Deadline Date: May 7, 2026
The U.S. Standard Grants Program is requesting applications to support public-private partnerships that advance wetland conservation and management across the United States.
The program focuses on long-term protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit diverse wetland ecosystems, maintaining abundant populations of waterfowl including ducks, geese, and swans, as well as other wetlands-associated migratory birds, in alignment with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan.
Award amounts range from $250,001 to $3,000,000, with total program funding estimated at $46,000,000, providing significant resources for impactful conservation projects.
The program is designed to foster collaboration between government entities, nonprofit organizations, tribal groups, educational institutions, and small businesses to achieve conservation goals. By requiring a 1:1 non-federal match, the initiative ensures that grant recipients actively invest in long-term habitat protection and enhancement projects. Research funding is excluded, emphasizing practical, hands-on conservation outcomes that preserve critical wetland resources.
Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program, the U.S. Standard Grants Program operates with guidance from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, composed of thirteen partner organizations that review and assess grant proposals. The program’s support contributes to the broader mission of the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect and manage the nation’s natural resources, enhance public access to outdoor recreation, and ensure sustainable landscapes for both wildlife and communities.
Eligible applicants include special district governments, city or township governments, county and state governments, federally recognized and other Native American tribal organizations, private and public institutions of higher education, independent school districts, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
