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F26AS00006 2026 Multistate Conservation Grant Program Announcement

ID: F26AS00006 • Type: Posted
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Description

Multistate Conservation Grants (MSCG) are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 669h-2 and 16 U.S.C. 777m, providing funding for wildlife restoration and sport fish restoration projects and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are beyond the scale, scope, and capabilities of a single State. The priority needs, also known as Strategic Priorities, are identified annually by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) with input from State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. Recipients awarded Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) may use the funds for wildlife or sport fish projects involving research, restoration, conservation and management of wild birds, wild mammals, sport fish, and their habitats. These funds may also be used for projects providing for public use and benefit from these resources, including hunter safety and education, aquatic education, and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation. Recipients awarded R3 Multistate Conservation Grants (R3-MSCG) may use the funds for hunting and target shooting R3 projects that promote a national hunting and target shooting recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities. Multistate Conservation Grants are awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and the Service and AFWA work cooperatively to manage the MSCG program.
Background
The 2026 Multistate Conservation Grant Program, authorized under 16 U.S.C. 669h-2 and 16 U.S.C. 777m, is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The program aims to provide funding for wildlife restoration and sport fish restoration projects, as well as recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. These needs are identified annually by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) with input from relevant stakeholders. The program supports projects that exceed the capabilities of a single State, promoting conservation efforts across multiple jurisdictions.

Grant Details
The Multistate Conservation Grants (MSCG) include two types: Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) and R3 Multistate Conservation Grants (R3-MSCG). T-MSCG funds can be used for research, restoration, conservation, management of wild birds, wild mammals, sport fish, and their habitats. Additionally, they may support public benefit projects such as hunter safety education and aquatic education. R3-MSCG funds are specifically allocated for hunting and target shooting recruitment projects that promote national programs in these areas. The estimated total program funding is $11 million with an expected number of awards at 45. The award ceiling is $1 million per project; T-MSCG has $6 million available with a ceiling of $625,000 per application, while R3-MSCG has $5 million available with a ceiling of $1 million per application.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include State governments, public and State-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and other entities as specified in the eligibility criteria. Projects must address one or more of the 2026 AFWA Strategic Priorities and demonstrate benefits to a majority of States or regions defined by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Regions or regional associations.

Period of Performance
The anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026, with an end date of December 31, 2026.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant program is estimated at $11 million. Individual grant awards can range from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $1 million depending on the type of grant requested.

Place of Performance
The grants will be performed across various States in the U.S., specifically targeting regions identified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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Overview

Agency
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) [DOI]
Category of Funding
Natural Resources
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
15.628 - Multistate Conservation Grant
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 7/24/25 Fish and Wildlife Service posted grant opportunity F26AS00006 for F26AS00006 2026 Multistate Conservation Grant Program Announcement with funding of $11.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 15.628 Multistate Conservation Grant.

Timing

Posted Date
July 24, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
Sept. 22, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT Due in 21 Days
Closing Date Explanation
You must first submit your Grant Proposal, including a Project Statement, Budget Narrative and Budget Table (without Federal forms) through the AFWA MSCGP Portal by September 22, 2025, no later than 11:59 PM ET.If your Grant Proposal is selected for further consideration, you will be invited via email in mid to late November 2025 to submit your Grant Application through a Directed Announcement posted in GrantSolutions.gov. The Grant Application will consist of a Project Statement, Budget Narrative, Budget Table, Required Statements, Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) and Federal forms. The deadline for submitting a Grant Application in GrantSolutions will be identified in the Directed Announcement. Proposals should not be submitted in Grants.gov.
Last Updated
July 24, 2025, 3:01 p.m. EDT
Version
1
Archive Date
Jan. 31, 2027

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
State governments
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Info
Eligible applicants also include 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.Eligible species include wild birds, wild mammals, or sport fish. Sport fish are defined as aquatic, gill-breathing, vertebrate animals with paired fins, having material value for recreation in the marine and fresh waters of the United States. Eligible activities for T-MSCG funding include projects involving research, surveys, restoration, conservation, management, habitat improvement, and providing for public use and benefit from these resources, including R3 activities and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation. Fishing or boating R3 activities are only eligible for T-MSCG funding. Hunting and target shooting R3 activities, including related communication and outreach activities, are also eligible for R3-MSCG funding.Eligible projects must address one of the 2026 AFWA Strategic Priorities.Eligible projects must demonstrate a benefit for:A majority of States; orA majority (over 50%) of the States in a U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service Region. Please list the Regions and States in each Region that will benefit (use State abbreviations); orA majority (over 50%) of the States belonging to a regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies (click each of the Associations for the state members, WAFWA, MAFWA, NEAFWA, SEAFWA). Please indicate the regional fish and wildlife association that will benefit and list each region's States.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$1,000,000
Floor
Not Listed
Estimated Program Funding
$11,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
Not Listed

Contacts

Contact
Fish and Wildlife Service
Contact Email
karen_bennett@fws.gov   Profile
Email Description
FWS MSCG Coordinator
Contact Phone
22041-3803

Documents

Posted documents for F26AS00006

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