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 the current cycle

$6,000,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program is a community-based program that helps coastal areas with technical and financial support to address complex conservation challenges of priority coastal ecosystems. This support is mainly provided through cooperative agreements with conservation partners and landowners, including state and Tribal agencies. The goal is to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitats on both public and private lands. Coastal Program staff work with partners, stakeholders and other USFWS programs in important areas for conservation. They set goals and priorities for habitat conservation in these focus areas. The program has specific lists of priority species and focus areas for each USFWS region.

Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the Coastal Program are required to contact a local program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application. You can find this information in the current strategic plan or by contacting your local Coastal Program office.

Projects are developed collaboratively by partners and USFWS field staff. All Coastal Program projects must align with the missions of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Coastal Program. They are also based on sound biological principles and the best available science. The Coastal Program reserves the right to reject projects that do not align with the regional strategic implementation plans or program priorities. We do not support projects that generate compensatory mitigation credits under a federal or state regulatory program or accept mitigation or in-lieu funds as non-federal cost share for a project. The Coastal Program does not fund land acquisition, although it can support title searches and real estate appraisals.

Deadlines: Sept. 30, 2025

$500,000 available

Listing a plant or animal as federally protected under the Endangered Species Act has proven to prevent extinction. However, this level of protection is America’s last line of defense. Many voluntary conservation opportunities can be utilized before a species may warrant listing and protections under the ESA. Voluntary actions can improve species conditions and habitats for at-risk, listed and common species alike. At-risk species conservation is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s initiative promoting proactive conservation of fish, wildlife and plants with partners before a species warrants protections under the ESA. The FWS collaborates with all partners — federal and state agencies, Tribes, private landowners, non-government organizations and industries — across all landscapes to implement this initiative. The FWS’s at-risk species efforts are intended to encourage and support voluntary actions that proactively conserve species and their habitats.

The agency is committed to working with partners to improve the status of species before they come to the FWS for review under the ESA, with a goal to reduce the impact of stressors and stabilize or increase populations. Ideally, this proactive conservation work may help avoid listing these species, thus improving species and their habitat while simultaneously reducing regulatory burden. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the biology of the involved candidate or at-risk species and its ecosystem, including preferably having worked with the species in the field.

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2025

$15,000,000 available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program helps private landowners restore and protect habitats for fish and wildlife. It offers both technical assistance and financial support, mainly through cooperative agreements.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has more than 250 staff working in all 50 states and territories. They work together with project partners and stakeholders in key areas for conservation and to set habitat goals. These focus areas guide the program on where to direct resources for conserving important habitats for federal trust species. The program also has strategic plans that help determine which projects receive funding.

Since it began in 1987, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has successfully assisted many landowners. When choosing projects, the program aims to support specific priorities set by the administration and the Secretary of the Interior. All projects will promote the goals of the program, the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These goals focus on increasing biological diversity and are based on sound scientific principles. Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the program are required to contact a local program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application by visiting our website.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program can reject projects that do not fit with regional plans or priorities. To get funding, projects must be on private lands. "Private lands" means any properties not owned by the state or federal government. This includes Tribal lands, Hawaiian homelands, cities, municipalities, non-governmental properties and private properties. Groups with 501(c)(3) status should have proof of their status from the Internal Revenue Service. Tribal applicants may be required to provide an authorizing Tribal resolution. The program seeks projects year-round. Program staff work with applicants to find common conservation goals. We require that all interested applicants contact their local Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff before submitting an application.

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2025

NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $100,000 or more than $1.5 million total over three years

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 the National Marine Fisheries Service 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, 2026; applications will be accepted and considered on a rolling basis as they are received

$70 million available, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The National Fish Passage Program 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 across all States and territories. FACP staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other USFWS 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 FACP staff. Projects must be based upon sound scientific and technical principles, advance the USFWS 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 FACP staff prior to applying for funding.

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2025

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 the current cycle

$45,000,000 available

The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grant program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The program promotes partnerships projects that must involve: a) only long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit diversity of wetland ecosystems, and b) maintaining an abundance of waterfowl, including ducks, geese and swans, and other populations of wetlands-associated migratory birds consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas and Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan.

The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match and research funding is ineligible. This program supports the Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission of protecting and managing the nation's natural resources by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to conserve land and water and to expand outdoor recreation and access.

Deadline: July 10, 2025