F25AS00011 - NAWCA 2025 US Small Grants | F25AS00011

Opportunity Information: Apply for F25AS00011

F25AS00011, NAWCA 2025 US Small Grants, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.623 that funds on-the-ground wetland conservation projects in the United States through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The program is set up as a competitive, matching grants program designed to bring together public and private partners to deliver projects that align with NAWCA goals, with a strong emphasis on measurable habitat outcomes that benefit migratory birds. In practice, the program is meant to turn partnerships and matching dollars into long-term conservation results rather than short-term studies or planning efforts.

The projects this program will support are limited to activities that produce lasting habitat conservation benefits, specifically the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats. The focus on associated uplands matters because many bird species rely on a mix of wetland and nearby upland habitat for nesting, foraging, staging, and other life-cycle needs. Proposals should therefore be framed around tangible habitat work and durable conservation mechanisms, not temporary actions. Research funding is explicitly ineligible, so proposals that are primarily scientific investigation, monitoring for research purposes, or academic study without direct habitat delivery would not fit the program rules.

A central requirement of the NAWCA Small Grants Program is a 1:1 non-federal match, meaning applicants must provide at least an equal amount of non-federal funds or qualifying in-kind contributions compared to the federal request. This match requirement reinforces the program's partnership model and is a major evaluation consideration because it demonstrates broad stakeholder commitment and increases the total conservation investment. Applicants should plan to clearly document match sources, ensure they are non-federal as required, and connect the match directly to the project budget and work plan.

The maximum federal award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000. The opportunity is administered as a grant, and it sits within the natural resources funding activity category. While the notice does not specify the expected number of awards in the provided source data, the competitive nature of the program implies that applicants should prioritize clarity, feasibility, and strong conservation outcomes when designing their project scope and budget.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common conservation delivery partners. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education); and small businesses. This wide eligibility reflects how wetland conservation projects are often implemented by coalitions that may include government agencies, tribes, NGOs, land trusts, universities, and private-sector partners, even though the funded activities must remain focused on habitat outcomes rather than research.

From a mission perspective, the opportunity is tied to the Department of the Interior and Fish and Wildlife Service goals of conserving land and water, protecting and managing natural resources, and working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders. The description also points to broader public benefits connected to habitat conservation, including expanding outdoor recreation and access, which can be relevant when explaining the project value to communities and decision-makers, as long as the core funded work remains within eligible habitat conservation actions.

Key administrative details in the provided listing include an original closing date of 2024-10-10 and a creation date of 2024-07-25. Applicants looking for additional eligibility criteria and program-specific guidance are directed to the Fish and Wildlife Service NAWCA U.S. Small Grants webpage at: https://fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-grants-us-small.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F25AS00011 - NAWCA 2025 US Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.623.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Small businesses.

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