Habitat & Conservation Grants 2026: Federal Funding for Wildlife, Wetlands & Ecosystem Restoration

FWS Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR)

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA: 15.611, 15.605) distributes excise taxes on hunting equipment and fishing tackle to state fish and wildlife agencies. The Pittman-Robertson Act (wildlife) and Dingell-Johnson Act (fish) fund these programs — $1.8B+ annually. State wildlife agencies are the direct grantees; conservation organizations, land trusts, and nonprofits access these funds as sub-grantees or partners on state-led projects.

Funded activities include habitat restoration, wildlife surveys, public access land acquisition, hunter education, and conservation planning. To access: develop a relationship with your state's fish and wildlife agency and propose partnership projects that align with their state wildlife action plan.

NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

RCPP (CFDA: 10.932) funds multi-partner conservation projects on private agricultural lands. The key distinction: RCPP funds flow through NRCS to agricultural producers via EQIP and CSP contracts, but partner organizations provide matching funds, technical assistance, or coordination. The IRA added $4.95B to RCPP specifically for climate-smart conservation through 2031.

How nonprofits and NGOs participate: apply as a partner organization providing match and services — not as a direct recipient. Eligible partners include conservation NGOs, tribes, universities, water utilities, and municipalities. Your organization contributes matching funds (at least $1:1 with federal), coordinates with producers, and provides technical services. This model is how organizations like The Nature Conservancy and American Farmland Trust operate large-scale RCPP projects.

Application timeline: RCPP NOFA released annually in fall; preproposals typically due January; full proposals March–April.

EPA Wetland Program Development Grants

EPA's Wetland Program Development Grants (CFDA: 66.461) fund state and tribal programs to improve wetland monitoring, assessment, and restoration capacity. Awards: $100K–$1.5M for 1–3 year projects. Eligible activities:

• Developing wetland rapid assessment methods and monitoring protocols
• Mapping and inventory of state wetland resources
• Wetland restoration and enhancement demonstrations
• Training for wetland biologists and regulators

Eligible applicants: states, tribes, and interstate agencies. NGOs must partner with a state or tribal lead applicant. Application: competitive, released through EPA regions annually.

NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration

NOAA funds coastal habitat restoration through multiple programs:

• NOAA Restoration Center: Funds habitat restoration projects in coastal and marine ecosystems — oyster reefs, salt marshes, eelgrass beds, river fish passage. Awards: $200K–$2M. Eligible: states, tribes, local governments, NGOs.
• Coastal Resilience Grants: Nature-based coastal resilience projects — living shorelines, marsh restoration, dune restoration. Awards up to $3M for multi-year projects.
• Sea Grant (NOAA): Competitive research grants at NOAA's 34 Sea Grant programs — coastal ecosystem research, fisheries management, community resilience. Applications through your state's Sea Grant program.