Request for Proposals: Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Grant (US)

Deadline: 28-Jan-21

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USDA Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), FedEx, Southern Company and BNSF Railway are pleased to solicit applications for the 2021 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program.

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support.

Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Ecological improvements may include one or more of the following: wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, water quality monitoring and green infrastructure best management practices for managing run-off.

Funding Information

Approximately $1,500,000 is available nationwide for projects meeting program priorities.
There is one round of full proposals annually for this program.
Awards range from $20,000 to $50,000 with an average size of $35,000 and 40-50 grants awarded per year.

Priorities

On-the-Ground Restoration

Projects must restore and/or create wetlands, coastal or riparian areas:

Address key species and habitats and link directly to established watershed and conservation plans, including establishment of urban wildlife corridors, fisheries and daylighting of streams.
Address stressors through restoration techniques and green infrastructure practices that manage stormwater and rural run-off and link directly to stormwater management plans, source water protection plans and water supply planning effortsor demonstrate the linkage between restoration and stormwater management and the quality, quantity and safety of local water and waterways.
Collect and analyze local waterway samples that could be used to determine the effectiveness of current stream/wetland restoration and green infrastructure efforts and inform future planning and decision-making.
Develop/implement trash and litter prevention programs designed to keep urban waterways and riverfronts clean.
Develop public open spaces, create or enhance community parks, improve and protect community tree canopy, enhance brownfield sites beyond required remediation.

Environmental Outreach, Education & Training

Projects must integrate meaningful outreach, education and/or training into the proposed on-the-ground activities that advance local watershed and conservation goals,

Engage the public – particularly youth – in hands-on, outdoor conservation experiences that build awareness of the importance of protecting and recovering priority and/or at risk species and habitats and promote stewardship.
Engage communities in restoration at public areas – such as schools, parks, birding trails and more – for public health and recreation.
Establish or advance a community science or water quality monitoring program that involves community members and/or addresses community water quality priorities.
Improve understanding of damaging trash and litter impacts in local waterways that affect community health and local economies.

Community Partnerships

Projects must involve five or more partners (public and private entities) including the applicant

Directly engage a diverse group of community partners to achieve ecological and specific educational outcomes including partnerships among upstream and downstream communities.
Demonstrate that the project will advance existing local watershed or conservation plans and/or propose to foster and coordinate a diverse stakeholder partnership that develops and/or implements new plans.
Identify plans to provide training, partnership meetings and presentations to build support for the project during and beyond the project period.

Measurable Results

Projects must result in specific, measurable ecological, educational and community benefits:

Identify measurable activities and metrics which clearly link to watershed and community outcomes.
Document a high level of community engagement to support fish and wildlife habitat, urban and community forestry, water quality-related recreational activities and improve understanding across diverse audiences of how fish and wildlife conservation, clean water and healthy forests contribute to community well-being.

Sustainability

Projects must include a plan for maintenance and care of the project beyond the grant period

Describe a commitment to community strength and long-term capacity to remain engaged as partners.
Address any priority and/or at-risk species, habitats or conservation actions identified in State Wildlife Action Plans or other recovery or conservation plans.
Directly connect outcomes to community benefits of watershed restoration such as clean water, public health benefits, local economic development and jobs.
Fulfil or advance priorities identified through local planning efforts, including watershed, disaster and sustainability plans.
Develop restoration and stewardship approaches that contribute to pre and post-disaster planning, the resiliency of community water assets and link to local hazard mitigation, resilience and/or emergency management plans.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes and educational institutions.
Ineligible applicants include unincorporated individuals, businesses, international organizations and U.S. federal government agencies.

Evaluation Criteria

All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance with NFWF and funding source policies. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the extent to which they meet the following criteria:

Program Goals and Priorities – Project contributes to the Five Star and Urban Waters program’s overall engagement, habitat and species conservation goals and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success. The project addresses each of the program priorities.
Proposals should articulate tangible ways projects will become an asset to the community including providing technical assistance, providing pathways for youth employment and community education, conservation, science and recreation.
Partnerships – An appropriate partnership of five or more partners exists to implement the project and the project is supported by a strong local partnership that leverages additional funds and will sustain it after the life of the grant. Identify proposed partners, including potential or contemplated subawards to third party sub-recipients of the applicant, the roles they will play in implementing the project and how this project will build new or enhance existing partnerships. (Note: a project partner is any local community, non-profit organization, tribe, and/or local, state, and federal government agency that contributes to the project in a substantial way and is closely involved in the completion of the project.)
Technical Merit – Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear, logical and achievable work plan and timeline. The project engages appropriate technical experts throughout project planning, design and implementation to ensure activities are technically-sound and feasible.
Cost-Effectiveness – Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation may include but is not limited to, an assessment of either or both direct and indirect costs in the proposed budget. The federal government has determined that a de minimis 10% indirect rate is an acceptable minimum for organizations without a NICRA, as such NFWF reserves the right to scrutinize ALL proposals with indirect rates above 10% for cost-effectiveness.
Transferability – Project has potential and plan to transfer lessons learned to other communities and/or to be integrated into government programs and policies.
Communication – Project includes a detailed plan to communicate information about the project to appropriate audiences.
Funding Need – Project establishes a clear need for the funds being requested and demonstrates that activities would not move forward absent funding.
Conservation Plan and Context – The project advances an existing conservation plan or strategy. The project advances existing drought management, watershed, species or conservation plan/strategy. Proposals should include a clear, direct link between the proposed project to the plans, what entity is in charge of implementing the plan and how the project partners will coordinate results with that entity if not already a project partner.
Monitoring – Project includes a plan for monitoring progress during and after the proposed project period to track project success and adaptively address new challenges and opportunities as they arise.
Long-term Sustainability – Project will be maintained to ensure benefits are achieved and sustained over time. This should include how future funding will be secured to implement necessary long-term monitoring and maintenance activities.
Past Success – Applicant has a proven track record of success in implementing conservation practices with specific, measurable results.