National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program

The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with U.S. EPA and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

Proposals are due by April 3, 2024. 

Through the Program, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote voluntary, community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. 

NFWF will award funding through two distinct funding opportunities:

-- SWG Implementation (SWG-I) grants of $150,000-$1,000,000 for projects that result in direct, on-the-ground actions to protect and restore water quality, species and habitats.

-- SWG Planning and Technical Assistance (SWG-PTA) grants up to $150,000 for projects that enhance local capacity to implement future on-the-ground actions, consistent with SWG Program priorities, through community-based assessment, planning, design and other technical assistance-oriented activities.

Including funds made available through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NFWF estimates awarding $25-30 million in grants through the program in 2024, contingent on the availability of funding. 

Major funding for the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office, with other important contributions Altria Group, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service. 

             Applicant Webinar

NFWF will host an optional applicant webinar on February 13 and registration is required. A recording of the webinar will be posted to NFWF’s website by February 15. 

Click Here to register.

Proposal Coaching

Interested applicants can also schedule individual proposal consultations with NFWF staff and are encouraged to contact CBSF field liaisons to vet potential project ideas prior to contacting NFWF staff directly.

Visit the NFWF Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program webpage for all the details.

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[Posted: February 3, 2024]  PA Environment Digest