Blog

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is making 15 million in funding available for its 2025 Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program. PFW is a voluntary program that creates partnerships to help people and communities while supporting fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The PFW Program provides technical help and financial support, mostly through cooperative agreements with private landowners. This support aims to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitats for the benefit of federal trust resources. The program seeks projects year-round, and applications will be accepted through September 30, 2025, but in order to be considered for funding in FY25, they must be submitted before May 30, 2025. The maximum award amount is $750,000.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Any of the following entities are eligible to apply:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Individuals
• For profit organization other than small businesses
• Small businesses
• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above)

The PFW Program provides technical help and financial support, mostly through cooperative agreements with private landowners. Projects must take place on private lands, meaning any properties not owned by the state or federal government. This includes tribal lands, Hawaiian homelands, cities, municipalities, non-governmental properties, and private properties. The PFW Program can reject projects that do not fit with regional plans or priorities.

What are the Goals of the Program?

USFWS has established the following goals for the PFW program:

• Species Conservation: The program works on habitat projects in specific areas to help protect species at risk. This includes federally listed species, Birds of Conservation Concern, pollinators, and interjurisdictional fish. The goal is to improve the conservation status of these species of concern.
• Habitat Connectivity: The program connects habitats to make them better for wildlife. Connected habitats and migration paths are vital for fish and wildlife. These projects can also support other conservation efforts, like National Wildlife Refuges and other protected lands.
• Resilient Ecosystems: The program aims to make ecosystems healthier and more resilient for fish, wildlife, plants, and people. The program works with different partners to take action that helps ecosystems be more resilient to change and benefit communities that depend on them.

Priority species and focus areas in each state and region can be found through the local PFW Program Office.

How Will Successful Projects Be Selected?

Projects meeting the factors below will be considered for program funding, based on annual funding appropriations. Projects must meet at least one of the factors below to be considered:

• Contributes toward achievement of one or more of the Partners Program strategic plan goals.
• Benefits federal trust species, regional priority species and other species of conservation concern to the Service.
• Restores ecological integrity of habitat on lands with Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation easements or that FSA has transferred in fee title to the Service.
• Implements a priority action/conservation strategy identified in a national/regional/state conservation plan or initiative including, but not limited to the following: State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, State Wildlife Action Plan, Landscape Conservation Cooperative Science Plan, National Fish Habitat Plan, DOI or USDA Initiative.
• Supports the objectives of other Service plans and programs, including, but not limited to, the National Wildlife Refuge System; Ecological Services and Fisheries program strategic plans; the National Invasive Species Management Plan; threatened and endangered species recovery plans; Coastal Program management plans; fisheries management and restoration plans; ecosystem management plans; U.S. Migratory Bird Joint Ventures strategic plans and associated waterfowl, shorebird and land-bird conservation plans/initiatives; and other landscape habitat plans and assessments.
• Reflects the application of the most biologically sound and cost-effective techniques based on state-of-the-art methodologies and adaptive management.
• Improves capacity to achieve priority program goals and/or leverages non-federal funding partners.
• Promotes habitat conservation and stewardship of private lands and encourages voluntary public participation in on-the-ground conservation efforts.
• Broadens public understanding of fish and wildlife, habitat functions, and restoration techniques, and of the benefits derived from improved fish and wildlife habitat.

If all other considerations are equal, priority for funding will be given to projects that have a greater longevity, involve higher monetary and non-monetary partner contributions, and are the most cost effective.

How Much Funding Will Be Awarded?

There is a total of $15 million available with grant awards ranging from $1 to $750,000. Projects requesting $200,000 or less may be eligible for a simplified application.

When is the Deadline to Apply?

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on May 30, 2025. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between January 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025. In order for applications to be considered for funding in FY25, they must be submitted before May 30, 2025. Applications received after May 30, 2025, may not be awarded until the following fiscal year, subject to fund availability.

The NOFO can be found here.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.