Candidate Species Conservation (15.660)
Candidate Species Conservation (Assistance Listing 15.660) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $16.7 million in 113 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $147,381 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $67,020. Half of the 113 awards fell between $40,000 and $132,000, and they ranged from $5,000 to $1.4 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$16.7 million
- Grant awards113
- Typical award$67,020
- Awarded in FY 2025$4.4 million
- Size rank1369 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $2.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $4.4 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1369th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 79% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 29 states and territories.
What the program funds
The objective is to secure candidate and other at-risk species information or undertake restoration actions that will help avert federal listing of species. The purpose is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which candidate and at-risk species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of these species.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Anyone except Federal Agencies.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The assistance can be used for Candidate Conservation. Funding maybe used for actions related to: (1) the development of scientific information that is useful in supporting candidate assessments, conservation actions and candidate conservation agreements; (2) reduce threats to a candidate and other high priority species, such as propagation of imperiled freshwater mussels; or (3) conservation of candidate species, such as biological field work to conduct species surveys; or (4) in a spotlight species action plan. These are discretionary funds that are used for project purposes to help ensure the use of the best available scientific information in making management decisions. Funding is not used for real property acquisition or construction.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Varies by Region.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Grants awarded through this program fund conservation actions that aim to keep wildlife and plants from becoming endangered by addressing threats before species need federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Projects funded include habitat restoration, research, monitoring, and public outreach and education.Fiscal Year2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates providing federal financial assistance for conservation actions that aim to keep wildlife and plants from becoming endangered by addressing threats before species need federal protection under the Endangered Species Act such as habitat restoration, research, monitoring, and public outreach and education. Funding obligated in FY26 is for projects selected for funding in FY25.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Candidate Species Conservation (15.660) awarded$16.7 million across 113 grant awards, an average of $147,381 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 35% of the money, colleges and universities 34% and state and local governments 29%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 43 | $5.8 million | 35% |
| Colleges and universities | 37 | $5.6 million | 34% |
| State and local governments | 27 | $4.8 million | 29% |
| Small businesses | 4 | $285,635 | 1.7% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $65,847 | 0.4% |
| Other | 1 | $9,223 | less than 0.1% |
By state
4 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Nevada, Hawaii, Utah and Oregon.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 24 | $5.3 million |
| Hawaii | 9 | $2.9 million |
| Utah | 2 | $1.3 million |
| Kentucky | 3 | $922,590 |
| Texas | 7 | $915,675 |
| Oregon | 11 | $858,513 |
| Washington | 5 | $589,137 |
| Idaho | 6 | $509,855 |
| Alabama | 6 | $468,909 |
| California | 7 | $461,355 |
| Virginia | 2 | $396,961 |
| Georgia | 4 | $317,519 |
| North Carolina | 3 | $291,861 |
| Alaska | 2 | $252,261 |
| Mississippi | 2 | $207,594 |
| New York | 2 | $149,929 |
| Nebraska | 3 | $145,828 |
| Montana | 2 | $113,365 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $99,999 |
| Colorado | 2 | $86,180 |
| Florida | 1 | $59,286 |
| Illinois | 1 | $52,081 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $40,000 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $40,000 |
| South Carolina | 1 | $29,856 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $25,515 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $19,472 |
| Arizona | 1 | $15,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $15,000 |