Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00217
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) 2018 U.S. Standard Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00217) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.623) and is designed to fund on-the-ground habitat projects within the United States that advance the goals of NAWCA through strong public-private partnerships. The core purpose is to support tangible conservation work that benefits wetlands-associated migratory birds by improving or securing the habitats they rely on.
The program is explicitly focused on long-term habitat outcomes. Funded projects must center on the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats. In other words, proposals should be built around permanently or durably conserving habitat values, such as securing conservation easements or acquiring key tracts, restoring degraded wetlands, enhancing existing wetland functions, or creating/establishing new wetland habitat where appropriate, along with the upland areas that support wetland ecosystems and bird use. The emphasis is on real habitat conservation deliverables rather than studies or exploratory work.
A key requirement is that the program is competitive and matching. Applicants must provide a 1:1 match, meaning every federal dollar requested must be matched by at least one dollar from non-federal sources (or other eligible match, as allowed by program rules). Because this is a partnership-oriented program, successful proposals typically demonstrate coordinated investment from multiple partners and show that NAWCA funds will leverage significant additional conservation contributions.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any type of entity, provided they meet any additional eligibility conditions described in the full announcement. Awards are made as grants, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award, and the agency anticipated approximately 50 awards under this opportunity cycle. This suggests a program designed to support a broad set of projects nationwide while still accommodating larger, high-impact efforts up to the stated cap.
The opportunity also draws a clear line on what it will not pay for: research funding is ineligible. That exclusion signals that proposals should avoid framing their work as research, experimentation, or primarily data collection, and instead present direct implementation actions that produce lasting habitat protection or improvement. Planning and monitoring elements may sometimes be part of a strong implementation project, but the main purpose and budget should be clearly tied to habitat conservation outcomes.
For timing and submission, the opportunity was created May 16, 2017, with an original closing date of July 14, 2017. Applicants were required to submit the SF-424 and SF-424D through Grants.gov by midnight Eastern Time on July 14, 2017, and also email the proposal and supporting documents to dbhc@fws.gov by the same deadline. Additional program background and guidance were referenced through the Fish and Wildlife Service NAWCA Standard Grants webpage.Apply for F17AS00217
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "North American Wetlands Conservation Act 2018 U.S. Standard 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 May 16, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2017 SF-424 and SF-424D due to grants.gov by midnight EST on July 14, 2017. Email proposal and other documents to dbhc@fws.gov by midnight EST on July 14, 2017.. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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NAWCA 2018 U.S. Standard Grants (F17AS00217) FAQs
What is the NAWCA 2018 U.S. Standard Grants opportunity (F17AS00217)?
This opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It is listed under the Natural Resources funding activity category and identified as CFDA 15.623.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The core purpose is to fund on-the-ground habitat projects within the United States that advance NAWCA goals through strong public-private partnerships, with a focus on tangible conservation work benefiting wetlands-associated migratory birds by improving or securing the habitats they rely on.
What types of projects are the best fit for this funding?
Projects must center on long-term habitat outcomes, specifically the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and associated upland habitats. The emphasis is on real habitat conservation deliverables rather than studies or exploratory work.
Does the program support wetland protection, restoration, enhancement, or creation?
Yes. Funded projects may include permanently or durably conserving habitat values such as securing conservation easements or acquiring key tracts, restoring degraded wetlands, enhancing existing wetland functions, or establishing new wetland habitat where appropriate, along with associated upland habitats that support wetland ecosystems and bird use.
Where must projects be located?
Projects must be located within the United States, as this is the U.S. Standard Grants opportunity.
What species or conservation outcomes does this program prioritize?
The program is designed to benefit wetlands-associated migratory birds by improving or securing wetlands and associated upland habitats they rely on.
Is this a competitive grant program?
Yes. The opportunity is explicitly described as competitive.
Is matching funding required?
Yes. Applicants must provide a 1:1 match. For every federal dollar requested, at least one dollar of match is required from non-federal sources (or other eligible match, as allowed by program rules).
What does a 1:1 match mean in practice for applicants?
It means the total amount of eligible match must be at least equal to the amount of federal funds requested. The program also emphasizes partnerships, so strong proposals typically show coordinated investment from multiple partners and demonstrate that NAWCA funds will leverage additional conservation contributions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any type of entity, provided they meet any additional eligibility conditions described in the full announcement.
What type of award is provided under this opportunity?
Awards are made as grants.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards were anticipated for this opportunity cycle?
The agency anticipated approximately 50 awards under this opportunity cycle.
Does this program fund research?
No. Research funding is explicitly ineligible. Proposals should avoid framing work as research, experimentation, or primarily data collection and should instead focus on direct implementation actions that produce lasting habitat protection or improvement.
Can planning or monitoring be included in a project?
The information provided indicates the emphasis is on implementation and long-term habitat outcomes rather than studies. Planning and monitoring elements may sometimes be part of a strong implementation project, but the main purpose and budget should be clearly tied to habitat conservation outcomes.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F17AS00217.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category?
The program is identified as CFDA 15.623 and falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on May 16, 2017. The original closing date was July 14, 2017.
What were the submission requirements and deadline details?
Applicants were required to submit the SF-424 and SF-424D through Grants.gov by midnight Eastern Time on July 14, 2017. They also had to email the proposal and supporting documents to dbhc@fws.gov by the same deadline.
Which forms had to be submitted through Grants.gov?
The SF-424 and SF-424D were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.
Where were proposals and supporting documents emailed?
Proposals and supporting documents were required to be emailed to dbhc@fws.gov.
Where could applicants find additional program guidance?
Additional program background and guidance were referenced through the Fish and Wildlife Service NAWCA Standard Grants webpage.
What is the program emphasis: short-term activities or long-term habitat outcomes?
The program is explicitly focused on long-term habitat outcomes, prioritizing durable or permanent conservation results such as protection, restoration, enhancement, and establishment of wetlands and associated uplands.
How does the program view partnerships and leveraged funding?
The program is designed around strong public-private partnerships. Successful proposals typically demonstrate coordinated investment from multiple partners and show that NAWCA funds will leverage significant additional conservation contributions.
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