State Wildlife Grant Program | F17AS00051

State Wildlife Grant Program (CFDA 15.634) - FAQs

What is the State Wildlife Grant Program?

The State Wildlife Grant Program is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It provides funding to U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories to conserve wildlife and the habitats those species depend on.

Who administers this grant program?

The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are state governments, which in this program context includes U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories.

What types of activities can be funded?

Funding can be used for two major categories of work: planning and implementation. Planning supports work that improves a jurisdiction's Wildlife Action Plan, while implementation supports on-the-ground or operational work that carries out priorities and actions in an approved plan.

What counts as a planning activity under this program?

Planning activities must directly contribute to the development, revision, or improvement of the applicant jurisdiction's Wildlife Action Plan (often called a State Wildlife Action Plan). Examples described in the opportunity include updating conservation priorities, incorporating new data on species status or habitat conditions, refining strategies, and strengthening the overall framework that guides long-term conservation decisions.

Are there requirements tied to the Wildlife Action Plan for planning funds?

Yes. Planning funds must support work directly tied to the Wildlife Action Plan, and the plan must be approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What counts as an implementation activity?

Implementation activities cover on-the-ground or operational work a state intends to carry out to execute the priorities and actions described in its approved Wildlife Action Plan. In other words, implementation funds support real-world conservation work as long as it clearly ties back to the approved plan.

Does the program fund both planning and on-the-ground conservation work?

Yes. The program is designed to fund both the blueprint (planning via the Wildlife Action Plan process) and the real-world conservation work (implementation), as long as both are clearly connected to the approved plan.

What kinds of species does the program emphasize?

A central focus is supporting conservation work for species that are not traditionally managed through hunting or fishing programs, including species that may be declining or at risk but do not receive the same level of dedicated funding through other wildlife management mechanisms.

How should applicants prioritize the use of funds?

States are expected to place emphasis on species of greatest conservation need and consider how limited conservation dollars can be targeted where needs are highest. The intent is to maximize conservation impact by directing funds toward priorities identified through the Wildlife Action Plan process rather than spreading resources across unrelated activities.

Are education activities eligible for funding?

Wildlife education activities are generally ineligible. An exception may apply if an education component is minor or incidental and critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project.

Are law enforcement activities eligible for funding?

Law enforcement activities are generally ineligible. An exception may apply if a law enforcement component is minor or incidental and critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project.

Can a project include a small education or enforcement component?

Yes, potentially. The opportunity notes that if an education or law enforcement component is minor or incidental and is critical to the success of an otherwise eligible project, it may be allowed. The project should not be primarily an education campaign or an enforcement initiative.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the CFDA number for the program?

The CFDA number associated with the program is 15.634.

What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity listing identifies an award ceiling of $1,000,000.

What are the funding activity categories listed?

The funding activity categories listed include education and natural resources, reflecting the program's conservation and planning emphasis.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The posting references funding opportunity number F17AS00051.

When was this opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on December 8, 2016.

What closing date is listed in the opportunity record?

The opportunity record lists an original closing date of August 31, 2018.

Where can applicants find official program context and guidance?

The notice points to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State Wildlife Grant Program web page at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm.