Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00342
The NAWCA FY20 U.S. Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00342) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.623. It is designed as a competitive, matching-grants program that encourages public-private partnerships to carry out wetland conservation projects in the United States that align with the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The core purpose is to support on-the-ground habitat work that benefits migratory birds by focusing on wetlands and associated upland habitats.
Eligible projects are limited to tangible conservation actions with long-term outcomes, specifically the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and related uplands. The emphasis is on durable habitat benefits rather than short-term activities. Research is explicitly ineligible for funding under this opportunity, so proposals need to be built around implementation, acquisition/protection mechanisms, or direct habitat improvement work rather than studies, monitoring framed as research, or other primarily investigative efforts.
A key requirement is the match. The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match, meaning applicants must provide at least an equal amount of non-federal contributions relative to the federal funds requested. This match structure is intended to leverage federal dollars and demonstrate strong partner investment, which fits the program's focus on collaboration and shared responsibility between government entities, nonprofits, tribes, landowners, and other stakeholders. The eligibility listing is broadly described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details provided in the full notice, which signals that many organization types may apply as long as they can carry out eligible work and meet match and other compliance requirements.
Funding is provided through grants, with an award ceiling of $100,000 per award and an anticipated total of about 50 awards. The opportunity was created on August 19, 2019, and the original closing date was October 17, 2019. Submission instructions indicate that all applicants were required to submit the SF-424 through Grants.gov by 4:00 PM Eastern Time, and to email the proposal and supporting documents to nawcasmallgrants@fws.gov, reflecting a process that combines a formal federal application submission with direct transmittal of proposal materials for program review.
Strategically, the opportunity is positioned to advance the Department of the Interior and Fish and Wildlife Service mission to protect and manage the nation's natural resources by working with partners to conserve land and water. It also ties these conservation outcomes to broader public benefits, including expanding outdoor recreation and access where relevant. In practice, strong applications for this program typically center on clear, measurable habitat outcomes; credible long-term protection or management arrangements; well-documented partner roles and match commitments; and a direct connection between the proposed wetland/upland work and benefits to migratory bird populations.Apply for F19AS00342
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NAWCA FY20 U.S. Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.623.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 17, 2019 Oct 17, 2019 All Applicants must submit SF-424 in grants.gov by 4pm EST Email proposal amp support docs nawcasmallgrants@fws.gov. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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NAWCA FY20 U.S. Small Grants (F19AS00342) - FAQs
What is the NAWCA FY20 U.S. Small Grants opportunity?
The NAWCA FY20 U.S. Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00342) is a discretionary, competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.623). It supports wetland conservation projects in the United States that align with the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is designed to support on-the-ground habitat conservation work that benefits migratory birds by focusing on wetlands and associated upland habitats. It encourages public-private partnerships and is structured as a matching-grants program.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula grant?
This is a competitive grant program. Projects compete for funding, and awards are made based on the proposal and program priorities described for NAWCA Small Grants.
Who runs and administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.623.
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Eligible projects are limited to tangible conservation actions with long-term outcomes. Specifically, projects must involve the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, and/or establishment of wetlands and related uplands.
What does "long-term outcomes" mean in this context?
Based on the opportunity description, the emphasis is on durable habitat benefits rather than short-term activities. Projects are expected to result in lasting conservation impacts (for example, through protection, restoration, enhancement, or establishment actions that endure beyond the grant period).
Does the program focus only on wetlands?
No. While wetlands are central, the program also supports conservation work on associated upland habitats when they are related to wetland conservation outcomes and migratory bird benefits.
What wildlife or species benefits are prioritized?
The core conservation purpose is to benefit migratory birds, with projects centered on wetland and associated upland habitat outcomes that support those bird populations.
Is research eligible for funding?
No. Research is explicitly ineligible under this opportunity. Proposals should be built around implementation, acquisition/protection mechanisms, or direct habitat improvement work rather than studies or other primarily investigative efforts.
Can monitoring be included in a proposal?
The information provided states that research is ineligible and notes that proposals should not be framed as studies or monitoring presented as research. Projects should be centered on implementation and tangible habitat conservation actions.
What is the matching requirement?
The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match. Applicants must provide at least an equal amount of non-federal contributions relative to the federal funds requested.
What counts as match under the 1:1 requirement?
The opportunity description specifies that match must be non-federal contributions. It does not provide additional detail here on specific forms of match, but it clearly requires non-federal support equal to or greater than the amount of federal funding requested.
Why does the program require a 1:1 match?
The match requirement is intended to leverage federal dollars and demonstrate strong partner investment, reinforcing the program's emphasis on collaboration and shared responsibility among partners.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broadly unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details in the full notice. In general terms, many organization types may apply as long as they can carry out eligible work and meet the match and compliance requirements.
Does the program encourage partnerships?
Yes. The program is explicitly designed to encourage public-private partnerships, reflecting NAWCA's collaborative approach to wetland conservation.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $100,000 per award.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipated a total of about 50 awards.
What type of funding instrument is used?
Funding is provided through grants.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 19, 2019.
What was the application deadline?
The original closing date was October 17, 2019.
How were applications submitted?
Submission instructions indicate that applicants were required to submit the SF-424 through Grants.gov by 4:00 PM Eastern Time and to email the proposal and supporting documents to nawcasmallgrants@fws.gov.
What is the SF-424 and how was it submitted for this opportunity?
For this opportunity, the SF-424 was required to be submitted through Grants.gov by 4:00 PM Eastern Time as part of the application process.
Where were proposal narratives and supporting documents sent?
Proposal and supporting documents were to be emailed to nawcasmallgrants@fws.gov.
What is the role of Grants.gov versus email submission?
The process described combines a formal federal application submission (SF-424 via Grants.gov) with direct transmittal of the proposal and supporting documents by email for program review.
What kinds of outcomes make an application stronger for this program?
Based on the opportunity description, strong applications typically focus on clear, measurable habitat outcomes; credible long-term protection or management arrangements; well-documented partner roles and match commitments; and a direct connection between the wetland/upland work and benefits to migratory bird populations.
How does this opportunity align with broader agency goals?
The opportunity is positioned to advance the Department of the Interior and Fish and Wildlife Service mission to protect and manage the nation's natural resources by working with partners to conserve land and water. It also ties conservation outcomes to broader public benefits, including expanding outdoor recreation and access where relevant.
Does the program support outdoor recreation or public access?
The description notes that conservation outcomes can be connected to broader public benefits, including expanding outdoor recreation and access where relevant.
What geographic area is eligible under this opportunity?
The opportunity supports wetland conservation projects in the United States.
What is NAWCA in this context?
NAWCA refers to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and funded projects must align with NAWCA's wetland conservation goals and the program's emphasis on migratory bird habitat benefits.
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