The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting pre-proposals through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants program to improve water quality and reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.
Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/12/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 5 Years
Details:
The Request for Pre-Proposals is aimed at securing ambitious and aspirational five-year collaborative plans to accelerate on-the-ground watershed restoration and collaborative capacity building outcomes consistent with INSR Grants program priorities.
Priorities
All projects will accordingly be expected to address both INSR Grants program priorities.
- Accelerating and Scaling Implementation of Watershed Restoration Practices and Approaches
- The primary objective of the INSR Grants program is to accelerate and scale the implementation, maintenance, and sustained performance of watershed restoration practices and approaches that reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its local waterways.
- Enhancing the Ability of Watershed Restoration Collaboratives to Sustain and Expand Implementation
- In addition to direct investments in accelerated implementation, the INSR Grants program also seeks to enhance the ability of established watershed restoration collaboratives to sustain and expand these implementation activities and outcomes over time.
Funding Information
NFWF anticipates awarding grant agreements of up to five years and up to $2 million each through the 2026 INSR Grants program.
Geographic Focus
All projects must occur within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants for the INSR Grants program include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, Tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions acting on behalf of one or more qualifying established watershed restoration collaboratives U.S. federal government agencies, businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations are not eligible for the INSR Grants program.
For more information, visit NFWF.
