Grants / Department of the Interior / Fish and Wildlife Service

F23AS00100 Refuges Enhancement/Infrastructure

Closed Closed September 10, 2023 Opportunity F23AS00100 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Fish and Wildlife Service notices from 2022.

• Award ceiling$5.0 million
• Award floor$5,000
• Total funding$5.0 million
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.

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.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements awards averaged $656,267; this notice allows up to $5.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (57% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. FWS origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study the decrease in the nation’s food fishes and recommend ways to reverse that decline. Today, we are a diverse and largely decentralized organization, employing about 8,000 dedicated professionals working out of facilities across the country, including a headquarters office in Falls Church, Virginia, and eight regional offices representing the 12 Unified Interior Regions. 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.

Category: Natural Resources.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.