Deadline: 22-Jun-22
The National Forest Foundation’s (NFF) Matching Awards Program (MAP) is now open to provide funding for results-oriented on-the-ground projects that enhance forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests and Grasslands.
The MAP program supports action-oriented projects that enhance outdoor experiences, and forest and ecosystem health, and engage local communities in caring for their public lands.
Focus Areas
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Outdoor Experiences Program Area: The NFF supports results-oriented, on-the-ground projects that improve the quality, condition, and care of Outdoor Experiences in National Forests. Projects supported under this program area generate tangible conservation outcomes including enhancing high-quality recreational experiences for the users of the National Forest System. Project examples include:
- Improving or maintaining recreation resource connectivity including, and similar to trail maintenance, bridge, and crossing construction or repair, and installation of trail drainage structures
- Engaging youth, volunteers, or diverse, underserved, or under-engaged populations in hands-on stewardship activities
- Employing youth and/or veterans crews to implement on-the-ground conservation, stewardship and/or restoration work
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Forest Health Program Area: The NFF supports results-oriented, on-the-ground, citizen-involved projects that maintain and/or restore ecosystem resiliency in National Forests. Projects should be consistent with or supportive of identified large-scale conservation initiatives. Project examples include:
- Promoting ecosystem structure, function, and diversity
- Promoting forest health through the removal or control of non-native invasive species, and/or reintroduction of native plants and trees
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Integrated Projects: The NFF encourages projects that cohesively integrate Outdoor Experiences and Forest Health program areas. Ideal projects will have a strong connection to each of the individual program areas, and effectively connect both in a clear, direct manner. Project examples include:
- Engaging community volunteers to complete riparian plantings as part of a watershed-scale restoration project
- Utilizing youth crews from underserved communities to complete habitat stewardship work and forest stand treatments
Benefits
- There is not an official minimum or maximum award amount for the MAP program and successful proposals vary widely in budget size.
- In recent years, NFF has considered applications ranging from less than $ 5,000 to over $ 60,000.
- New applicants to MAP are encouraged to submit applications requesting under $ 30,000.
- The proposed project period should be no more than 12 months long and start at least 2 months after the application deadline for the round.
Eligibility Criteria
- 501 (c) (3) nonprofits, universities, and federally recognized Native American tribes are eligible to receive MAP grants.
- If an organization does not meet this eligibility requirement, it must utilize an eligible fiscal sponsor consistent with the NFF Policy on Fiscal Sponsorship.
- The NFF does not consider MAP applications from federal agencies, individuals, for-profit organizations, or regional, state, or local governmental entities.
For more information, visit NFF.
For more information, visit https://www.nationalforests.org/grant-programs/map