FY 2023 Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements

Background
The primary goal of this outreach opportunity is for NRCS, in collaboration with partners, to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved producers and underserved communities and to provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. The NRCS’s Outreach and Partnerships Division provides leadership to ensure that access to all programs and services is fair and equitable, with attention given to reaching historically underserved producers and underserved communities.

Grant Details
Projects should support outreach activities that encourage diverse and inclusive participation in NRCS programs and introduce conservation planning and climate smart practices to protect farmland ecosystems, watersheds, and wildlife habitat in geographical areas of underserved communities ranging from rural agriculture to urban and small acreage producers. The NFO requests proposals addressing priority areas such as addressing local natural resource issues, promoting potential conservation career opportunities, promoting the adoption of climate-smart conservation, encouraging conservation in small-scale and urban agriculture, and developing conservation leadership skills and opportunities. The purpose of Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements is to leverage NRCS and partner resources by developing community-led conservation projects so that historically underserved producers and underserved communities will be able to access NRCS programs and services.

Eligibility Requirements
This is a noncompetitive NFO restricted to the eligible applicants listed in section C.1. Eligible applicant types include individuals, Native American tribal governments (Federally Recognized), Native American tribal government (State Recognized), Native American tribal organizations, 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 nonprofit institutions of higher education, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and conservation districts.

Period of Performance
Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration with an estimated project start date of 9/29/2023.

Grant Value
The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $100,000, and the estimated funding ceiling is $1,000,000. The Federal funding agency expects to award up to $70 million through this opportunity.