Federal grant programs / Department of the Interior

Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (15.963)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.9 million
• Grant awards40
• Typical award$49,399
• Awarded in FY 2025$347,517
• Size rank1,764 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreement

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $286,538 in fiscal 2021 to $347,517 in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1764th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program provides financial assistance to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

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

What the money can and cannot pay for

Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border. Applicants are strongly encouraged to work closely with at least one of ten NPS units located near the international border in the formulation of the project. These parks include Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument.;

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

Range: $10,000 - $55,000

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: 1) Wildlife Corridor Assessment - Funds are used to monitor wildlife movement across border infrastructure, evaluate crossing structures, and engage students in conservation internships. 2) Rare Plant Conservation - Funds are allocated to study a rare orchid species that remains underground most of the year. The research includes habitat assessment and aims to inform fire management strategies. 3) Riparian Habitat Monitoring - Funding expands a beaver monitoring program along a river basin to assess habitat suitability and promote riparian conservation through community involvement and educational outreach. 4) Migratory Bird Research - Funding supports tracking of a vulnerable bird species using satellite tags, genetic analysis, and habitat restoration. The project also includes public outreach and STEM education. 5) Water Resource and Wildlife Interaction Study - Research focuses on natural rock basins that collect water. The study quantifies water availability, wildlife usage, and predicts animal movement patterns in response to water scarcity.Fiscal Year2026: Projects monitor wildlife to understand population trends, habitat conditions, and how environmental changes affect species over time. These efforts gather information on animal movement, diet, and ecosystem needs, helping communities and scientists make informed conservation decisions.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 58% of the money, colleges and universities 42%.

By state

1 state has a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. It is Arizona.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.