Provider
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Application Deadline
September 30, 2026
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program helps private landowners restore and protect habitats for fish and wildlife. It offers both technical assistance and financial support, mainly through cooperative agreements. The PFW Program has approximately 220 staff working in all 50 states and territories. They work together with project partners and stakeholders to find key areas for conservation and set habitat goals. These focus areas guide the program on where to direct resources for conserving important habitats for federal trust species. The Program also has strategic plans that help determine which projects receive funding.
To get funding, PFW projects must be on private lands. "Private lands" means any properties not owned by the state or federal government. This includes tribal lands, Hawaiian homelands, cities, municipalities, non-governmental properties, and private properties. Groups with 501(c)(3) status should have proof of their status from the Internal Revenue Service. Tribal applicants may be required to provide an authorizing tribal resolution.
The Program seeks projects year-round. Program staff work with applicants to find common conservation goals. US Fish and Wildlife require that all interested applicants contact their local PFW staff before submitting an application.
Common Eligible Projects
The goal of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is to engage private landowners in voluntary habitat restoration projects that benefit federal trust species, including migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and at-risk fish and wildlife. These efforts also contribute to maintaining and restoring habitat connectivity that supports species movement and long-term conservation. Strategic habitat conservation plans are used to identify priority species and habitats in each state or region.
The program supports on-the-ground conservation projects by restoring wetlands, streams, grasslands, and other essential habitats on private lands, helping to improve ecosystem health, biodiversity, and landscape resilience while maintaining agricultural productivity and landowner operations. These projects also help link habitat patches that are important to wildlife and complementary to conservation on National Wildlife Refuges and other protected lands.
Program biologists collaborate with landowners to identify restoration opportunities, develop practical project plans, and implement habitat improvements rooted in sound science. Strategic habitat conservation plans are used to identify priority species and habitats in each state or region. To learn more about priority species, focal landscapes, and partnership opportunities in your area, contact your local Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program office through US Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Each Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program project is guided by an approved agreement that outlines goals, expected outcomes, and specific activities. These agreements also describe the project budget and the terms under which funding is provided. Project success is evaluated based on progress toward the goals established in the agreement.
Certain project costs are not allowed and include land acquisition, foreign travel, pre-award costs, unauthorized equipment, and indirect costs above the negotiated rate.
More Information
https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/213b091b-76cd-4987-ad5f-beeaf8939fc7
