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Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Funding Amount

US $150,000 - US $1,000,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

  • website.

Overview

The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants, offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the EPA, aim to enhance water quality and restore vital habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding is available through two programs: SWG Implementation grants for direct on-the-ground actions, and SWG Planning and Technical Assistance grants to support community-based efforts. Projects must align with specific program priorities to qualify for funding.

Background
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to protect and restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.
Through the Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program, delivered in partnership with EPA and the CBP partnership, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote voluntary, community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.
NFWF will award funding through two distinct funding opportunities. All SWG Program proposals must directly align with one or more of the SWG PROGRAM PRIORITIES outlined further in this Request for Proposals.
SWG Implementation (SWG-I) grants of $150,000-1,000,000 will be awarded for projects that result in direct, on-the-ground actions to protect and restore water quality, species, and habitats in the Bay watershed.
SWG Planning and Technical Assistance (SWG-PTA) grants up to $150,000 will be awarded for projects that enhance local capacity to implement future on-the-ground actions, consistent with SWG Program priorities, through community-based assessment, planning, design, and other technical assistance-oriented activities.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

What National Fish and Wildlife Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
1,286
Total given
$464.38M
Median grant
$107K
Range
$5,024–$24.16M
  • By dollars: Virginia 11%, California 10%, Alaska 7%. Top recipient cities: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Annapolis, MD.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 26% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • The Nature Conservancy · Arlington, VA

    Coastal habitats / greater sage grouse cons

    $24.16M

  • Ducks Unlimited Inc · Memphis, TN

    Coastal habitat restoration

    $20.55M

  • Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality · Jackson, MS

    Mississippi coastal habitat restoration & mgt

    $20.49M

  • Walker Basin Conservancy · Reno, NV

    Restore walker basin habitat for monarchs

    $12.39M

  • State of Hawaii · Honolulu, HI

    Restore hawaii forests, protect rare plants

    $8.61M

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Environment
  • Water

Categories

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