Conservation Partners Grant Program

Overview

Summary

Private landowners are stewards of more than two-thirds of our nation’s land, including some of the most important fish and wildlife habitats in the United States. Every year, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners voluntarily participate in federal Farm Bill conservation programs designed to address some of the nation’s most pressing conservation issues.

The Conservation Partners Program awards competitive grants that accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture principles and conservation practices on private lands. Grant recipients provide technical assistance to landowners and operators to help them:

* Develop management plans,
* Design and implement best practices,
* Participate in Farm Bill programs, and
* Share their experiences and lessons learned.

Grants are geographically targeted to place expert staff where they can both fulfill unmet technical assistance needs and maximize the soil, water, and wildlife benefits of Farm Bill conservation programs.

Eligibility

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Application Details

Conservation Partners Program
2025 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
NFWF is committed to operating in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive
Orders. We continuously monitor legal and regulatory developments to ensure our policies, procedures,
and operations align with current federal directives. We encourage all applicants to do the same.
The ability and extent to which NFWF is able to make awards is contingent upon receipt of funds from
federal agencies and/or other funding partners. Final funding decisions will be made based on the
applications received and the level and timing of funding received by NFWF.
TIMELINE
Dates of activities are subject to change. Please check the program page on the NFWF website for the
most current dates and information.
Applicant Webinar: May 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET. View webinar recording here.
Full Proposals Due: July 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM ET
Review Period: July-November 2025
Awards Announced: December 2025
OVERVIEW
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI), The J.M. Smucker Co., and with additional support from the General Mills,
Walmart and Sam’s Club collaboration, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will award
competitive grants to accelerate the voluntary adoption of regenerative agriculture principles and
conservation practices on private working lands in priority geographic areas.
Grant recipients will provide technical assistance to interested farmers and ranchers to develop
conservation plans, design and implement conservation practices, share their experiences and lessons
learned, and enroll in Farm Bill conservation programs, especially the Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). A particular emphasis should be
placed on implementing, designing, and promoting conservation practices that improve soil health
increase grazing system function, restore wetlands, develop perennial wildlife habitat, improve nutrient
management, enhance forest health, and support social and economic resilience among agricultural
producers. Successful projects will complement NRCS technical assistance capacity by helping to reduce
the Farm Bill conservation practice planning, contracting, and implementation backlog.

GRANT AWARD INFORMATION
• Typical grant awards will range from $200,000 to $1,000,000, with an estimated average grant
size of approximately $500,000.
• Project Period: Project start date cannot be before October 1, 2025 and should be within 6
months of the award announcement period. The project end date should be within 36 months
of the project start date.
• Project Scale: The Conservation Partners Program seeks to foster systems change and achieve
environmental and social benefits at a landscape scale. As such, it supports projects that
generate impact on the order of thousands or tens of thousands of acres, with a strong
preference for projects on the larger end of the scale. Projects that propose smaller acreages
and outcomes are likely less competitive. Reviewers recognize that project scale will vary
according to project type (rangeland grazing vs. edge-of-field cropland focus) and geography,
and will evaluate projects in comparison to analogous projects.
• Matching Contributions: The ratio of matching contributions to grant funding requested is an
important criterion considered during the review process. While matching contributions are not
required, applicants are encouraged to offer higher match ratios to be more competitive.
To be eligible, matching contributions must be spent or applied during the period of
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performance indicated in the application. Matching contributions may include cash, in-
kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services
donated, or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes. In
addition, eligible indirect costs (that would not be paid with requested grant funding)
may be applied as match. More information about using indirect costs as match can be
found by clicking here.
The landowner portion of cost-share required to obtain funding from Farm Bill programs
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is NOT an eligible source of match for this funding opportunity.
Organizations that are unable to provide significant non-federal matching contributions
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are encouraged to contact NFWF prior to submitting a proposal. Discussing challenges
and setting expectations will help ensure matching contributions do not become an
undue barrier during the review process.
• Payment Timeline: After award announcements, NFWF staff will work with grantees to prepare
grant agreements and other necessary paperwork electronically using the Easygrants system.
Additional information about the grantee’s organization and its finances may be solicited during
this time. Once grant agreements are finalized, funds will typically be paid to grantees on a
reimbursable basis. Funds may be advanced to qualified grantees on an as-needed basis.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
The Conservation Partners Program (CPP) will fund locally-led projects that provide technical assistance
to agricultural producers seeking to voluntarily adopt regenerative agriculture systems and conservation
practices. Grant recipients will hire or support field conservation professionals to help producers
develop and implement economically sound management practices that yield positive environmental
outcomes. Grant funds cannot be used to provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers, though
projects may leverage other funding for this purpose. Grant funds may not directly support other
projects with existing, USDA-funded technical assistance budgets, such as those supported through the
Regional Conservation Partnership Program and Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative.
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Competitive projects will increase participation in Farm Bill programs as one way to advance
regenerative agriculture principles. Some of these principles include: 1) minimizing chronic disturbances
to the soil and biological community; 2) enhancing wildlife habitat; 3) extending crop rotations; 4)
keeping the soil covered; 5) keeping a living root in the ground at all times; 6) efficiently managing water
resources; and 7) integrating livestock into agricultural systems.
The Conservation Partners Program will support projects that:
• Direct staff resources to work with agricultural producers to develop site-specific conservation
plans and design and implement regenerative agriculture systems and practices.
• Help agricultural producers access financial assistance through Farm Bill conservation programs,
especially the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP).
• Develop innovative technical assistance approaches that reach new producers and modernize
technical assistance delivery.
• Foster the development of peer-to-peer networks to advance regional knowledge and identify
and overcome barriers to adopting regenerative agriculture systems and practices.
• Advance locally led conservation by incorporating local input into project design and aligning
individual producer objectives with the community’s natural resource conservation priorities.
• Generate environmental benefits, such as improvements to wildlife habitat, soil health, and
water quantity and quality.
• Promote conservation systems to complement and advance producer economic interests and
operational efficiency.
• Align with NRCS goals, resource conservation priorities, and capacity needs. Applicants should
confer with the NRCS State Conservationist and their staff in the state in which the project is
located. A list of NRCS state contacts can be found here.
Competitive projects will advance one or more of the following strategies:
• Crop management: Improve water quality and maximize soil health and wildlife values by
increasing adoption of cover crops, reduced tillage, extended crop rotations, perennial cropping
systems, nutrient and pesticide management plans, precision agriculture, and other soil health
practices.
• Grazing management: Promote plant growth above and below ground, improve wildlife habitat,
and maximize soil health by establishing native grasses and optimizing stocking rates, livestock
rotations, utilization rates, and plant rest and recovery.
• Irrigation improvement: Improve hydrology, in-stream flows, aquifer recharge, water
conservation, and flood and drought resilience by increasing efficiency of on-farm irrigation
practices and reducing agricultural runoff.
• Habitat enhancement: Enhance habitat values of working grasslands, field buffers, forests,
wetlands, riparian zones, floodplains and other adjacent areas through native plantings, removal
of invasive species, beneficial mowing, prescribed burning, fencing and other conservation
practices.
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GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
This funding opportunity will provide grants for projects that align geographically with the following:
1. Great Plains
2. Upper Mississippi River Basin
3. Great Lakes Basin
4. Western Grazing Lands
1) Great Plains
This geography includes the region of historic tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairie spanning
portions of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming (see map here). Key objectives for this
category include:
• Improve soil health on grazing lands and crop lands.
• Sustain and enhance conservation and economic values associated with working grasslands.
• Conserve and sustainably manage limited water resources.
• Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment runoff to local waterways.
• Enhance habitat quality and connectivity for waterfowl, shorebirds, pollinators, and many other
species that depend on the grassland–wetland complexes of the region.
Priority strategies include crop management, habitat enhancement, and grazing management. Under
crop management, priority will be given to projects focused on lands with wheat in active rotation,
particularly in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
2) Upper Mississippi River Basin
This geography includes the NRCS’s Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) states
upstream of the Ohio River confluence with the Mississippi River. Priority will be given to projects
focused within MRBI Focus Area Watersheds. Key objectives for this category include:
• Improve soil health on crop lands, pastures, and other grazing lands.
• Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment runoff to local waterways.
• Enhance habitat for migratory birds, fish, and other aquatic species.
Priority strategies include crop management, grazing management, and habitat enhancement. Under
crop management, priority will be given to projects on lands with corn in active rotation in Ohio, or
wheat in active rotation in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Proposals that contribute to the goals of an
established Sentinel Landscape will also receive special consideration.
3) Great Lakes Basin
This geography includes the U.S. portion of Great Lakes watersheds (see map here). Key objectives for
this category include:
• Improve soil health on crop lands, pastures, and other grazing lands.
• Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment runoff to local waterways.
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• Engage landowners in conservation and regenerative agriculture planning and peer-to-peer
learning.
• Reduce Farm Bill practice contracting and implementation backlog.
Priority strategies include grazing management, crop management, nutrient management, and habitat
enhancement. Priority will be given to applicants that build upon established relationships with
landowners through previous local work, incorporate partnerships with local entities and/or connect to
demonstration farms or other efforts that align with regenerative agriculture priorities in the region.
See Metrics section below on the required metrics for this category.
4) Western Grazing Lands
This geography includes grasslands, shrublands, and pasturelands in the Western United States (see map
here). Key objectives for this category include:
• Sustain and enhance conservation and economic values associated with working grasslands,
pasturelands, and shrublands.
• Improve soil health on grazing lands.
• Enhance habitat quality and connectivity for birds, pollinators, and other species that depend on
grassland complexes in the region.
Priority strategies include grazing management and habitat enhancement. Special priority will be given
to projects that conserve and restore intact grazing landscapes, reduce the expansion of conifers and
exotic annual grasses, restore wet meadows and other mesic areas, and increase drought resilience of
farm operations. Successful projects will support the delivery of the NRCS Western Water and Working
Lands Framework for Conservation Action, Sagebrush Biome Framework for Conservation Action, Great
Plains Grasslands Biome Framework, and Working Lands for Wildlife Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.
PROJECT METRICS
To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure the consistency of data collected across the
grant portfolio, the CPP application includes a list of standard metric options for describing project
impacts and reporting outcomes (Table 1). There is a set of required metrics which all projects must
include in their proposals. In addition to setting goals for and reporting against required metrics,
applicants should also select metrics most relevant to their projects, i.e. projects providing technical
assistance for grazing should report against the acres of managed grazing metric. The flowchart below
describes the hierarchy of metrics collected from CPP projects.
As part of interim and final performance reporting, grant recipients may be required to submit
additional field-level implementation data using a template to be provided by NFWF. NFWF may use this
information, as well as information in the proposal’s Easygrants metrics, to estimate and track
anticipated and actual environmental outcomes.
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ALL applicants are required to include the following metrics (see flowchart above):
1. # jobs created AND/OR # jobs sustained
2. # participants receiving government agency cost share or financial assistance
3. Dollar value of government agency cost share or financial assistance
4. Acres covered by government agency cost share or financial assistance
5. # people with changed behavior (to report # of farmers changing practices)
6. Acreage of project footprint
7. # of mgmt plans with BMPs (to report # of conservation plans developed)
8. # of acres covered by conservation plans
Projects in the Great Lakes Basin are required to include the following additional metrics:
1. Acres with enhanced nutrient mgt
2. Lbs N avoided (annually)
3. Lbs P avoided (annually)
4. Lbs sediment avoided (annually)
Additional requirements for ALL applicants:
1. ALL starting values must be zero
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Table 1. Metrics available for selection in the application with REQUIRED notes.
Metric Name
*REQUIRED for ALL applicants Instructions
**REQUIRED for Great Lakes
Strategy applicants REQUIRED for ALL selected metrics
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. The starting value should
be zero and target value should be a whole number. In
# jobs created* the NOTES section, provide the FTE for the jobs created.
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 should be
zero and target value should be a whole number. In the
# jobs sustained* NOTES section, provide the FTE for the jobs sustained.
Enter the number of agricultural producers that enrolled
in government cost share or financial assistance
programs as a result of the project’s technical assistance
activities. In the NOTES section, specify which program(s)
# participants receiving (e.g., NRCS EQIP) and how you will track enrollment. This
government agency cost should be equal to or less than the “# people with
share or financial assistance* changed behavior” metric.
Enter the dollar value of federal, state, or local
Capacity,
government agency cost share or financial assistance
Outreach,
received by agricultural producers as a result of the
Incentives
Dollar value of government project’s technical assistance activities. In the NOTES
agency cost share or financial section, specify which program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP) and
assistance* how the value was estimated.
Enter the number of acres enrolled in government agency
cost share or financial assistance programs as a result of
the project’s technical assistance activities. In the NOTES
section, specify which program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP). This
Acres covered by government value should be equal to or less than BOTH the “Acreage
agency cost share or financial of project footprint” and “Acres covered by conservation
assistance* plans” metric.
# people with changed
behavior* Enter the number of producers implementing new
conservation practices with or without federal, state,
to report # of agricultural local, or private financial assistance. This should be equal
producers implementing to or greater than the “# of participants receiving gov't
conservation practices agency cost share or financial assistance” metric.
# workshops, webinars, Enter the number of workshops, webinars, and meetings
meetings held.
Enter the number of participants who attended the
# people reached workshop, webinar, and/or meetings.
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Enter the total number of unique acres where one or
more conservation practices were implemented. Only
count an acre once, even if multiple conservation
practices will be applied on that same acre, or if a
practice will be implemented on the same acre in
multiple years.
For crop management projects involving wheat, please
indicate the total project acres in active wheat rotation in
Acreage of project footprint* the NOTES section.
Enter the number of cropland acres with conservation
tillage practices. Acres with conservation tillage under
this metric should comply with NRCS Conservation
Practice Standards - No Till (329) and/or Reduced Till
(345). Please describe conservation tillage practices in the
Acres with conservation tillage NOTES section.
Enter the number of cropland acres with cover crop
practices. Acres with cover crops under this metric should
comply with NRCS Conservation Practice Standard - Cover
Habitat Crop (340). Please describe the cover crop practices in
Management Acres with cover crops the NOTES section.
Enter the number of cropland acres with enhanced
nutrient management practices other than or in addition
to conservation tillage or cover crops. Acres with
enhanced nutrient management practices under this
metric should comply with NRCS Conservation Practice
Standard - Nutrient Management (590). Please describe
the nutrient management practices in the NOTES section.
Projects in the Great Lakes Basin ONLY: Enter the
number of cropland acres with enhanced nutrient
management practices and/or under a conservation plan
with nutrient management practices (may include
practices such as soil testing, precision application,
Acres with enhanced nutrient subsurface application etc.). Please describe the nutrient
mgt** management practices in the NOTES section.
Enter the number of acres on which a resource
conserving crop rotation is implemented to build soil
health, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. Acres
under this metric should comply with NRCS Conservation
Acres of crop rotation Practice Standard - Conservation Crop Rotation (328).
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Enter the number of acres with managed grazing (i.e.,
promoting plant growth above and below ground,
improving wildlife habitat, and maximizing soil health
through grazing approaches that optimize stocking rates,
livestock rotations, utilization rates, and plant rest and
recovery, including development of associated grazing
infrastructure). Acres under this metric should comply
with NRCS Conservation Practice Standard - Prescribed
Grazing (528). Please describe the grazing practices in the
Acres with managed grazing NOTES section.
Enter the amount of nitrogen prevented from entering
waterways annually and indicate method of calculating
Lbs N avoided (annually)** reduction in NOTES section.
Enter the amount of phosphorous prevented from
entering waterways annually and indicate method of
Habitat Lbs P avoided (annually)** calculating reduction in NOTES section.
Management
Enter the amount of sediment prevented from entering
Lbs sediment avoided waterways annually and indicate method of calculating
(annually)** reduction in NOTES section.
Enter the number of acres prescribed fire was applied to.
Acres burned under this metric should comply with NRCS
Conservation Practice Standard - Prescribed Burning
(338). In the NOTES section, specify the average
frequency (in years) at which prescribed burning is
expected to occur in the future, and the vegetation being
burned (shrubland, grassland, cropland, Phragmites
Acres burned marsh).
Enter the number of acres with improved irrigation water
management practices implemented to reduce water and
improve energy efficiency. Acres under this metric should
comply with the following NRCS Conservation Practice
Standards - Irrigation Pipeline (430), Irrigation System,
Microirrigation (441), Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442),
Pumping Plant (533), or Irrigation Water Management
Acres with improved irrigation (449).
Enter the number of acre feet of water conserved and
indicate method of calculating water conservation in the
Acre feet of water conserved NOTES section.
Enter the number of acres of GRASSLAND habitat
restored. Grassland acres restored under this metric
should comply with the following NRCS Conservation
Land restoration – Acres Practice Standards - Conservation Cover (327), Forage
Habitat restored and Biomass Planting (512), Silvopasture Establishment
Restoration (381), Range Planting (550), or Wildlife Habitat Planting
for grassland restoration (420). In the NOTES section, specify the landcover type
projects prior to restoration (barren, cropland, grassland,
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shrubland, herbaceous wetland, wet meadow) and post-
restoration (grassland).
Enter the number of acres of WETLAND habitat restored.
Wetland acres restored under this metric should comply
with the NRCS Conservation Practice Standard - Wetland
Restoration (657). In the NOTES section, specify the
landcover type prior to and following restoration (barren,
cropland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, shrubland,
Wetland restoration – Acres grassland, herbaceous wetland, wooded wetland, wet
restored meadow).
Enter the number of acres of FIELD BUFFER created.
Acres of field buffer created under this metric should
comply with the following NRCS Conservation Practice
Standards - Field Border (386), Filter Strip (393), Contour
Buffer Strips (332), Grassed Waterway (412), Vegetative
Barrier (601), Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
(380), Hedgerow Planting (422), or Herbaceous Wind
Barriers (603). In the NOTES section, specify the
landcover type prior to planting (barren, cropland,
grassland, shrubland), and the dominant vegetation being
Land restoration – Acres of planted (grassland, deciduous forest, shrubland, wooded
field buffers created wetland).
Enter the number of riparian acres restored, including
riparian buffers. Riparian acres restored under this metric
should comply with the following NRCS Conservation
Habitat
Practice Standards - Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390),
Restoration
Critical Area Planting (342), or Riparian Forest Buffer
(391). In the NOTES section, specify the landcover type
prior to planting (barren, cropland, grassland), the
dominant vegetation being planted (Broadleaf, Conifer,
Riparian restoration – Acres of Shrub, Grass, Wet meadow), and the average width of
riparian areas restored the riparian buffer.
Enter the number of acres of TREES planted. Acres of
trees planted under this metric should comply with NRCS
Conservation Practice Standard - Tree/Shrub
Establishment (612). In the NOTES section, specify the
landcover type prior to planting (barren, cropland,
grassland, shrubland), the average number of trees per
Land restoration – Acres of acre planted, and forest type (broadleaf, conifer,
trees planted redwood, swamp--either broadleaf or conifer, shrub).
Enter the total acres of existing forest that will be
restored through silvicultural manipulation. Acres
Acres restored on private restored under this metric should comply with NRCS
lands through silvicultural Conservation Practice Standard - Forest Stand
manipulation Improvement (666).
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Enter the number of acres restored by removal of
INVASIVE SPECIES. Acres restored under this metric
should comply with the following NRCS Conservation
Practice Standards - Brush Management (314),
Herbaceous Weed Control (315). In the NOTES section,
specify: the vegetation type being removed (herbaceous,
shrub, or tree), average frequency (in years) the
treatment is expected to occur in the future, and whether
Land restoration – Removal of the removed vegetation will be left on site to decompose
Invasives – Acres restored (Yes, No).
Enter the number of acres with restored hydrology. Acres
restored under this metric should comply with the
following NRCS Conservation Practice Standards -
Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining
Acres with restored hydrology Habitats (643), Wetland Restoration (657).
Enter the number of completed site-specific conservation
# mgmt plans with BMPs* plans in which Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be
incorporated. Conservation plans should follow NRCS
Planning, (to report # of conservation guidelines and enable producers to meet eligibility
Research, plans developed) requirements for USDA NRCS conservation programs.
Monitoring
Enter the number of acres that are receiving conservation
planning and other technical assistance to help producers
meet eligibility requirements for USDA NRCS
# Acres covered by conservation programs and other Federal, State, and
conservation plans* local conservation programs.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible and Ineligible Entities
• Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local
governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational
institutions. To be competitive, applicant organizations must demonstrate capacity and
experience commensurate with the scale of the project being proposed and the funding being
requested.
• Individuals, federal government agencies, and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply for
grant funding.
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
• Grant funds cannot be used to provide technical assistance for Regional Conservation
Partnership Program (RCPP) and Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative projects,
which already have dedicated, USDA-funded technical assistance budgets.
• Grant funds from NRCS cannot be used to provide financial assistance to agricultural producers,
though projects may leverage other funding for this purpose. Financial assistance means direct
payments to agricultural producers to perform or implement conservation practices, including
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payments for costs like materials, equipment, labor, etc. The prohibition on financial assistance
to producers also applies to the direct purchase of materials, equipment, labor, etc. required for
producers to implement practices. Successful projects will provide technical assistance as a
means to help agricultural producers access financial assistance and cost share payments
through NRCS Farm Bill programs.
• 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 are strictly prohibited from being used for a number of
reasons to include, for example, political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist
activities, or in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. See OMB Uniform Guidance for
additional information.
• 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.
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:
Conservation Outcomes Budget Technical
• Alignment with program goals • Allowable and reasonable costs • Technically sound and
and priorities • Matching contributions feasible
• Alignment with NRCS goals and • Cost effective • Logical and achievable work
priorities plan and timeline
• Quantifiable performance metrics • Engages technical experts
• Appropriate monitoring of • Accurate spatial data
activities and outcomes • Sound compliance approach
• Partnership & community (permits, NEPA, QAQC)
engagement • Past grantee success
• Project long-term sustainability • Transferable
Priorities – Project addresses one or more of the funding opportunity priorities and has specific,
quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success.
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NRCS Coordination – Project is in alignment with goals, resource conservation priorities, and capacity
needs. Applicants should confer with the NRCS State Conservationist and their staff in the state in which
the project is located. A list of NRCS state contacts can be found here.
Partnership and Community Impact – The applicant organization partners and engages collaboratively
with 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. 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 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.
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.
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 multiple partners are encouraged and will
make proposals more competitive during the review process.
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.
Spatial Data – Project spatial data submitted to NFWF’s online mapping tool accurately represent the
location(s) of conservation activity(ies) at the time of proposal submission. Successful projects will be
required to submit improved spatial data for each conservation activity within the period of
performance as necessary.
OTHER
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
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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 not limited to:
habitat and species response, species connectivity, water quality, water quantity, risk of detrimental
events (e.g., wildfire, floods), and carbon accounting (e.g., sequestration, avoided emissions).
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. Requests for monthly
advances will not be considered.
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.
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 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
receipt from the agency. Funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and timing of when it
is received by NFWF.
HOW TO APPLY
All application materials must be submitted online through NFWF’s Easygrants system.
1. Go to easygrants.nfwf.org to register in NFWF’s Easygrants online system. New users to the
system will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a
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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 Conservation Partners
Program 2025 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 funding opportunity, please contact:
Greg Pilchak Minna Wong
Program Director, Working Lands Program Manager, Working Lands
greg.pilchak@nfwf.org minna.wong@nfwf.org
202-938-0640 202-595-2657
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 #, email address, phone number, program you are applying to, and
a description of the issue.
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