The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the FWS, is soliciting proposals through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) to conserve, restore, and connect people with fish and wildlife habitat in the Delaware River watershed.
Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
State: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/13/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The DWCF will award grants of $75,000 to $2,000,000 each to conserve, restore, and protect habitats on public and private land, across rural, urban, and Tribal areas, that contribute to the overall health of the Delaware River watershed—as well as benefit the quality of life and economic vitality of the communities in the Delaware River watershed. Major funding for the DWCF is provided by the FWS with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
In 2025, NFWF will award DWCF grants in four grant categories, including: Implementation Grants; Planning Grants; Capacity Building Grants; and Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Grants. These grants will be awarded to non-profit organizations; federal, state, interstate and local governments; Tribal governments and organizations; and educational institutions to implement voluntary, on-the-ground restoration, conservation, and community engagement projects that achieve the goals of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Framework to:
- Sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat;
- Improve and maintain water quality for fish, wildlife, and people;
- Sustain and enhance water management to benefit fish and wildlife; and
- Improve outdoor recreational opportunities.
Types of Grants
- DWCF Implementation Grants – Approximately 55% of the funding is available for shovel-ready conservation and restoration projects that result in quantifiable benefits for fish, wildlife, and people within the Delaware River watershed. Implementation grants will range from $75,000 to $2,000,000 each. These grants require non-federal matching contributions equal to the NFWF grant request (i.e., 1:1 match ratio). Projects must be ready to begin implementation within six months of the grant award and completed within a three-year period of performance. Capital investment projects, including the purchase or construction of large assets or infrastructure, are discouraged within this program. However, if such investments will enhance public accessibility to resources, opportunities for education and engagement, etc. applicants are encouraged to reach out to NFWF to discuss.
- Strategic Program Area 4: Improve Opportunities for Public Access and Recreation in the Basin Consistent with the Ecological Needs of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Because of its location within a densely populated part of the country, the basin offers ample outdoor recreation opportunities to millions of people. The program will support projects that enable the recreational endeavors of communities through traditional and non-traditional outdoor experiences. Projects may include community gardens, pollinator habitats, nature trails, kayaking, improved boating access and hunting and fishing opportunities, as well as wildlife viewing and birding, thus providing increased public access and economic benefits to the watershed. The program may also support projects which address the increasing pressures of public access on the fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. DWCF Planning Grants – Approximately 15% of the funding is available for proposals with the purpose of planning conservation and restoration projects. Planning grants could range from $75,000 to $500,000 each. Applicants may propose a range of project types including: 1) engagement, planning and prioritization; 2) feasibility, suitability, or alternatives analyses; 3) site assessment and conceptual design; and 4) final design and permits. These funds may be used to set the stage for projects that can compete for larger, nationally competitive funding sources and/or have watershed-wide impacts. These grants require non-federal matching contributions equal to the NFWF grant request (i.e., 1:1 match ratio). Projects must begin within six months of the grant award and be completed within a three-year period of performance.
- DWCF Capacity Building Grants – Approximately 15% of the funding is available for projects aimed at building capacity within the Delaware River watershed, strengthening the ability of local communities, organizations, and partners to collaboratively enhance fish and wildlife habitat and improve access to nature. Capacity-Building Grants may range from $75,000 to $500,000 each. The DWCF will fund both individual organizations and local/regional collaboratives to establish and enhance local networks to accomplish shared goals; support strategic planning and project development; improve direct community engagement; advance Tribal co-stewardship initiatives; and undertake programmatic evaluations, assessments and monitoring. NFWF encourages applicants to work in partnership with other organizations interested in similar capacity-building efforts (e.g., “cohorts”) to submit proposals that will increase efficiency, have broader reach, and allow for increased knowledge transfer. Projects must result in improved delivery of conservation and applicants are strongly encouraged to sign up for a proposal lab to discuss with NFWF and FWS program staff before submitting an application for this category.
- DWCF Research, Monitoring, & Evaluation Grants – Approximately 15% of the funding is available to support high-performing science that advances or enhances the efficiency of conservation delivery in the Delaware River watershed. Research, Monitoring, & Evaluation Grants may range from $75,000 to $500,000 each. Projects should have significant potential to transform the Delaware River watershed’s future in areas including conservation and restoration action, Tribal co-stewardship, monitoring, research, evaluation, and public access. NFWF will prioritize projects that address cross-cutting issues that are barriers to, or represent unique opportunities for, accelerating habitat improvement for fish, wildlife, and people in the Delaware River watershed. For example, grants may support innovative methods and new technologies to drive down implementation costs, ensure the effectiveness and continual improvement of conservation and restoration practices, invest in sustainable monitoring infrastructure or practices, support the refinement and application of data on ESA-listed species, at-risk species, or NFWF Business Plan species that call the watershed home, and enhance direct community engagement across rural, urban, and Tribal areas and increase nature-based experiences. These grants require non-federal matching contributions equal to the NFWF grant request (i.e., 1:1 match ratio). Projects must be ready to begin within six months of the grant award and be completed within a three-year period of performance.
Program Priorities
- Strategic Program Area 1: Sustain and Enhance Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Conservation Activities. The basin has diverse habitats that support an array of fish and wildlife, ranging from the densely forested headwater streams in the upper basin, past the highly urbanized waterfronts, to the bay shores of the estuary. The program will support projects that enhance ecological function and conserve and restore important habitats upon which fish and wildlife resources in the basin depend.
- Strategic Program Area 2: Improve and Maintain Water Quality to Support Fish and Wildlife, as well as Habitats for Fish and Wildlife and Drinking Water for People. Over 14 million people rely on the water from the Delaware River and its tributaries for their drinking water needs. The river also supports a diverse suite of fish and wildlife that depend on high-quality water. While projects should coordinate with existing regulatory activities, they must focus on non-regulatory efforts. Priority will be given to projects focusing on habitat protection and conservation activities with the objective of protecting water quality for both drinking water and the health of the fish and wildlife resources.
- Strategic Program Area 3: Sustain and Enhance Water Resource Management for Volume and Flood Damage Mitigation Improvements to Benefit Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Municipal and industrial water supply, energy production, and agricultural uses place high demands on water resources in the Delaware River Basin. Fish and wildlife also depend on water availability in their habitats. Projects should strive to manage water uses and enhance natural disaster tolerances for people as well as for fish and wildlife while adapting to changing landscape conditions. While projects should focus on non-regulatory efforts to support demands on water resources of the basin, projects should coordinate with existing regulatory activities.
- Strategic Program Area 4: Improve Opportunities for Public Access and Recreation in the Basin Consistent with the Ecological Needs of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Because of its location within a densely populated part of the country, the basin offers ample outdoor recreation opportunities to millions of people. The program will support projects that enable the recreational endeavors of communities through traditional and non-traditional outdoor experiences. Projects may include community gardens, pollinator habitats, nature trails, kayaking, improved boating access and hunting and fishing opportunities, as well as wildlife viewing and birding, thus providing increased public access and economic benefits to the watershed. The program may also support projects which address the increasing pressures of public access on the fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.
Geographical Areas
Projects must be implemented entirely within the Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and a small portion of Maryland. Organizations located outside the watershed may apply if the project is conducted entirely within the watershed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include: non-profit 501(c) organizations; federal, state, interstate, local and municipal governments, Tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions.
- Ineligible applicants include: unincorporated individuals, businesses, and international organizations.
For more information, visit NFWF.
