Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund

Overview

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to further conservation of species and habitats in Alaska. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund (AFWF) invests in projects that achieve or substantially lead to measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes and fill key information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring that result in improved habitat or population management actions. Since 2008, the AFWF has awarded $19.8 million to 224 projects. These projects have leveraged almost $33.1 million in matching funds and in-kind contributions for a total conservation impact of $52.9 million. This year, the AFWF expects to award approximately $500,000 in grants.

Support for the AFWF is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and various other sources. Grants may be awarded using one or more of these sources of funding.

Grant awards generally range in size from $50,000 to $200,000, although grants greater than $200,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Projects may extend from one to two years.

Projects must have a minimum match of 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind contributions.

Eligibility

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Application Details

ALASKA FISH AND WILDLIFE FUND
2025 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Applicant Webinar: Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 12:00PM Alaska Time
Full Proposal Due Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 by 7:59PM Alaska Time
OVERVIEW
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to further conservation
of species and habitats in Alaska. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund (AFWF) invests in projects
that achieve or substantially lead to measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes and fill key
information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring that result in improved habitat or
population management actions. Since 2008, the AFWF has awarded $19.8 million to 224 projects.
These projects have leveraged almost $33.1 million in matching funds and in-kind contributions for
a total conservation impact of $52.9 million. In 2025, the AFWF expects to award approximately
$500,000 in grants. The availability of federal funds estimated in this solicitation is contingent upon
the federal appropriations process. Funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and
timing of when it is received by NFWF.
Support for the AFWF is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Forest
Service (USFS). Grants may be awarded using one or more of these sources of funding.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
Grants will be awarded to projects that occur within the geographies highlighted in Map 1, and as
listed below:
• Alaska North Slope
• Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
• Cook Inlet/Matanuska-Susitna Basin/Kodiak Archipelago
• Chugach and Tongass National Forests
Map 1. Geographic focus areas for the AFWF
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly and measurably contribute to at
least one of the following priorities. Where applicable, emphasis will be placed on projects that
support watershed or headwaters-based approaches that complement existing programs. To
adequately describe outcomes, include Project Metrics (options listed below). Projects that

incorporate outreach to Alaska Native communities, foster community engagement, and pursue
collaborative management while elevating indigenous knowledge that will lead to measurable
conservation benefits are encouraged.
Alaska North Slope
The primary efforts of the AFWF in the Alaska North Slope are filling key knowledge gaps and
mitigating direct threats to species populations. In 2025, the AFWF seeks projects in the following
priority areas in the Alaska North Slope:
• Fill key information gaps for fish and wildlife populations that will result in improved
monitoring and management of species impacted by development and changing climate
conditions.
• Fill key information gaps on migratory movements of birds to determine areas within and
outside of the Arctic where they may be vulnerable.
• Implementation of monitoring to assess migratory bird populations, abundance, and trends.
• Implementation of PRISM (Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring)
surveys to provide comprehensive, reliable, and timely information on the status and trends
of shorebird populations along the Alaska North Slope.
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2025 Request for Proposals

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
The AFWF supports Pacific salmon projects in collaboration with Alaska Fish Habitat Partnerships,
and/or other watershed-based partnerships throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. High priority
projects will fill information gaps to inform conservation actions and improve Pacific salmon
subsistence management, as well as protect, enhance, and restore fish habitat to ensure long-term
viability of the stock complex. In 2025, the AFWF seeks projects in the following priority areas:
• Partnering with Tribes, Indigenous leaders, agencies, and community partners to co-steward
wild Pacific salmon and their habitats in support of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s
Gravel to Gravel Keystone Initiative within Alaska.
• Facilitate detection of population-level changes in stock characteristics (e.g., age, sex,
length, and genetic composition).
• Strengthen monitoring, refine escapement models, and enhance practices for the
management and conservation of Pacific salmon. A topic of interest in 2025 includes studies
to better understand the quality of escapement.
• Increase understanding of the composition of returning runs to improve effectiveness of
management decisions in-season, to develop run re-constructions, and develop outlooks for
returns in future years.
• Enhance hydrologic and water quality information essential to identify, monitor, and
conserve key Pacific salmon resources. Topics of interest in 2025 include filling information
gaps on thermal landscapes of freshwater Pacific salmon habitat and studies that investigate
water temperature impact on Pacific salmon productivity or the potential redistribution of
Pacific salmon in a changing climate.
• Maintain and improve connectivity and access to existing habitat including the removal of
barriers (e.g., culverts).
• Habitat restoration planning, design, outreach, or implementation activities.
Chugach and Tongass National Forests
NFWF and its partners seek to improve ecological function in watersheds within, and adjacent to,
the Chugach and Tongass National Forests. The focus will be on in-stream restoration, aquatic
organism passage, and terrestrial wildlife improvements. Proposals that achieve multi-species
benefit are most desirable, but should align with the following priority objectives:
• Assist USFS personnel with the collection of baseline data, planning, and design for culvert
removal or replacement to improve hydrologic connectivity and aquatic organism passage.
Projects that utilize Alaska Native interns are a priority.
• Conduct comprehensive watershed assessment and watershed restoration action plan
activities.
• Implement instream habitat restoration and fish passage improvement projects.
• Conduct terrestrial habitat restoration that benefits wildlife and subsistence resources.
Restoration activities should be self-sustaining and/or utilize a holistic approach to
restoration that has multiple benefits to fish and wildlife.
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2025 Request for Proposals

• Support work that assists land managers with critical data and analysis needs for effective
management of fish and wildlife habitat and species conservation.
Cook Inlet, Matanuska-Susitna Basin, and Kodiak Archipelago
The AFWF strives to support comprehensive watershed management approaches to
conserving fish and wildlife in the Cook Inlet, Matanuska-Susitna Basin, and Kodiak
Archipelago regions. In 2025, the AFWF seeks projects in the following priority areas:
• Restore, enhance, and conserve Pacific salmon habitat that complements or advances the
goals of relevant Alaska-based Fish Habitat Partnerships in the Cook Inlet, Matanuska-
Susitna Basin, and Kodiak Archipelago regions.
• Facilitate acquisition of improved hydrologic and other biological information essential to
identify, monitor, and conserve key Pacific salmon resources, including projects that result
in updates to the High-Resolution National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus HR),
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), and increase miles in the Anadromous Waters Catalog
(AWC).
• Assess threats to shorebird breeding, staging and non-breeding habitat, as well as projects
that lead to the conservation and protection of these habitats.
PROJECT METRICS
To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data
provided by multiple grants, the AFWF has a list of metrics in Easygrants for full proposal
applicants to choose from for future reporting. We ask that applicants select only the most relevant
metrics from this list for their project (all possible program metrics are shown in the table below). If
you think an applicable metric has not been provided, please contact Jana Doi (jana.doi@nfwf.org)
to discuss acceptable alternatives.
Project Activity Recommended Metric Additional Guidance
Fish Passage # of barriers assessed and/ Enter the # of in-stream barriers with
Improvements or with design plans assessments or engineering and design plans
completed through this grant. A barrier is any
artificial in-stream structure (e.g., culverts,
dams, dikes, fords, pipes, weirs) that may
obstruct aquatic organism passage. In the
notes, provide the barrier's SARP ID
(aquaticbarriers.org). If the barrier(s) is not
in SARP, provide its lat/long or its name and
source.
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Fish Passage # passage barriers rectified Enter the # of in-stream barriers removed or
Improvements rectified as part of THIS grant to improve
aquatic organism passage and/or flooding. If
multiple barriers exist at one specific
location, please list "1" and list each
individual barrier in the notes. In the notes,
provide the barrier's SARP ID--see SARP
Natl. Aq. Barrier Inventory
(aquaticbarriers.org). If the barrier(s) is not
in SARP, provide its lat/long or its name and
source.
Fish Passage # miles of stream opened Enter total # of miles opened to improve
Improvements aquatic organism passage. Only include the
miles of main stem & smaller tributaries
connected until the next barrier upstream (or
headwaters), but NOT lakes, ponds, or
distance downstream from the barrier
removed.
Instream Restoration # miles of instream habitat Enter the number of miles of
restored instream habitat restored. In the
metric notes section, describe the
location(s) where the instream
restoration took place.
Land Restoration Acres Restored Enter # acres of habitat restored. In
the NOTES, specify landcover prior
to restoration (barren, cropland,
grass, shrub) and post-restoration
(broadleaf, conifer, redwood,
grassland, shrubland, marsh, wet
meadow, tidal marsh, swamp,
seagrass, kelp forest)
Research # acres of watersheds Enter the number of acres of
assessed watersheds assessed to inform future
habitat restoration activities. In the
metric notes section, describe the
location(s) where the watershed
assessment(s) took place.
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Research # studies reported to Enter the number of studies
management completed whose findings are
reported to management. In the
metric notes section, describe the
types of plans or studies that were
completed and which management
entity it was reported to.
Tool Development # tools developed Enter the number of tools developed. In the
for Decision-making metric notes section, describe the tools
created.
Monitoring # monitoring programs Enter the number of monitoring
programs established or underway.
In the metric notes section, describe
the monitoring programs.
Monitoring # sites being monitored Enter the # sites being monitored. In the
metric notes section, list the sites being
monitored.
Building # full time employees with Enter the number of staff or full-time
Institutional sufficient training equivalents with sufficient training and skills
Capacity engaged in conservation activities. In the
metric notes section, describe the training
completed.
Outreach/ # internships or Enter the number of people employed as
Education/ fellowships interns or fellows. This metric is not intended
Technical Assistance to capture new full-time employees. If any
positions filled are for full time employees,
please use the “# of jobs sustained” metric
instead.
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Outreach/ # people reached Enter the number of people reached by
Education/ outreach, training, or technical assistance
Technical Assistance activities. In the metric notes section,
describe the type(s) of outreach and how the
outreach contributes to conservation
activities. Metric notes should include
information as to how people were reached
(i.e. community meetings, workshops,
volunteer events, etc).
Economic Benefits # jobs created Enter the # of individuals hired to directly
work on the project (non-volunteers). Jobs
should be directly engaged in grant activities,
funded by the grant, and shouldn't have
existed prior to the grant. In the notes,
provide the FTE for the jobs created.
Economic Benefits # jobs sustained Enter the # of paid jobs that are partially or
fully sustained through this grant. Jobs
should have existed prior to the grant, be
funded by the grant, and be directly engaged
in project activities. The starting value for
this metric should be zero.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible and Ineligible Entities
• Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. Federal government
agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal
governments, Alaska Native tribal organizations/corporations, and educational institutions.
• Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international
organizations.
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
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• Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective
or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF acknowledges, however, that some
projects may only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment. If this applies to
your project, please contact the program staff listed in this RFP to discuss options.
• Federal funds and matching contributions may not be used to procure or obtain equipment,
services, or systems (including entering into or renewing a contract) that uses
telecommunications equipment or services produced by Huawei Technologies Company or
ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities) as a substantial or essential
component, or as critical technology of any system. Refer to Public Law 115-232, section
889 for additional information. 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. However, grant funds
may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance
efforts.
• NFWF funds may not be used to cover permanent federal employee salary expenses.
FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCH
Approximately $500,000 in grant funds will be awarded in 2025. Grant awards generally range in
size from $50,000 to $200,000, although grants greater than $200,000 will be considered on a case-
by-case basis. Projects may extend from one to two years.
Projects must have a minimum match of 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind contributions. While
federal contributions cannot be used as match, all potential sources contributions, including federal,
should be listed in the application for consideration during the review process.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance with NFWF
and funding source policies. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the extent to which they
meet the following criteria.
Program Goals and Priorities – Project contributes to the Program’s overall habitat and species
conservation goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success.
Project addresses one or more of the program priorities.
Technical Merit – Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear,
logical and achievable work plan and timeline. Project engages appropriate technical experts
throughout project planning, design and implementation to ensure activities are technically-sound
and feasible.
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Spatial Data – Project spatial data submitted to NFWF’s online mapping tool accurately represent
the location(s) of each conservation activity at time of proposal submission. Successful projects will
be required to submit improved spatial data within the period of performance as necessary.
Partnership and Community Impact – The applicant organization partners and engages
collaboratively with diverse local community members, leaders, community-based organizations,
and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement the proposed project. This ensures long-
term sustainability and success of the project, integration into local programs and policies, and
community acceptance of proposed restoration actions. Non-traditional partners or communities are
enlisted to broaden the sustained impact from the project. Describe the community characteristics of
the project area, identify any communities impacted, describe outreach and community engagement
activities and how those will be monitored and measured. Use demographic data to support
descriptions and submit letters of support from community partners and/or collaborators
demonstrating their commitment to the project and engagement in project activities as proposed.
Cost-Effectiveness – Cost-effectiveness analysis identifies the economically most efficient way to
meet project objectives. Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and
efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of
effective direct/indirect costs across all categories in the proposed budget according to the type, size
and duration of project and project objectives. Project budgets will be compared to similar projects
to ensure proposed costs across all budget categories are reasonable for the activities being
performed and the outcomes proposed.
Transferability – Project has potential and plan to transfer lessons learned to other communities
and/or to be integrated into government programs and policies.
Communication – Project includes a detailed plan to communicate information about the project to
appropriate audiences.
Funding Need – Project establishes a clear need for the funds being requested, and demonstrates
that activities would not move forward absent funding.
Conservation Plan and Context – The project advances an existing conservation plan or strategy.
Monitoring – Project includes a plan for monitoring progress during and after the proposed project
period to track project success and adaptively address new challenges and opportunities as they
arise.
Long-term Sustainability – Project will be maintained to ensure benefits are achieved and
sustained over time. This should include how future funding will be secured to implement necessary
long-term monitoring and maintenance activities.
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Past Success – Applicant has a proven track record of success in implementing conservation
practices with specific, measurable results. Project types with demonstrated ecological success are
preferred.
Partnership – An appropriate partnership exists to implement the project and the project is
supported by a strong local partnership that leverages additional funds and will sustain it after the
life of the grant. If the organization does not have the capacity or history of successes needed to
constitute a competitive application alone, we highly encourage organizations to identify and
collaborate with partner organizations to increase capacity and improve project design and
outcomes. These partnerships may include multiple organizations needed to implement the project
and authentically engage local stakeholders but elevate one higher capacity organization to act as
the applicant and pass-through entity for project funding if needed. Identify proposed partners, if
known (including potential or contemplated subawards to third party subrecipients of the applicant),
the roles they will play in implementing the project, and how this project will build new or enhance
existing partnerships. (Note: a project partner is any local community, non-profit organization, tribe,
and/or local, state, and federal government agency that contributes to the project in a substantial
way and is closely involved in the completion of the project.)
OTHER
Applicant Demographic Information – In an effort to better understand diversity in our
grantmaking, NFWF is collecting basic demographic information on applicants and their
organizations via a voluntary survey form (available in Easygrants). This information will not be
shared externally or with reviewers and will not be considered when making grant decisions. For
more details, please see the tip sheet and the Uploads section of Easygrants.
Budget – Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF’s Budget
Instructions cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform
Guidance as applicable.
Environmental Services – NFWF funds projects in pursuit of its mission to sustain, restore and
enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. NFWF
recognizes that some benefits from projects may be of value with regards to credits on an
environmental services market (such as a carbon credit market). NFWF does not participate in,
facilitate, or manage an environmental services market nor does NFWF assert any claim on such
credits.
Intellectual Property – Intellectual property created using NFWF awards may be copyrighted or
otherwise legally protected by award recipients. NFWF may reserve the right to use, publish, and
copy materials created under awards, including posting such material on NFWF’s website and
featuring it in publications. NFWF may use project metrics and spatial data from awards to estimate
societal benefits that result and to report these results to funding partners. These may include but are
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not limited to: habitat and species response, species connectivity, water quality, water quantity, risk
of detrimental events (e.g., wildfire, floods), carbon accounting (e.g., sequestration, avoided
emissions), environmental justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Matching Contributions – Matching Contributions consist of cash, contributed goods and services,
volunteer hours, and/or property raised and spent for the Project during the Period of Performance.
Larger match ratios and matching fund contributions from a diversity of partners are encouraged
and will be more competitive during application review.
Procurement – If the applicant chooses to specifically identify proposed Contractor(s) for Services,
an award by NFWF to the applicant does not constitute NFWF’s express written authorization for
the applicant to procure such specific services noncompetitively. When procuring goods and
services, NFWF recipients must follow documented procurement procedures which reflect
applicable laws and regulations.
Publicity and Acknowledgement of Support – Award recipients will be required to grant NFWF
the right and authority to publicize the project and NFWF’s financial support for the grant in press
releases, publications and other public communications. Recipients may also be asked by NFWF to
provide high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) photographs depicting the project.
Receiving Award Funds – Award payments are primarily reimbursable. Projects may request funds
for reimbursement at any time after completing a signed agreement with NFWF. A request of an
advance of funds must be due to an imminent need of expenditure and must detail how the funds
will be used and provide justification and a timeline for expected disbursement of these funds.
Compliance Requirements – Projects selected may be subject to requirements under the National
Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (state and federal), and National Historic
Preservation Act. Documentation of compliance with these regulations must be approved prior to
initiating activities that disturb or alter habitat or other features of the project site(s). Applicants
should budget time and resources to obtain the needed approvals. As may be applicable, successful
applicants may be required to comply with additional Federal, state or local requirements and obtain
all necessary permits and clearances.
Quality Assurance – If a project involves significant monitoring, data collection or data use,
grantees will be asked to prepare and submit quality assurance documentation (www.epa.gov/
quality). Applicants should budget time and resources to complete this task.
Permits – Successful applicants will be required to provide sufficient documentation that the
project expects to receive or has received all necessary permits and clearances to comply with any
Federal, state or local requirements. Where projects involve work in the waters of the United States,
NFWF strongly encourages applicants to conduct a permit pre-application meeting with the Army
Corps of Engineers prior to submitting their proposal. In some cases, if a permit pre-application
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2025 Request for Proposals

meeting has not been completed, NFWF may require successful applicants to complete such a
meeting prior to grant award.
Federal Funding – The availability of federal funds estimated in this solicitation is contingent upon
the federal appropriations process. Funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and
timing of when it is received by NFWF.
TIMELINE
Dates of activities are subject to change. Please check the program page of the NFWF website for
the most current dates and information (Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund).
Applicant Webinar Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 12:00PM Alaska Time
Full Proposal Due Date Thursday, October 24, 2024 by 7:59PM Alaska Time
Review Period October 2024 – March 2025
Awards Announced March 2025
HOW TO APPLY
All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation’s Easygrants system.
1. Go to easygrants.nfwf.org to register in our Easygrants online system. New users to the system
will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a registered user,
use your existing login). Enter your applicant information. Please disable the pop-up blocker on
your internet browser prior to beginning the application process.
2. Once on your homepage, click the “Apply for Funding” button and select this RFP’s “Funding
Opportunity” from the list of options.
3. Follow the instructions in Easygrants to complete your application. Once an application has been
started, it may be saved and returned to at a later time for completion and submission.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application. This
document can be downloaded here.
Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s
Applicant Information page.
For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact:
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Jana Doi
Manager, Alaska and Hawai'i Programs
jana.doi@nfwf.org
(415) 243-3102
For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact:
Easygrants Helpdesk
Email: Easygrants@nfwf.org
Voicemail: 202-595-2497
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday.
Include: your name, proposal ID #, e-mail address, phone number, program you are applying to, and
a description of the issue.
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