The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound).
Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
State: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/29/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Major funding is from EPA through the LISS with additional funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation.
Program Priorities
- CCMP THEME: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds Improve water quality by reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff and point and nonpoint source loading into Long Island Sound through:
- Implementation of “shovel-ready” projects should result in quantifiable pollutant prevention. The most competitive projects will be those that address water quality at a larger or more comprehensive scale such as a neighborhood, waterfront or downtown. Proposals must describe plans for long-term maintenance.
- Planning activities that set-the-stage for implementation of water quality projects including: 1) community engagement, planning and prioritization, 2) feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses, 3) site assessment and conceptual design, 4) final design/permitting
- Projects must document the benefit to Long Island Sound, educate the community about the water quality benefits of the project and describe resources for long-term maintenance.
- CCMP THEME: Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife Enhance or restore coastal habitats to maintain habitat health and function and to support populations of fish, birds and wildlife, sustain the ecological balance of the Sound in a healthy, productive and resilient state for the benefit of people, wildlife and the natural environment. Projects must document the benefit to Long Island Sound, educate the community about the water quality benefits of the project and describe resources for long-term maintenance.
- Implement “shovel-ready” habitat restoration and/or nature-based or hybrid projects. Proposals will be asked to describe plans for long-term maintenance
- Planning for implementation of projects including: 1) community engagement, planning and prioritization, 2) feasibility, suitability or alternatives analyses, 3) site assessment and conceptual design, and 4) final design and permits
- Fostering balanced and abundant populations of fish, birds and wildlife that consider the LISS Habitat Restoration Guidelines to inform development
- CCMP THEME: Sustainable and Resilient Communities Support vibrant, informed and engaged communities that use, appreciate and help protect and sustain the Sound.
Funding Information
There are multiple funding categories under the LISFF each with a different range of grant funding.
- Implementation Projects: $50,000 to $1.5 million for projects with particularly high environmental community benefit relative to cost, including:
- Water quality, habitat restoration and resilience projects
- Projects with the greatest promise to demonstrate, influence, pilot, innovate and/or provide a proof of concept with the aim of accelerating local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience and/or community and public outreach/engagement
- Education and Public Participation Grants: $50,000 to $250,000
- Design/Planning Projects: $50,000 to $500,000 for:
- Water quality or habitat restoration projects
- Watershed plans
- Community resilience/sustainability/natural hazard mitigation plans.
Grant Period
Grants must start within six months and be completed within 24 months after notification of grant award. Project completion dates for projects may be adjusted to reflect the school year for educational projects. Education projects must be completed within 36 months after notification of grant award. Larger-scale complex implementation must be completed within 36 months after notification of the grant award. Notification of award is projected to be November 2025.
Geographical Focus
- Habitat restoration and stewardship projects must fall within the Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed boundary in Connecticut (CT) and New York (NY)
- Resilience, water quality and fish passage projects may be in any portion of the Long Island Sound Study Area in CT and NY
- Education and outreach projects may be in any portion of the Long Island Sound Study Area in CT and NY. Projects may also occur in communities outside this boundary in those states as long as content concerns the health and living resources of the Sound
- Nitrogen/nutrient prevention projects may occur anywhere in the Sound watershed of CT, NY, Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont (VT).
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local government, municipal government, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions
- Ineligible applicants include U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, and unincorporated individuals.
For more information, visit NFWF.
