Federal Funding Opportunities

Inflation Reduction Act allocated $8.45 billion over four years

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.

Deadline: Year-round. By state ranking date for current cycle.

$6,000,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Coastal Program is a voluntary, community-based program that provides technical and financial assistance primarily through cooperative agreements to coastal communities, conservation partners and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands. Coastal Program habitat improvement projects strive to increase coastal resiliency by improving the ability of coastal ecosystems to adapt to environmental changes and supporting natural and nature-based infrastructure projects to protect and enhance coastal habitats.

Deadlines: December 31, 2024.

$500,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the ESA, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. The principal objective of this Candidate Species Conservation funding opportunity is to accomplish conservation tasks for high-priority candidate species or other at-risk species in the United States, such that identified threats to the species may be reduced or eliminated. These efforts are based on cooperative relationships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners and those interested in habitat restoration or undertaking candidate and at-risk species research, surveys and monitoring, or educational outreach efforts.

Projects should show a clear conservation benefit that will help prevent the listing of a candidate or at-risk species, remove identified threats and improve status, or contribute information on the species' response to changes in the environment. Priority will be given to proposals that (1) enhance partnerships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, Federal agencies, and others, and (2) leverage our resources and authorities with those of our partners. Priority will be given to projects that aid in improving the conservation status of a species to preclude the need to list. These projects could include but are not limited to, activities that will secure scientific information about candidate or at-risk species and their habitat, implement restoration actions that will lead to removing threats to the species, or help prevent the extinction of a species. Species eligible for this funding opportunity include both candidate and at-risk species. A full list of candidate species is available through the Service’s ECOS website.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

$14,000,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the ESA, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. The principal objective of this Recovery Implementation funding opportunity is to support the implementation of priority recovery actions for federally endangered and threatened species.

Proposals will be prioritized based on the following:

1. Enhance partnerships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, other Federal agencies and others.

2. Leverage our resources and authorities with those of our partners.

3. Highest priority will be given to projects that develop and implement management actions designed to have a direct impact on recovery of listed species (e.g., reduce or eliminate threats). Examples of such projects may include the following:

   1. (A) Stabilize endangered and threatened species on the brink of extinction by accomplishing Priority 1 and 2 Recovery Actions.

   2. (B) Achieve downlisting and delisting criteria by accomplishing Priority 3 Recovery Actions.

   3. (C) Contribute information on the species’ current condition, changes from historical to current condition, or predict the species’ response to environmental conditions or conservation efforts.

   4. (D) Reduce the extinction risk to the species, such that the future condition of the species is likely to improve in terms of representation, resiliency, and/or redundancy.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

$2 billion available, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant program will fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This will enable communities and their partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions to meet community needs now and for generations to come.

There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track I will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million - $20 million. Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million - $3 million. Grants cannot exceed three years in duration. Please review the NOFO for further information about the exciting opportunities under the Community Change Grants program and details about the application process.

Eligibility Condition: Applications must be submitted by: A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations; or a partnership between a community-based non-profit organization and one of the following: a Federally Recognized Tribe; a local government; an institution of higher education.

Deadline: Nov. 21, 2024.

Alliance for Green Heat is making more than $1 million available to expand and connect the nation’s network of firewood banks thanks to a grant from the USDA Forest Service made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Firewood banks, similar in approach to food banks, provide a local, renewable and cost-effective heating source to households in need.

This year, FY 2025, there will be three categories of eligibility — new, start-ups and renewals. New firewood banks (existing firewood banks that have not received funding previously) and start-up firewood banks (individuals or organizations launching new firewood banks in 2024-2025) may apply for funding beginning May 1. Renewal firewood banks (firewood banks that have received funding previously) may apply beginning Sept. 1.

Deadlines: Applications open May 1, 2024 for new and start-up firewood banks; Sept. 1, 2024 for renewals.

$15,000,000 available

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical and financial assistance primarily through cooperative agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. This funding opportunity aims to deliver financial assistance in coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners, on public and private lands, working lands and Tribal lands, and in urban and underserved communities, and strives to achieve the following goals:

• Species Conservation: Implement habitat projects within priority areas that prevent decline or support recovery of species of greatest conservation concern, including federally listed species, Birds of Conservation Concern, pollinators and inter-jurisdictional fish. This priority supports the Service’s conservation mission and our role as stewards of federal trust species, intending to improve select species' status.

• Habitat Connectivity: Integrate projects at a landscape level to improve habitat connectivity and functionality. This priority recognizes that interconnected habitats and migration corridors are vital to fish and wildlife conservation and the work of these programs can support and leverage other conservation efforts including National Wildlife Refuges and other protected lands.

• Resilient Ecosystems: Advance ecosystem health and resilience to climate change-related impacts benefitting communities of fish, wildlife, plants and people. This priority acknowledges that climate change affects all parts of the ecosystem including those in which humans depend and these Programs can work with diverse partners to support conservation actions to help them respond to climate change stressors.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

$500,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the ESA, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. The principal objective of this Candidate Species Conservation funding opportunity is to accomplish conservation tasks for high-priority candidate species or other at-risk species in the United States, such that identified threats to the species may be reduced or eliminated. These efforts are based on cooperative relationships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners and those interested in habitat restoration or undertaking candidate and at-risk species research, surveys and monitoring, or educational outreach efforts.

Projects should show a clear conservation benefit that will help prevent the listing of a candidate or at-risk species, remove identified threats and improve status, or contribute information on the species' response to changes in the environment. Priority will be given to proposals that (1) enhance partnerships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, Federal agencies, and others, and (2) leverage our resources and authorities with those of our partners. Priority will be given to projects that aid in improving the conservation status of a species to preclude the need to list. These projects could include but are not limited to, activities that will secure scientific information about candidate or at-risk species and their habitat, implement restoration actions that will lead to removing threats to the species, or help prevent the extinction of a species. Species eligible for this funding opportunity include both candidate and at-risk species. A full list of candidate species is available through the Service’s ECOS website.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

$14,000,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the ESA, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. The principal objective of this Recovery Implementation funding opportunity is to support the implementation of priority recovery actions for federally endangered and threatened species.

Proposals will be prioritized based on the following:

1. Enhance partnerships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, other Federal agencies, and others,

2. Leverage our resources and authorities with those of our partners, and

3. Highest priority will be given to projects that develop and implement management actions designed to have a direct impact on recovery of listed species (e.g., reduce or eliminate threats). Examples of such projects may include the following:

   1. (A) Stabilize endangered and threatened species on the brink of extinction by accomplishing Priority 1 and 2 Recovery Actions.

   2. (B) Achieve downlisting and delisting criteria by accomplishing Priority 3 Recovery Actions.

   3. (C) Contribute information on the species’ current condition, changes from historical to current condition, or predict the species’ response to environmental conditions or conservation efforts.

   4. (D) Reduce the extinction risk to the species, such that the future condition of the species is likely to improve in terms of representation, resiliency, and/or redundancy.

Deadline: December 31, 2024

$700,000 available

The principal objective of the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants solicitation is to support the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon, designated by NMFS as a Species in the Spotlight. Highest priority will be given to habitat restoration proposals that:

1. Propose activities that are consistent with priority habitat restoration actions identified in the 2019 “Recovery Plan for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)”

1. Improve fish passage and restore connectivity between the Gulf of Maine and freshwater spawning and rearing habitat within federally designated Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment. Priority will be given to project sites that are located within rivers that have been designated as Critical Habitat for Atlantic salmon, located in habitats with features of climate resilience, and are located within rivers where a river-specific stock is present or that host a wild or naturally reared run of Atlantic salmon.

2. Provide sustainable and lasting benefits for Atlantic salmon and the ecosystems on which they depend. Proposals that incorporate proven restoration techniques and focus on the removal of barriers will receive the highest priority.

Deadline: March 31, 2025

$70 million available, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The NFPP is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers, restore aquatic organism passage, and restore climate resilient aquatic connectivity in rivers, floodplains, and coastal habitats for the benefit of Federal trust resources. The program targets aquatic connectivity opportunities that rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery and conservation of the Service’s aquatic trust species, enhance watershed health, promote resilient ecosystems and communities especially in disadvantaged communities, and improve economic vitality, including local employment. NFPP aims to maintain or increase native fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people. Activities that restore aquatic connectivity and fish passage also support the modernization of the country’s infrastructure such as road culverts, bridges, and water diversions contributing to enhanced community resilience to the impacts from climate change and other public safety hazards. NFPP funds a variety of project types including, but not limited to dam removals, culvert replacements, floodplain restoration and reconnection, dike breaches, and reconnection of tidal habitats.

The NFPP is delivered through the Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program (FAC) across all States and territories. FAC staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify and collaboratively develop and implement projects within regional priority areas. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FAC staff. Projects must be based upon sound scientific and technical principles, advance the Service mission, and promote aquatic ecosystem resilience. Applicants seeking funding under this program should contact the regional NFPP Coordinator that corresponds to the location of the project for additional information on regional priorities and coordination with FAC staff prior to applying for funding.

Deadline: Dec. 31, 2024.

$75 million available

The principal objective of NOAA’s Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity is to provide federal financial and technical assistance to fish passage through the removal of dams and other in-stream barriers for native migratory or sea-run fish. Funding will be used for fish passage that rebuilds productive and sustainable fisheries, contributes to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species, enhances watershed health, promotes resilient ecosystems and communities, especially in underserved communities, and improves economic vitality, including local employment. This funding opportunity announcement is authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Applicants should address the following program priorities:

1. Achieving measurable and lasting benefits for migratory fish populations.

2. Enhancing community resilience to climate hazards and providing other co-benefits.

3. Fostering regionally important habitat restoration.

4. Providing benefit to and engaging with underserved communities, including through partnerships with Indian tribes and other indigenous communities.

Proposals submitted under this funding opportunity should describe how the proposed fish passage will (at least one of the following):

1. Contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

2. Sustain or help rebuild fish stocks and their prey managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

3. Improve passage to support native fish species of the Great Lakes.

4. Enhance the sustainability of saltwater recreational fisheries.

5. Enhance community resilience, especially in tribal, Indigenous and underserved communities, to climate hazards by removing or improving aging infrastructure and supporting other co- benefits.

6. Support hydroelectric license surrender to remove dams that are no longer economically viable or provide significant public benefits.

Deadline: Feb. 10, 2025.

The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program) of the Forest Service offers a unique opportunity for communities to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners, and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products. For more information on the program visit the Community Forest Program webpage on the Forest Service website.

Fiscal Year 2025 Community Forest Program Request for Applications is now available. The full Request for Applications along with resources such as application guidance and scoring guidance are available online.

Deadline: Jan. 13, 2025.

In collaboration with the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service, and Native Americans in Philanthropy, NFWF is allocating $122.5 million to 61 new conservation projects across 42 states, three U.S. territories, and 19 Tribal and Native Nations. Of this total, the REPI Program is funding over $6 million to six projects across five sentinel landscapes, which serve as areas where USDA, DOI, DOD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency work to advance sustainable land use practices around installations and ranges.

Deadlines: Yearly.

Inflation Reduction Act allocated $3.25 billion over four years: $250 million in FY 2023, $500 million in FY 2024, $1 billion in FY 2025 and $1.5 billion in FY 2026

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. CSP offers annual payments for implementing these practices on your land and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts. CSP also offers bundles where you can select a suite of enhancements and receive a higher payment rate.

Deadlines: Year round. By state ranking date for current cycle.