The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking applications for its Refuges Enhancement/Infrastructure.
Donor Name: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/10/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000,000
Details:
The National Infrastructure Partnerships initiative of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) encourages National Wildlife Refuge System field stations to partner with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, other land management groups, state and tribal partners, and others to accomplish projects that:
- promote the stewardship of resources of the refuge through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement, and
- support the operation and maintenance of the refuge through constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving the facilities and services of the refuge.
The goals of the initiative are to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters, to be more focused and deliberate in using partnerships to help FWS address infrastructure repair and improvement needs such as proactive maintenance and the maintenance backlog, and to enhance wildlife habitat.
Additionally, this initiative can help address multiple FWS priorities as a catalyst for:
- Economic and Conservation Enhancement
- Career Training and Mentoring Opportunities for Youth and Adults
- Equity and Inclusion in Conservation and Recreation
- Climate and Wildlife Resilience
- Community Health
Successful projects will be related to identified FWS priorities or infrastructure projects at national wildlife refuges that enhance the visitor experience, promote wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation, provide sustainable wildlife habitat, provide career training and mentoring opportunities, and engage the community in opportunities to participate in wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation on FWS lands and waters.
Funding Information
- Maximum Award $5,000,000
- Minimum Award $5,000
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organization other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Additional Information on Eligibility
- Be a state or local government entity, the governing body of any Indian tribe, a nonprofit organization, or an accredited institution of higher education.
- Have financial policies and procedures that reflect generally accepted accounting principles.
- Have risk management policies that reflect industry standards and are proactive and thorough in mitigating and managing risk.
- Have a current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FWS (national, regional office, or field station) that clearly identifies both organization’s roles and responsibilities for implementing the type of project the Partner Organization is proposing (i.e. an organization will not need a new MOU for every individual project if the current MOU includes the type of project being proposed). For example, a national nonprofit organization with a general national MOU with FWS to conduct trail maintenance will not need a new MOU for every refuge where it performs trail maintenance. A copy of the MOU must be included in the application. Please contact your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge or Robert L. Williams for more information on developing an MOU.
- Contribute a minimum of 50% of the total costs of the project, either as cash or qualified third-party in-kind contributions which can include donations of items considered a reasonable expense of the project such as labor, materials, supplies, or equipment loans.
- Other Organizations that have an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FWS such as 501(c) 4 or 501(c) 5 nonprofit organizations that are labor unions, neighborhood associations, or other types of eligible organizations, including those that reach or represent potentially underserved communities.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
