Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) Grant Program

Overview

Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) Grant Program

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is proud of the partnership with the Forest Service to bring our partner members the Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) activity grants. Funding has been offered since Summer 2016.

What is the WSP Funding Program

Wilderness Stewardship Performance is the suite of activities which the Forest Service uses to measure their wilderness stewardship accomplishment. This funding program is for wilderness stewardship volunteer organizations to support wilderness stewardship activities that contribute to overall improvement in wilderness stewardship performance scores for individual wilderness areas.

NWSA and the Forest Service are pleased to offer this opportunity for wilderness stewardship groups to assist the Forest Service in meeting their wilderness stewardship performance goals. We are hoping that the success of this funding program will lead to its further expansion in the future.

Eligibility

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Application Details

2025 Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS*
Application Period Opens: October 18, 2024
Application Period Closes: December 5, 2024
Funding Available: $125,000
Funding Amounts: $2,000 - $20,000 per organization
Project Period: Projects completed between February 1 – December 31, 2025
Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) Funding Program
The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is
proud to bring our members this funding opportunity to support their work with Forest Service partners
on Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) activities on National Forest Wilderness Areas across the
U.S. Approximately $125,000 is available for work completed between February and December of 2025
and award amounts will range between $2,000 and $20,000 per organization. Projects that support
volunteers and engage or benefit underserved communities receive additional emphasis. The
application period opens October 18, 2024 and closes December 5, 2024. Awards will be announced by
January 31, 2025.
This funding program is for 501(c)(3) organizations working with Forest Service partners to complete
wilderness stewardship activities that contribute to overall improvement in Wilderness Stewardship
Performance scores for individual national forest wilderness areas to help the agency to meet their
performance goals. There are a variety of activities that qualify for consideration. See the Forest Service
Wilderness Stewardship Performance Guidebook for detailed information about qualifying activities.
Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) is the suite of activities the Forest Service uses to measure
their wilderness stewardship accomplishments. WSP guides much of the wilderness work the Forest
Service and its wilderness stewardship partner organizations do by informing performance goals and
identifying needs for funding to support them. NWSA has offered this funding program since 2016 and
we are excited to support more accomplishments in the coming year.

Program Requirements
• Must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or Federally recognized Tribe to qualify for funding.
• Must be a current NWSA Member Organization to apply (JOIN OR RENEW)*.
• Projects must contribute to Forest Service Wilderness Stewardship Performance scoring and
meet all Qualifying Projects criteria.
• Applicants must demonstrate collaboration and partnership with local Forest Service personnel.
• 20% match requirement (can be combination of cash and in-kind contributions)
*Membership requirement may be waived for applicants from Federally recognized Tribes. Contact
joelle@wildernessalliance.org to request this waiver.
Qualifying Projects
Project activities must meet all of the following criteria to be considered:
• Each Forest Service Ranger District that manages wilderness has selected 10 Wilderness
Stewardship Performance (WSP) Elements for each Wilderness. Activities must fall within the
10 Elements selected for the wilderness area(s) where work will be performed.
• Project activities must support Wilderness Stewardship Performance as outlined in the
Wilderness Stewardship Performance Guidebook.
• All activities must be approved by the local Forest Service District Ranger or Forest Supervisor.
• All work completed must contribute to improvement or maintenance of WSP scores.
• Projects must have a completion date no later than December 31, 2025.
Before proceeding with your application, check with your local Forest Service staff to:
• Verify which elements are chosen for your wilderness area(s),
• Understand current WSP scores for the wilderness area(s) and how your activities will
contribute to increasing or maintaining those scores, and
• Obtain a signed letter showing local Forest Service knowledge of and support for ALL of the
activities proposed in the grant application.
Matching Funds Requirements & Guidelines
A minimum matching contribution of 20% of requested project dollars is required for this funding.
Matching funds can be accomplished through contributed funding (cash match) and/or in-kind
contributions. Cash matching may raise evaluation scores but is not required. Contributed funding (cash
match) refers to monies contributed to the project by your organization or another non-federal entity
for a portion of the project costs. In-kind contributions generally constitute the value of volunteer labor
(at a rate of $33.49 /hour), unreimbursed volunteer travel costs, and/or use of existing equipment.
Federal contributions of any kind DO NOT count as matching funds but can be reported separately to
reflect agency support and show the true total cost to complete the project.

Project and Activity Examples
Projects work may include, but is not limited to, the following categories:
Invasive Species
• Inventory and monitoring surveys for invasive species
• Eradication and control of invasive species
Air & Water Quality
• Inventory and monitoring of air pollution sensitive receptors
• Water quality monitoring of lakes and streams, and watershed restoration treatments
Ecological Monitoring
• Fish and wildlife population monitoring, fish and wildlife restoration activities to conserve or
recover indigenous species
• Rangeland inventory and monitoring, grazing allotment monitoring, riparian area monitoring,
and riparian area restoration activities
Recreation & Infrastructure
• Wilderness recreation site monitoring and restoration activities
• System trail condition assessments and approved trail restoration activities
• Inventory and restoration of user developed trails
• Inventory of significant infrastructure and administratively provided recreation facilities
Opportunities for Solitude
• Inventory and monitoring of opportunities for solitude
Wilderness Management
• Assistance with developing minimum requirement analyses
• Assistance in developing wilderness management plans and monitoring of special provisions in
wilderness legislation
Education
• Wilderness training, including traditional tools and skills
• Public education outreach about wilderness and wilderness stewardship activities
Please consult with your local Forest Service staff to determine WSP needs and understand
your role in helping the agency improve its Wilderness Stewardship Performance scoring.

Strategies for a Successful Proposal
COORDINATE WITH THE FOREST SERVICE
Coordination with the Forest Service is essential. The local Ranger District or Forest should approve your
project proposal and support it with a Letter of Support. It’s never too early to discuss project ideas with
your Forest Service contacts. The development of long-term plans to support Wilderness Stewardship
Performance activities year to year is encouraged.
ENSURE THE PROPOSAL QUALIFIES FOR THIS FUNDING
With Forest Service coordination, make sure the project proposal will contribute to Wilderness
Stewardship Performance scores for your wilderness area(s). Each District has chosen 10 WSP elements
they use to track wilderness stewardship performance. The activities in your proposal MUST contribute
to at least one of these selected scoring elements to qualify for funding.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
This funding program is only for work completed for federally designated wilderness areas managed by
the U.S. Forest Service. Work completed in wilderness study areas, recommended wilderness areas,
roadless areas, and in wilderness areas managed by other agencies does not qualify.
ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS!
Look for ways to significantly engage volunteers and other partners in your wilderness stewardship
work. Getting more people engaged in WSP activities helps build support for wilderness, fosters public
understanding about wilderness management issues and strategies, and enlarges the stewardship
capacity of your organization. Volunteer engagement also helps lower the overall cost to complete your
project, further increasing its competitiveness.
INCORPORATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY INTO YOUR WORK
Expand your wilderness stewardship community and intentionally welcome new people into your
wilderness stewardship work. Wilderness is for everyone. As leaders in the wilderness stewardship
community, we have a responsibility to make public lands and wilderness places where all Americans
feel welcome, safe, and included.
PLAN AHEAD & PREPARE
Have a solid and realistic plan in place to accomplish the project goals and tell us the details. Do your
homework – many WSP elements require previous steps to be completed before points can be earned
for remaining activities. If a plan or monitoring protocol is missing for a project you want to propose,
consider working with your local Forest staff to complete one.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS
Be sure to claim credit for your cash and in-kind contributions, but don’t overreach or exaggerate your
match. Cash or in-kind contributions associated with the project should be exclusively for work during
the project period and directly tied to the WSP outcomes of your proposal, NOT part of a broader
organization funding plan or for general organization needs. Some level of cash match helps to
demonstrate commitment and buy-in on the project, but is not required.

BE COMPETITIVE
Offer a good value between the work accomplished and the cost. With the total available funding lower
than usual this year, these awards will be competitive. Structure your proposal to offer a strong mix of
WSP score contributions, solid project planning, and engagement of volunteers and underserved
communities at a competitive cost.
BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR PLANNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Honesty is the best policy. Be honest about the contributions of your project to WSP scoring. Be sure
you understand the scoring system as you plan your project. NWSA’s review team would rather see a
well thought out and accurate proposal with lower point gains than one that claims high point gains that
aren’t applicable or possible.
EXPAND YOUR WSP PORTFOLIO
Don’t just rely on what you’ve always done. Seek ways to expand your organization’s stewardship
portfolio by tackling new WSP activities for your wilderness area(s). Consider bundling several WSP
activities together or explore other creative ways to raise the WSP scores for your wilderness areas.
BE ON TIME
Be timely. Choose activities that can be completed within the grant timeframe and submit your
application on time. If you have questions about the application or your project idea, ask them early;
don’t wait until the last day of the application period. Be sure to submit ALL of your application
materials, in their original file formats, by the deadline.
DON’T SELL YOURSELF SHORT
NWSA understands it takes capacity to manage these funding opportunities. To help cover these costs,
applicants may include up to 10% in indirect costs in each proposal. Staying within this limit will ensure
your proposal is considered. For organizations that have a NICRA (negotiated indirect cost rate
agreement) in place, this rate may be used if supporting documentation is provided.
How Projects Will Be Selected
NWSA’s Wilderness Stewardship Review Team will rank projects based upon:
• What will be accomplished and how the project will contribute to Wilderness Stewardship
Performance (WSP) scores
• Amount of matching contributions, either cash, in-kind, or both, and other resources
contributed to the project
• Project feasibility and scope
• Forest Service support including approval by a local Forest Service District Ranger or Forest
Supervisor
• Engagement of volunteers
• Support or advancement of DEIA outcomes
• Regional and activity balance among selected projects

Funding Details
This Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding is sourced through a Forest Service Challenge Cost-
Share Agreement and is therefore managed as reimbursable funds subject to Federal Regulations.
Award amounts may vary depending on the needs of each project, the number of proposals, and the
availability of funds. Organizations must expend funds prior to seeking reimbursement and expenses
must align with the approved budget and work plan associated with the grant award. Organizations may
submit requests for reimbursement monthly or less frequently throughout the life of the grant.
Reimbursements can take up to 90 days to fully process and will be made by Direct Deposit to the
organization’s bank account. Only expenses incurred during the grant award period will qualify for
reimbursement.
Reporting Requirements
Awarded organizations will be expected to submit a final report of their accomplishments following the
end of the grant period. This report will consist of a narrative description, project photos, a final project
budget, and final WSP score increases for each wilderness and WSP element. Reporting templates will
be provided to organizations receiving funding.
How To Apply
The 2025 application will be available online when the application period opens. Applications will be
accepted between October 18 – December 5, 2024 (subject to change). We are no longer accepting
application forms via email. Use this link to access the online application:
https://nationalwildernessstewardshipalliance.submittable.com/submit
If the application period is open, you will see the Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding
opportunity listed. Select “Apply” to begin your application. If you are unable to submit your application
online and or require special accommodations, please contact joelle@wildernessalliance.org. Late
applications will not be considered. Grant awards will be announced by January 31, 2025.
EACH APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE:
• A completed GRANT APPLICATION form submitted through the online application portal,
• A complete proposed budget for the project, including in-kind contributions and contributed
funds, submitted using the BUDGET WORKSHEET,
• A completed WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PERFORMANCE METRICS WORKSHEET,
• A LETTER OF SUPPORT for each Forest Service District or National Forest where work will be
completed. The letter(s) must be on Forest Service letterhead and signed by the local District
Ranger or Forest Supervisor. The letter(s) must identify the activities that will be completed. If
the project will reduce the deferred maintenance backlog, this should be included in the letter.
Links to all required documents are available on our website:
https://www.wildernessalliance.org/wsp_funding_info

Resources
The following resources may be helpful as you develop your application and plan for future years:
• 2025 WSP Application Questions: This document is for reference only. DO NOT submit this as
your application.
• NWSA Webinar: 2025 Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding
• Powerpoint: 2025 Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding
• Forest Service Wilderness Stewardship Performance Guidebook
• Wilderness Connect for more information on Wilderness Stewardship Performance
• NWSI training video: Wilderness Stewardship Performance and Wilderness Character
Monitoring 101
• NWSI training video: Wilderness Stewardship Performance Overview
• NWSI training video: Wilderness Stewardship Performance – Opportunities for Solitude
• NWSI training video: Wilderness Stewardship Performance – Recreation Sites
• NWSI training video: Wilderness Stewardship Performance - Trails
Still Have Questions?
Questions about NWSA’s Wilderness Stewardship Performance Funding Program may be directed to
Joelle Marier, Executive Director at joelle@wildernessalliance.org or, visit the program page on our
website at https://www.wildernessalliance.org/wsp_funding_info.