1, 1, 1
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program
Grant information: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program
Non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions.
Grants for this program are available nationwide, but additional funding is available for the geographic priorities listed in the Funding Availability section of this RFP.
On-the-ground wetland, riparian, in-stream and/or coastal habitat restoration; Meaningful education and training activities, either through community outreach, participation and/or integration with K-12 environmental curriculum; Measurable ecological, educational and community benefits; Partnerships: Five Star projects should engage a diverse group of community partners to achieve ecological and educational outcomes.
Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements.
The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program seeks to develop nation-wide community stewardship of local natural resources, preserving these resources for future generations and enhancing habitat for local wildlife. Grants seek to address water quality issues in priority watersheds, such as erosion due to unstable streambanks, pollution from stormwater runoff, and degraded shorelines caused by development.
Competitive Grant
1:1 match ratio
$20,000 to $50,000
Annual - project start dates in late summer early fall.
1, 1, 1
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): Small Watershed Grants – Planning and Technical Assistance
Grant information: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-bay-stewardship-fund/small-watershed-grants
Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions.
All eligible projects must occur wholly within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and projects located within NFWF's Targeted Rivers and Watersheds will be prioritized.
Planning and technical assistance to enhance local capacity to more efficiently and effectively implement on-the-ground efforts to achieve water quality improvement, restoration and protection of key Chesapeake Bay species and their habitats, and the fostering of an engaged and diverse citizen and stakeholder presence that will build upon and sustain measurable natural resource improvements.
NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements.
WG-PTA grants are awarded to projects that enhance local capacity to more efficiently and effectively implement on-the-ground conservation efforts through assessment, planning and design, and other technical assistance-oriented activities. Potential SWG-PTA grants can be assisted or enhanced through the use of Technical Assistance Providers.
Competitive Grant
Maximum $50,000
1, 1
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): Small Watershed Grants – Implementation
Grant information: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-bay-stewardship-fund/small-watershed-grants
Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and K-12 educational institutions.
All eligible projects must occur wholly within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and projects located within NFWF's Targeted Rivers and Watersheds will be prioritized.
On-the-ground community-based efforts to achieve water quality improvement, restoration and protection of key Chesapeake Bay species and their habitats, and the fostering of an engaged and diverse citizen and stakeholder presence that will build upon and sustain measurable natural resource improvements.
NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements.
SWG-I grants are awarded to projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote on-the-ground community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the bay and its tributary rivers and streams. Projects result in measurable improvements to local stream health and habitat, and/or the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay.
Competitive Grant
Grantees are required to provide matching contributions equal to at least 33 percent of total project costs.
$50,000 to $500,000
1, 1
U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grant
Grant information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r9/workingtogether/grants/?cid=FSEPRD898818
State forestry agencies, Nonprofit organizations (501c3), Universities, Local units of government, and Federally recognized Tribes.
Nonindustrial private, Tribal, State, and/or local government forest land. Rural: Any area other than an urbanized area such as a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000.
Forest Stewardship, Rural Forestry Assistance Urban and Community Forestry, Forest Health, Management-Coop. Lands, and State Fire Assistance.
Cost-share, reimbursement, and other payments directly to private landowners, Construction and capital improvements, Research, Small business start-up funding, Projects on Federal land
Projects in cities or towns with greater than 50,000 inhabitants, Forest Legacy Program projects (land purchase and conservation easements), and Certain forest health initiatives funded through separate processes.
The purpose of the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) competitive grant program is to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes, leverage public and private resources, and support priorities identified in State Forest Action Plans. The LSR request for applications comes out once per year.
Competitive Grant
Grants require matching 1:1 funding
$25,000 to $600,000
Annual - June announcement, September submission, December recommended projects posted, Spring funding available
1
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS): Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Only eligible organizations interested in partnering with NRCS on conservation projects can develop applications for the RCPP competition. Eligible Organizations Include: Agricultural or silvicultural producer associations or other groups of producers, State or unit of local governments, Indian Tribes, farmer cooperatives, water districts, irrigation districts, acequias, rural water districts or associations, or other organizations with specific water delivery authority to agricultural producers, municipal water or wastewater treatment entities, institutions of higher education, entities that have a farmland or grassland protection program that purchases agricultural land easements, conservation districts, organizations or entities with an established history of working cooperatively with producers on agricultural land, as determined by NRCS.
RCPP projects must be carried out on agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land or associated land on which NRCS determines an eligible activity would help achieve conservation benefits.
RCPP projects may include any combination of authorized, on-the-ground conservation activities implemented by farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. These activities include: (1) Land management/land improvement/restoration practices, (2) Land rentals, (3) Entity-held easements, (4) United States-held easements, (5) Public works/watersheds.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address.
Competitive Grant
Match amount dependent on project type.
$250,000 to $10,000,000
Annual
1
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS): Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
State or local governments, federally-recognized American Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, Pacific Islands Area).. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.
Projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-state or nationwide in scope.
Innovative, on-the-ground conservation projects, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Proposed projects must conform to the description of innovative conservation projects or activities published in the annual funding notice. The natural resource concerns eligible for funding through CIG are identified in the funding announcement and may change annually to focus on new and emerging, high-priority natural resource concerns.
CIG does not fund projects supporting technologies and approaches commonly used in the geographic area covered by the application, including those already eligible for funding through EQIP.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Through creative problem solving and innovation, CIG partners work to address our nation's water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations.
Competitive Grant
An applicant’s CIG funding request must be matched at least 1:1 with non-federal funding.
The maximum CIG award is set annually by the NRCS Chief and historically has been either $1 million or $2 million.
A CIG funding notice is announced each year.
1, 1
USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs: Circuit Rider Program
Grant information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/circuit-rider-program-technical-assistance-rural-water-systems
Most state and local governmental entities, Private nonprofits, and Federally-recognized tribes.
Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less, Tribal lands in rural areas, and Colonias.
Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of: Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution; Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal; Solid waste collection, disposal and closure; and Storm water collection, transmission and disposal.
This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Loan
1, 1
USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs: Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Most State and local governmental entities, Nonprofit organizations, and Federally recognized Tribes.
Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less Tribal lands in rural areas, and Colonias. The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state’s median household income for non-metropolitan areas.
Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply. Water source grants up to $1,000,000 to construct a water source, intake or treatment facility.
This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. The following events qualify as an emergency: Drought or flood, Earthquake, Tornado or hurricane, Disease outbreak, Chemical spill, leak, or seepage, Other disasters.
Grant
Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit entities are encouraged.
Water transmission lines - maximum $150,000. Water source grants - maximum $1,000,000.
1
USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs: Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
Grant information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/grants-rural-and-native-alaskan-villages
Rural Alaskan villages (per 7 CFR 1784.8), State of Alaska for the benefit of a rural Alaskan village or hub.
The project must serve a rural Alaskan village or hub with a population of 10,000 or less - check eligible addresses, or a median household incomes less than 110 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan household income according to the latest Census data.
To pay up to 75 percent of the project costs to provide drinking water or waste disposal services. The grant must be used to remedy a dire sanitation condition such as, recurring instances of waterborne communicable disease, individual residents hauling water to or human waste from, their homes or are using outhouses because no community-wide water and sewer system exists.
This program helps remote Alaskan villages provide safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses.
Grant
The state of Alaska or local contributions must provide at least 25 percent of the project costs.
Applications for this program are accepted year round.
1
USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs: Household Water Well System Grants
Grant information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-decentralized-water-systems-grant
Nonprofits that have expertise and experience promoting the safe, productive use of individually-owned household water wells systems, legal authority to act as a lender, sufficient expertise and experience in lending activities, financial, technical and managerial capacity to comply with relevant federal and state laws and regulations.
Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less, Tribal lands in rural areas, and Colonias.
Grant funds may be used to help a nonprofit create a revolving loan fund for eligible individuals who own and occupy a home in an eligible rural area. The fund may be used to construct, refurbish, or service individually-owned household water well and septic systems. Terms for the loans include one percent fixed interest rate, 20-year maximum term, and an $15,000 maximum loan per household.
Administrative expenses incurred in any calendar year that exceed 10 percent of
the HWWS loans, Administrative expenses incurred before RUS executes a grant agreement, Repayment of delinquent debt owed to the Federal Government, Loans for household sewer or septic systems, the construction of a new house, or a home plumbing system.
This program helps qualified nonprofits and tribes create a revolving loan fund to increase access to clean, reliable water and septic systems for households in eligible rural areas.
Competitive Grant
The nonprofit must contribute at least 10 percent.Matching funds may be from the non-profit applicant or a third party.Matching funds may not be in-kind.
The amount of funding has not yet been determined.