Grant Programs

National Wildlife Refuge Friends Grant Program 2011

Application deadline for the spring cycle is April 29, 2011.

Note: Applications must be submitted on-line

WHAT IS THE NWR FRIENDS GRANT PROGRAM?
The National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant Program is a collaborative effort between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge Association, and National Audubon Society.

Why should Friends groups apply?
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, along with its partners, recognizes the important role refuge Friends organizations play in building critical community support for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System. As such, we are requesting proposals for projects that assist organizations to be effective co-stewards of our Nation’s important natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This program provides competitive seed grants ($1,500 - $5,000) to creative and innovative proposals that seek to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the Refuge System nationwide and their work and projects to support the System.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS FOR 2010: BIRDING-RELATED PROJECTS
In addition to the start-up, capacity-building and project specific grants this program has supported in the past, this year’s program will also prioritize those proposals that initiate or improve birding opportunities for refuge visitors.

The National Wildlife Refuge System Birding Initiative is an effort to strengthen the Refuge System’s relationships with the large and growing number of Americans who enjoy bird watching. These birders can become enthusiastic advocates for the Refuge System and supporters of refuge Friends organizations. The Refuge System provides Americans with special places to connect with nature and offers unparalleled birding opportunities and other wildlife-dependent activities to experience and showcase wildlife.

Friends organizations are well positioned to provide support and expertise to refuge birding programs nationwide. Many Friends organizations and individual members are indeed already skilled and provide generous contributions of time and support to Refuge System birding programs in a variety of capacities. From leading and organizing bird walks and other birding programs to developing birding enhancement guides and other resources that provide current and accurate information to visitors, Friends organizations are an integral part of creating “birder-friendly” refuges.

Competitive proposals will specify particular benefits to refuge birders and visitors who enjoy birds. Some priority refuge projects specifically identified by the Birding Initiative that Friends can assist refuges include:

Having an accurate, updated refuge bird checklist available
Public facilities (viewing decks, photo blinds, boardwalks, etc.) for birders
After-hours birding information available
Interpretive walks, signs and exhibits for birders
Optics and field guide loan program
Refuge bird and birding information Friends web site

View more refuge information and examples about incorporating birder-friendly components in your projects at: www.fws.gov/refuges/birding

Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations or organizations that have applied for non-profit status, including refuge Friends organizations, Cooperative and Interpretive Associations, Audubon Chapters and other citizen support organizations interested in assisting a National Wildlife Refuge or group of refuges and the Refuge System as a whole. Applicants must either be tax exempt under section 501(c), OR be in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status and submit with their grant application a copy of the letter from the IRS confirming your application has been filed.

What kinds of proposals will be accepted?
Grants will be provided to support proposals that fall within the following areas, with special of emphasis on those proposals that initiate or improve birding opportunities for refuge visitors:

Start-up Grants - Funds will be provided to assist starting refuge Friends organizations with formative and/or initial operational support. For example, funds may be requested for such things as membership drives, training (tuition), brochure and newsletter development, logo design, or consultant fees for planning a mission and strategic plan;
Capacity Building Grants - Funds will be provided to strengthen the capacity of existing refuge Friends organizations to enable them to be more effective. For example, activities may include outreach efforts, strategic planning, membership development, board or leadership development, designing exhibits for community outreach, or training; and
Project Specific Grants - Funds will be provided to non-profit organizations seeking support for a specific project. For example, funds may be requested for developing outreach and conservation education programs for local schools, communities, and private landowners, habitat restoration projects, building an observation tower, developing and providing interpretive materials and programs, or watchable wildlife programs.

While this grant program focuses on three areas and an emphasis on initiating or improving birding opportunities on refuges, overarching goals of the program are to help refuge Friends organizations gain experience in developing projects, expand and increase their capacity and skills, meet local refuge challenges, gain and build community recognition and support for the refuge and refuge Friends organizations, and build long-term relationships. Within each area of emphasis, priority will be given to applications that demonstrate their ability to meet these programmatic goals.

What information should be included in your proposal?
1) The National Wildlife Refuge Friends Easygrants Application,
http://www.nfwf.org/Content/NavigationMenu/GrantPrograms/GranteeRegistration1/default.htm
2) The Full-proposal Project Narrative – Friends of National Wildlife Refuges Form
3) The Applicant and Refuge Manager Signature Page

What are the funding limitations for this grants program?
The Refuge Friends Group Grant Program will NOT fund requests for:

Printing for Professional Publishing Purposes;
Political advocacy or litigation activities;
Travel;
Salaries;
Non-profit filings;
Food or beverages;
Shortfalls in government agency budgets; or
Multi-year grants (applicant may reapply)

When are proposals due and when will applicants be notified of award status?

April 29, 2011 - with final funding decisions and applicant notification by July 11, 2011; and
September 2, 2011 - with final funding decisions and applicant notification by December 7, 2011.

Program Contacts
The following partner contacts are available to applicants to discuss proposal ideas and answer questions about this program.

Teal Edelen, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 202-857-0166, teal.edelen@nfwf.org

Mike Carlo. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358=1938, Michael_Carlo@fws.gov

Joan Paterson, National Wildlife Refuge Association, 202-292-2422, jpatterson@refugeassociation.org

Connie Mahan, National Audubon Society, 202-861-2242 ext 3036, cmahan@audubon.org

NEED MORE INFORMATION?
For more information on the Friends Group Grant Program including the Request for Proposal, grant guidelines, and a link to incorporating birding-friendly components in your project please visit http://www.nfwf.org

To apply for a grant visit http://www.nfwf.org/Content/NavigationMenu/GrantPrograms/GranteeRegistration1/default.htm,

Nature of Learning Grant Program 2011

Applications Deadline: Friday, April 1st, 2011

Note: Applications must be submitted on-line

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System, in partnership with the FWS National Conservation Training, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Wildlife Refuge Association are now soliciting applications from organizations interested in The Nature of Learning grants. The Nature of Learning is a community-based environmental education initiative that seeks to:

Use national wildlife refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues;
Encourage an interdisciplinary approach to learning that seeks to enhance student academic achievement;
Utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues; and
Involve a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals and local businesses.

First year grants of up to $10,000 and second year grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to support education projects focused on the causes and effects of climate change on refuges and to build citizen science partnership programs. Proposals that incorporate this theme are preferred; however, it is not required.

Examples of programs that support climate change education and citizen science efforts include but are not limited to:

National Phenology Network

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

Project Budburst

Eligibility
Academic institutions or non-profit organizations, including "Friends" organizations, cooperative and interpretive associations, Audubon Chapters, youth organizations, community groups, etc., are eligible to apply for funding.

Grant Guidelines

The program must involve a partnership with a national wildlife refuge and a letter of support from the refuge must be provided in your grant application.
The program must be designed to improve scientific literacy, and conform to appropriate academic standards of learning.
The program must be completed within 18 months.
The program must include a community stewardship project.
Preference will be given to start-up programs that can demonstrate a commitment to sustaining the program over time.
Preference will be given to programs that incorporate climate change and citizen science.
Matching contributions are not required; however preference will be given to applications that include other contributions of funds, goods and services from program partners, including letters of reference.
You must reapply for the second year grant.
Funding will be dispersed on an as-need basis with 10% of the funds held back for dispersal upon receipt of The Nature of Learningprogram final accomplishment report.

How to apply
Applicants must complete the on-line application form at http://www.nfwf.org/grantapplication by Friday, April 1st, 2011. Projects will be evaluated to the extent by which the guidelines are met. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by Wednesday, June 15th, 2011.

For complete information on The Nature of Learning Program go to The Nature of Learning.

For additional information on the Nature of Learning program contact Deborah Moore at Deborah_moore@fws.gov. For questions regarding grant applications, please contact Teal Edelen at teal.edelen@nfwf.org.

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