The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports outdoor recreation activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing.
Donor Name: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
State: Virginia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/01/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is a joint effort of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV).
Funds to support the Virginia Wildlife Grant program include:
- The sale of merchandise at Go Outdoors Virginia (GOV)
- Fundraising event
- Direct contributions from corporations and individuals
- Round-Up of purchases at GOV
Focus Areas
Through this grant, DWR and WFV are connecting new audiences, such as urban and underrepresented communities, to outdoor activities by focusing on recruitment and retention.
“Recruitment” involves raising awareness, generating interest, and offering first-time experiences in outdoor activities. “Retention” focuses on supporting and encouraging participants to continue these activities through ongoing programs that build skills and confidence. These efforts aim to help participants overcome barriers and stay engaged even after the program ends. DWR’s Recruitment and Retention Strategies align with a national initiative supported by state fish and wildlife agencies.
Areas
- Start-up: This award area is for new or emerging programs (less than 2 years) that are establishing themselves and looking to add new programs or opportunities to get people outdoors.
- Growth: This award area is for developed or established programs or organizations (2+ years) that are looking to add new programs or initiatives to support the work they are already doing to connect people to the outdoors.
Priorities
The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program will prioritize the following opportunities:
- College/Universities (2 & 4-year)
- Hunting Programs
- Support of the following DWR initiatives:
- R3 Plan
- Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan
- Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan
Funding Information
The number and amount of grant awards given depends on funds received through the previous year’s contributions. For 2026, $150,000 will be awarded across both grant ranges. The following ranges are provided to support different stages of a program’s development:
- Start-up Stage: $2,000–$5,000
- Growth Stage: $5,000–$10,000
Project Period
The activity program period is from March 2026 – December 1, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Colleges/Universities (2 & 4 year)
- 501(c) (3) Non-Profits
Recruitment /Retention Program Eligibility
Your program recruits or retains participants in one or more of the following eligible activities:
- Archery
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Recreational Shooting (firearms)
- Wildlife Viewing – please research the goals, objectives, and strategies of the DWR Wildlife Viewing Plan
- Youth Ages (5 – 18)
- College Level Ages (18 & Up)
- All grantees will be required to sign a grant agreement.
For more information, visit DWR.
