The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals within the Cumberland Plateau region, with the possibility of limited funding also going to projects in the Southern Appalachians.
Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
State: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/16/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 4 Years
Details:
Projects will help accelerate the restoration and enhancement of critical forest, grassland and freshwater habitats in the region. NFWF also seeks to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices on working agricultural lands in the region to benefit wildlife and improve soil health, water quantity and quality, and carbon sequestration. Funding is provided by the USDA’s Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Altria Group and International Paper’s Forestland Stewards Partnership.
Program Priorities
Projects should seek to implement one or more of the strategies below to restore forest and freshwater habitats and implement voluntary conservation practices on working agricultural lands. These strategies will benefit soil health, water quality, and populations of at-risk, listed and other wildlife species, such as northern bobwhite and prairie warbler, as well as fish, amphibians and other aquatic species.
- Restoring Previously Mined Lands: NFWF seeks projects that restore forest and native grassland habitat on previously mined state-owned or non-industrial private lands. Projects on Federally owned and tribal lands, including federal land held in trust for the benefit of tribes, are also eligible. Partnership/collaboration with state forestry agencies is encouraged.
- Establishing, Enhancing and Maintaining Forest Habitats: In addition to the forest restoration priorities and activities listed under the restoring previously mined lands priority above, NFWF seeks projects that establish new upland oak-pine and/or riparian forests and enhance and maintain existing upland pine-oak and/or riparian forest habitats on public and private lands (other than previously mined lands), with an emphasis on improving forest conditions to benefit wildlife, water quality and carbon sequestration.
- Restoring Instream Habitats to Support Aquatic Species: Includes projects that restore instream habitats to improve watershed health, enhance freshwater habitat and support at-risk aquatic species.
- Increasing Adoption of Conservation Practices on Cropland: Includes projects that voluntarily implement agricultural best management practices on cropland to improve soil health productivity and water quality and quantity, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance freshwater and/or terrestrial habitats benefiting pollinators and grassland birds and/or at-risk aquatic species. Projects in this category must be focused within NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative priority areas for northern bobwhite or eastern hellbender.
- Helping Landowners – Expanding and Coordinating Technical Assistance and Outreach: Some funding from NRCS will be available for projects that implement targeted outreach and assistance to private landowners and/or producers to increase voluntary participation in Farm Bill programs and implementation of above listed conservation practices.
- Conservation Co-Benefits: Projects that will implement voluntary habitat restoration or improvement practices that benefit wildlife while also sequestering carbon and/or improving water quantity or quality are encouraged. Applicants should reach out to program staff prior to submitting a proposal to discuss projects that will address carbon and water outcomes.
Funding Information
Grant awards are expected to range from $250,000 to $750,000.
Grant Period
Anticipated completion time for funded projects typically will be 24–48 months following finalization of a grant agreement.
Geographical Areas
Projects within the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia are eligible with preference given to projects located within the identified priority areas.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions.
For more information, visit NFWF.
