indicating a defined submission window for FY18 consideration.
One clear limitation is that research funding is not eligible. Proposals centered on research, monitoring as a primary purpose, or other non-implementation activities would not fit the program's intent. The program is aimed at implementation-focused conservation outcomes that protect and improve wetland and upland habitats in ways that directly benefit wetland-associated migratory birds over the long term.Apply for F17AS00403
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NAWCA FY18 U.S. Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.623.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-10-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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NAWCA FY18 U.S. Small Grants (F17AS00403) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NAWCA FY18 U.S. Small Grants opportunity?
The NAWCA FY18 U.S. Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00403) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.623. It supports on-the-ground wetland conservation projects in the United States that advance the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.623.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to fund implementation-focused wetland conservation work that produces tangible, long-term habitat outcomes in the United States, with an explicit focus on benefiting migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on wetland ecosystems.
What types of projects does the program prioritize?
The program prioritizes collaborative, public-private partnership projects that result in durable habitat improvements or protections. It emphasizes on-the-ground conservation actions rather than studies or academic research.
Does the program fund research or academic studies?
No. Research funding is not eligible under this opportunity. Proposals centered on research, or monitoring as the primary purpose, do not align with the program intent.
What kinds of conservation activities are eligible?
Eligible activities include long-term conservation actions involving wetlands and associated upland habitats, such as the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and related uplands, specifically to benefit migratory birds and other wetland-associated wildlife.
What habitats can be included in a project?
Projects may include wetlands and associated upland habitats, as long as the work is tied to long-term conservation actions and benefits species that depend on wetland ecosystems, particularly migratory birds.
What does "durable conservation benefits" mean in this program?
It means the proposal should be oriented toward lasting habitat improvements or protections, rather than short-term efforts. Examples described in the opportunity include restoration work, enhancement of existing wetland functions, or securing habitat through protection mechanisms.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is a central requirement of the U.S. Small Grants Program.
What is the required match ratio?
The required match is 1:1. For every federal dollar requested, the applicant must provide an equal amount of non-federal contributions.
What types of match contributions are allowed?
The match typically comes through partner contributions and can include cash and qualifying in-kind support, as described in the opportunity.
Why does the program emphasize partnerships?
The opportunity emphasizes collaborative, public-private partnerships to leverage federal funds and generate broader investment in habitat conservation. The 1:1 match requirement reinforces this partnership-driven approach.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $100,000 per grant.
Was the award ceiling recently changed?
Yes. The maximum award amount increased from $75,000 to $100,000, as approved by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) in June 2016.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipated making approximately 50 awards.
Is this grant competitive?
Yes. The opportunity indicates it anticipated around 50 awards and describes the program as competitive, suggesting proposals should be well-scoped, clearly justified, and strongly supported by partners.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicants may apply as long as they can meet program requirements and propose eligible project work.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Environment and Natural Resources.
Where must the work take place?
The program is designed to fund on-the-ground wetland conservation work in the United States.
What is the application deadline for this cycle?
The application closing date for this cycle was October 19, 2017.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 15, 2017.
Does the grant support short-term projects?
The opportunity emphasizes long-term conservation actions and durable benefits. Proposals focused on short-term efforts without lasting habitat outcomes would not match the stated intent.
Can monitoring be included in a project?
The opportunity states that monitoring as a primary purpose would not fit the program's intent. The program is aimed at implementation-focused conservation outcomes rather than non-implementation activities.
What outcomes should a strong proposal focus on?
A strong proposal should focus on tangible habitat outcomes, such as restoring wetlands, enhancing existing wetland functions, establishing wetlands, protecting wetlands and associated uplands, and otherwise improving or securing habitat in ways that directly benefit wetland-associated migratory birds over the long term.
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| USDA NRCS California – Conservation Contribution Agreements Apply for USDA NRCS CA MULTI 24 NOFO0001335 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA MULTI 24 NOFO0001335 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| Region 7 - FY16 State Wildlife Grants Program - Open to State Fish and Game Agency Only Apply for F16AS00103 Funding Number: F16AS00103 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
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| USDA Forest Service - GLRI Forest Restoration 2024 Apply for USDA FS GLRI FR24 Funding Number: USDA FS GLRI FR24 Agency: Forest Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| R2 Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program (TO STATE FISH AND GAME AGENCIES ONLY) Apply for F16AS00048 Funding Number: F16AS00048 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Wildlife Restoration Program (Region 5 - Northeast Region) Apply for F16AS00055 Funding Number: F16AS00055 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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