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.Apply for F25AS00011
- 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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FAQs: NAWCA 2025 U.S. Small Grants (F25AS00011)
1) What is the NAWCA 2025 U.S. Small Grants opportunity (F25AS00011)?
NAWCA 2025 U.S. Small Grants (opportunity number F25AS00011) is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) under CFDA 15.623. It funds on-the-ground wetland conservation projects in the United States through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), with an emphasis on measurable habitat outcomes that benefit migratory birds.
2) What types of projects does this program fund?
This program supports projects that produce lasting habitat conservation benefits, specifically the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats. Proposals are expected to focus on tangible habitat work and durable conservation mechanisms rather than temporary actions.
3) Why does the program include "associated upland habitats"?
Associated uplands matter because many bird species rely on a mix of wetland and nearby upland habitat for nesting, foraging, staging, and other life-cycle needs. Projects can be stronger when they clearly connect wetland actions with benefits provided by surrounding upland habitats.
4) Are research, studies, or monitoring eligible for funding?
No. Research funding is explicitly ineligible. Proposals that are primarily scientific investigation, monitoring for research purposes, or academic study without direct habitat delivery do not fit the program rules as described.
5) What does "on-the-ground" conservation mean in this program?
In this context, "on-the-ground" means activities that directly deliver habitat conservation results, such as protecting, restoring, enhancing, or establishing wetlands and associated uplands in ways intended to last over the long term, rather than focusing on short-term planning or study-only efforts.
6) What is the required match for NAWCA Small Grants?
The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match. Applicants must provide at least an equal amount of non-federal funds or qualifying in-kind contributions compared to the amount of federal funding requested.
7) Does the match have to be non-federal?
Yes. The match must be non-federal, as stated in the opportunity description. Applicants should plan to document match sources and ensure they meet the non-federal requirement.
8) Can in-kind contributions count toward the match requirement?
Yes. The description states that qualifying in-kind contributions may be used to meet the required 1:1 non-federal match, as long as they are non-federal and clearly documented and connected to the project budget and work plan.
9) How important is the match in the evaluation of applications?
The match requirement is described as a major evaluation consideration because it reflects the partnership model, demonstrates stakeholder commitment, and increases the total conservation investment supporting the project.
10) What is the maximum federal award amount?
The maximum federal award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000.
11) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered as a grant.
12) What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed within the natural resources funding activity category.
13) Is this program competitive?
Yes. The program is described as competitive, and it is designed as a matching grants program that brings together public and private partners. Because it is competitive, proposals benefit from clear scope, feasibility, and strong, measurable conservation outcomes.
14) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- 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)
- Small businesses
15) Does broad eligibility mean projects can be led by partnerships?
Yes. The program is designed to bring together public and private partners, and the eligibility list reflects common wetland conservation partners (such as governments, tribes, NGOs, land trusts, universities, and private-sector partners). The funded activities, however, must remain focused on eligible habitat outcomes rather than research.
16) What are the program's main goals?
The program is intended to convert partnerships and matching dollars into long-term conservation results that align with NAWCA goals, with a strong emphasis on measurable habitat outcomes that benefit migratory birds.
17) How does this opportunity connect to broader agency priorities?
It aligns with Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service goals related to conserving land and water, protecting and managing natural resources, and working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders.
18) Can projects include public benefits like outdoor recreation and access?
The description notes broader public benefits connected to habitat conservation, including expanding outdoor recreation and access. These benefits may be relevant when explaining project value, as long as the core funded work stays within eligible habitat conservation actions.
19) What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The provided listing shows an original closing date of 2024-10-10.
20) When was this opportunity listing created?
The provided listing shows a creation date of 2024-07-25.
21) Where can applicants find additional guidance and program-specific details?
Applicants are directed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NAWCA U.S. Small Grants webpage: https://fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-grants-us-small.
22) What should an application emphasize to fit the program rules described?
Based on the description, a strong fit emphasizes durable habitat conservation delivery (wetlands and associated uplands), measurable habitat outcomes benefiting migratory birds, a clearly documented 1:1 non-federal match tied to the budget and work plan, and a feasible project scope aligned with NAWCA goals.
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