Grants to USA Agencies, Nonprofits, and IHEs for Environmental Conservation and Preservation Projects

MultiState Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP)

Agency

Foundation

GrantWatch ID#

137949

Funding Source

ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

CFDA Number: 15.628

Funding or PIN Number: F23AS00007

Geographic Focus

All USA
USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA);

Important Dates

Deadline: 06/15/23 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Grant Description

Grants to USA and territories government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education for projects to conserve crucial habitats and natural resources and preserve wildlife and fish populations. Applicants must submit an initial proposal and ensure that required registrations are current prior to applying. Funding is intended for projects that meet the most urgent conservation needs, as determined by leading U.S. fish and wildlife biologists, managers, and professionals.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) work cooperatively to manage T-MSGCP and R3-MSGCP (“R3 MSCGP”).

The primary goal of both programs is to fund projects that address regional or national priority needs of the State fish and wildlife agencies (States) and their partners that are beyond the scope and capabilities of a single State. Eligible grant proposals are reviewed by the Association’s National Grants Committee (NGC) with the assistance of one or more technical committees. Proposals must address eligible activities in one or more of the Association’s selected Strategic Priorities to be considered. Strategic Conservation Priorities are developed annually by the Association and are used to guide proposal development and grant selection for the program.

Projects awarded under T-MSCGP may use the funds for sport fisheries and wildlife management and research projects, boating access development, hunter safety and education, aquatic education, aquatic R3 programs, fish and wildlife habitat improvements, and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation.

Recipients awarded under the R3-MSCGP can only use the funds for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment projects that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.

Grant awards issued under this program typically include projects for biological research, training, species population status assessment, fish and wildlife conservation outreach, data collection regarding hunter and angler participation, hunter and aquatic education, assessing the economic value of fishing and hunting, and regional or multistate habitat needs assessments. Many of the projects that will be conducted under these types of projects either directly or indirectly support Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. For example, regional or habitat needs assessments will support climate resilience, land conservation, and biodiversity efforts, including the 30 x 30 initiative.

An applicant’s Initial Proposal must address at least one of the current MSCGP Strategic Priorities.

FY 2024 MultiState Conservation Grant Program Strategic Priorities:

Conservation & Science

Climate Change
Fish and Wildlife Health (“One Health”)
Human Dimensions & Conservation Social Science
Invasive Species
Emerging Technologies for fish and wildlife management

Expanding Relevancy and Engagement (ERE)

Enhancing Conservation Through Broader Engagement
Implementing and/or Expanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts
Research

Capacity Building, Conservation Education, and Coordination of Conservation Policies

Leadership Development
Conservation Education
Coordination of Conservation Policies
Integration of Law Enforcement

AFWA Priorities Identified in AFWA Funding Principles (submitted by ExCom)

Management Assistance Team
Management of the MSCGP Program
CITES and International Conservation Programs and Their Impact on State Agencies
Coordination of Conservation on a National Scale
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation (R3)

Marketing
Engaging Participants
Monitoring and Evaluation
Hunting and Shooting Sports Access and Infrastructure

For more information about priorities, including definitions and potential projects, see https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/5716/8183/6686/2024_MSCGP_Background_and_General_Information.pdf#page=4

Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Only eligible grant proposals will be considered for funding so please ensure that you meet the following eligibility requirements:

Organization Information. Please indicate the appropriate classification of your organization. If you are a Nonprofit, please indicate the type:
Applicant Classification:
- 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- 13 – Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- 00 – State governments
- 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or a State or group of States, for the purpose of carrying out the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The State governments’ designation refers to Agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia (Sport Fish Restoration only), Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or a group of these agencies.

State Benefit Requirement. Projects must benefit:
- At least 26 States,
- A majority (over 50%) of the States in a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Region
- A majority (over 50%) of States in a Regional Association of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA, MAFWA, NEAFWA, SEAFWA).

Pre-Proposal Conference

AFWA and the WSFR Program are excited to host a webinar for potential Multi-State Conservation Grant Program applicants. This webinar will provide an overview of how applicants can provide a complete application for consideration. This webinar will be hosted on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 1:00 - 3:30pm EST. Please click here to register to attend the webinar: http://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=urWTBhhLe02TQfMvQApUlBNzFyUns6dKo9HEAyW-3DJUQlRFSjNRWlQwQ1hLWDlRNE8yVk0zUkNSRS4u

All registrations must be received by COB Friday, May 12, 2023.

If you have any accessibility needs, please let the funding source know when you register for the webinar (please provide at least one business week in advance of the session).

Pre-Application Information

Timeline:
- April 18th, 2023 - NOFO Published/Request for Full Proposals sent out.
- June 15th - Full Grant Proposals Due to AFWA Portal (no Federal Forms)
- August 15th - Applicants are notified and asked to address Technical Review Teams Concerns and start working on Federal Forms
- August 15th - USFWS posts Direct Announcement and invites selected applicants to submit FGP Package in GrantSolutions
- September 5th - Due Date for Grants and Required Federal Forms to be uploaded and submitted in GrantSolutions.
- September 24-27 - AFWA Annual Meeting. Directors vote on the Proposals' Priority List
- October 1st - Priority List submitted to USFWS for Director approval
- October 1st-December 31st - USFWS reviews/awards the grants

Wildlife TRACS is the tracking and reporting system used by WSFR to capture conservation and related actions funded by its grant programs. TRACS serves as the electronic repository system for all performance and accomplishment reporting related to the Federal awards administered by the WSFR program. As outlined in this NOFO, grant and project statement information and performance reporting data must be entered into TRACS, as authorized under 2 CFR 200.102(c), 200.202, 200.301, and 200.329.

TRACS Objective Builder Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxXkJwADe0

WSFR Multi State Conservation Grant Program Webinar: TRACS and Financial Reporting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGX-qbkNQBk

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$11,000,000

Number of Grants

Estimated Size of Grant

The most expensive project supported by the MSCGP is the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

The range of funding for other projects has been between $50,000 - $1,000,000 depending on the type of project, its scope, and duration. The average per grant is $250,000.

Term of Contract

- Grant Start Date: January 1st, 2024
- Grant End Date: December 31st, 2024

MSCGP grants are traditionally approved for one year of funding. Applicants whose projects are expected to last for more than one year are encouraged to let the Grants Committee know that they will apply for a subsequent year(s) of funding for the project and will need to report on progress made in the first year as part of the justification for subsequent/supplemental funding. Subsequent funding is not guaranteed and will depend on the project’s merits, available funding, and progress.

Under special circumstances, the Grants Committee will consider approving multiple years of funding (multi-year funding). The criteria for multiyear funding established by the National Grants Committee are included in the application package. Please note that there is a very high bar to justify multi-year funding, and most applicants will be requested to apply for one year of funding at a time.

Contact Information

Submit your proposal through AFWA Portal: https://afwamscgp.smapply.io/

AFWA Contact:
Silvana Yaroschuk
MultiState Conservation Grant Program Manager
syaroschuk@fishwildlife.org

If you have questions about the webinar or the registration form, please feel free to contact either Silvana Yaroschuk at the above email address or Mike Sawyers (michael_sawyers@fws.gov).

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
1100 First Street NE, Suite 825
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 838-3474
info@fishwildlife.org

Grants to USA Agencies, Nonprofits, and IHEs for Environmental Conservation and Preservation Projects

MultiState Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP)

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