Deadline: 3-May-23
Applicants are invited to submit applications for Acres for America Program, a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) premier land conservation program which was established to provide urgently needed funding for projects that conserve important large-scale habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants through voluntary land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements.
Program Priorities
Preferential consideration will be given to proposals that can demonstrate their ability to achieve more than one of the program priorities below.
- Conserve critical habitats for birds, fish, plants, and wildlife.
- Connect existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect critical migration routes.
- Provide access for people to enjoy the outdoors.
- Ensure the future of local economies that depend on forestry, ranching, wildlife and recreation.
To be competitive for funding through the Acres for America program, land acquisitions and conservation easements should address the following criteria:
Conservation Criteria:
- Project Scale and Program Priorities. The common characteristics of all Acres for America projects is that they are of a size that is significant for the landscape in which they are located, and/or they have exceptional strategic importance for conservation in the region.
- National or State Conservation Priority. Endorsement by appropriate federal, state, and local government agencies that the acquisition is of high conservation value is a primary consideration. Please make note if the project is part of published conservation plans (e.g., North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, etc.), State Wildlife Action Plans or Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans.
- Protect Critical Fish and Wildlife Species. Important fish, wildlife, and/or plant resources, such as endangered species or areas of significant biological diversity, as identified by conservation agencies or organizations, should be conserved through the acquisition. Quantification of resources is important (e.g., 10% of the state’s bald eagles nest at the site vs. bald eagles nest at the site.)
- Expand Wildlife Connectivity. Acquisitions that reduce fragmentation of key habitats, expand and enhance wildlife corridors and contribute to larger landscape-scale conservation efforts are preferred over isolated acquisitions.
- Expand Public Access to Nature. Projects that provide public access for people to enjoy and experience the outdoors, recreate, and connect with nature are preferred. It must be clearly stated in the grant application what the uses are, or will be allowed or not allowed (e.g., hunting, nature observation, ATV use, camping, etc.).
- Benefit Local Economies. Projects that can demonstrate the connection between the land acquisition and related benefits to local economies are preferred. For example, projects could help expand tourism or recreational economies, or contribute to community forestry.
- Provide a Range of Ecological Services. Please indicate if the project can demonstrate or even quantify the ecological services provided or protected through land protection (i.e., securing drinking water sources, or protecting stream flow for aquatic resources, carbon sequestration).
- Under Threat of Conversion. Please demonstrate the threats to the property and what would happen if the property is not conserved (i.e., risk of area being converted to alternate land cover, or area is zoned to allow for conversion of habitat to an alternate land use, or whether there is a competing buyer, etc.). Examples from the local landscape are helpful.
Funding Information
Up to $4 million will be available to support projects in 2023. Based on prior year decisions, NFWF anticipates that between four and eight projects will be awarded funds. All grant awards require a minimum 1:1 match of cash or contributed goods and services. Both Federal and non-Federal funds may be considered as match. Please include ALL matching sources no matter the status (intend to apply, application submitted, pledged, received). Due to the competitive nature of this program, successful Acres for America projects typically have matching funds at a 5:1 ratio or greater.
Geographic Focus
Acres for America is a nation-wide program. Since its inception, 112 projects have been funded in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions.
- Ineligible applicants include U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations.
For more information, visit NFWF.