Funding

Grants and Opportunities

A number of programs are key to the conservation of birds and their habitats across the country. These include:

Longleaf Stewardship Fund

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund expands, enhances and accelerates longleaf pine ecosystem restoration across longleaf pine’s historical range throughout the southeastern United States.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act authorizes grants to public-private partnerships in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to protect, enhance, restore, and manage waterfowl, other migratory birds and other fish and wildlife, and the wetland ecosystems and other habitats upon which they depend, consistent with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. There is a Standard and a Small Grants Program. Both are competitive grants programs which require that grant requests be matched by partner contributions at no less than a 1-to-1 ratio. Funds from U.S. Federal sources may contribute towards a project, but are not eligible as match. Public Law 109-322 reauthorized the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grants

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant Program funds projects promoting the conservation of neotropical migratory birds in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Grants funded under the NMBCA program help partners protect, research, monitor, and manage bird populations and habitat throughout birds’ entire migratory life cycle, as well as to conduct law enforcement and community outreach and education.

Southern Company Power of Flight Program

Southern Company and NFWF began working together to support conservation of species and ecosystems across the Southeast as far back as 2003. Now, over 19 years, the partnership has evolved into one of the premier examples of public-private partnerships helping to support critical wildlife needs across landscapes throughout the United States. The partnership has been central to some of NFWF’s most significant recent accomplishments, including restoring more than 1.9 million acres of longleaf under the Longleaf Stewardship Fund and building new community stewardship capacity through the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program.

State Wildlife Grants

Established in 2000, State Wildlife Grants provide money to states, territories, commonwealths, and the District of Columbia (D.C.) to support proactive wildlife conservation such as research, surveys, and species and habitat management. Projects supported by these grants focus on wildlife species of greatest conservation need identified in State Wildlife Action Plans.

Farm Bill

The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted in December 2018. The Farm Bill continues its strong support for conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers through reauthorization and expanded flexibility of NRCS conservation programs. 

North American Bird Conservation Initiative

The U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) is dedicated to promoting and advancing integrated bird conservation. Online you will find a variety of tools and resources including an easy-to-browse Bird Conservation Regions (BCR) map hot-linked to BCR descriptions, the Bird Conservation Node maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, and regional bird conservation plans.