FY2020 Multistate Conservation Grant Program | F19AS00177

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00177

The FY2020 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP), funding opportunity number F19AS00177, is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR). It is authorized through the Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Wildlife Restoration Act, as updated by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-408). Under this authority, the Secretary of the Interior may make up to $6,000,000 available each year to support conservation projects that operate across multiple states.

The core purpose of the program is to fund multistate projects that address regional or national priority needs identified by state fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. These priorities are referred to as National Conservation Needs (NCNs). The program is specifically meant for work that cannot realistically be handled by one state alone, either because the resource issue crosses borders (for example, migratory species, shared watersheds, broad-scale habitat threats, or region-wide data needs) or because pooling expertise and resources is necessary to achieve meaningful results. In practice, the program is designed to strengthen coordination among states and partners on conservation problems that are inherently larger than a single jurisdiction.

MSCGP is closely tied to WSFRs broader mission and approach. WSFR emphasizes partnership-based conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats for public use and enjoyment now and in the future. The program also reflects a vision of healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that support recreation, economic activity, and other societal benefits while maintaining sustainable ecological functions. In the opportunity description, the program is also framed as supporting Department of the Interior priorities such as creating a lasting conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly utilizing natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities. Put simply, MSCGP is positioned as a practical funding tool to help states and partners tackle high-priority conservation work at the scale where it actually occurs.

Eligible applicants include state governments, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories as stated), and private institutions of higher education. The funding activity category is natural resources, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 15.628. While the grants are aimed at the needs of state fish and wildlife agencies, the eligibility list makes clear that a range of partner organizations can serve as applicants when they are contributing to multistate conservation outcomes aligned with NCNs.

The FY2020 cycle indicated an expected 35 awards, with an award ceiling of $600,000 per project. The program uses a process where letters of intent are submitted first, and only selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals. For this opportunity, the posting date was April 9, 2019, and the original closing date was July 26, 2019. Projects that receive funding are published annually in the Federal Register, and prior award lists can be obtained through WSFR or through contacts at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies referenced in the full announcement.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a competitive grant program that helps states and partners collaborate on conservation actions, planning, research, coordination, data development, or other shared efforts that rise to a national or regional priority level and would be difficult for any single state to complete on its own.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2020 Multistate Conservation Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.628.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 09, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2019 Letters of Intent are selected and invited to submit full grant proposals.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for F19AS00177

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