The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking applications from eligible entities (eligible applicants) to implement the National Outreach and Communications Program (NOCP) through innovative programs that may be conducted at various geographic scales, ranging from local or state to regional or national levels.
Donor Name: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/17/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Healthy waters and abundant fisheries are the foundation of America’s outdoor traditions and give everyone the freedom to fish, boat, and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation. Participation in recreational boating and fishing are important to the nation’s economy, generating revenue for local communities and small businesses as well as larger retailers and manufacturers of boating and fishing equipment. State fish and wildlife agencies obtain revenue from the sale of fishing licenses and use these to leverage the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to accomplish fisheries research and management, aquatic resource education, and boating and fishing access construction and maintenance.
Applications must address one or more of the five purposes of an outreach and communications program, which are defined in the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 as programs that:
- improve communications with anglers, boaters, and the general public regarding angling and boating opportunities;
- reduce barriers to access and participation in angling and boating activities;
- advance the adoption of sound angling and boating practices in the U.S.;
- promote conservation and the responsible use of the nation’s aquatic resources; and
- further safety in angling and boating.
Funded efforts are expected to support at least one of the following key outcomes:
- increased participation in fishing and boating;
- enhanced public awareness and education about how and where to engage in these activities;
- targeted outreach using research-driven messaging;
- strengthened capacity among stakeholders to deliver effective outreach; and
- improved awareness of access to fishing and boating opportunities.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $26,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $26,000,000
- Award Floor: $100,000.
Grant Period
The expected award period is 1 to 2 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- County governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- City or township governments
- Independent school districts
- Small businesses
- Private institutions of higher education
- Individuals
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
