Multistate Conservation Grant

This program provides funding for sport fish and wildlife restoration projects and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are

The Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) provides funding for projects that help state fish and wildlife agencies and their partners work together across state lines to solve shared conservation challenges. Its purpose is to support efforts that individual states cannot easily accomplish alone, such as large-scale research, coordinated management strategies, national or regional conservation planning, and broad public engagement in fishing, hunting, and target shooting. By supporting collaborative projects, the program helps ensure that fish, wildlife, and their habitats are conserved and enjoyed by the public for generations to come. A defining feature of the program is its support for both conservation science and R3, which refers to the Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation of hunters, anglers, and target shooters. R3 efforts help sustain the public's connection to these outdoor pursuits by expanding awareness, reducing barriers to participation, and strengthening long term engagement in these activities. What makes the MSCGP unique is its focus on multistate cooperation. Rather than funding isolated projects, it invests in work that provides broad, shared benefits by improving coordination among states, generating new knowledge and tools, and enhancing both conservation outcomes and public participation in hunting, target shooting and fishing nationwide. This program serves state fish and wildlife agencies, regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutes of higher education, and other partners who work collectively to improve conservation outcomes at regional or national scales. These partners bring diverse expertise, including biological research, species management, human dimensions research, data development, communications, and training. Projects must benefit 26 or more states or half the states in a region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. As a result, the funded work often supports shared tools, training, best practice development, and coordinated conservation strategies that strengthen the capacity of state fish and wildlife agencies and their partners across the country. The program also helps states and partners collaborate on approaches that are consistent, effective, and scalable across regions.

Eligibility is limited to: 1) Agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or a group of these agencies; 2) The Service, only for the purpose of carrying out the National Survey; or 3) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs). NGOs including educational institutions that are invited to submit full proposals must submit a certification that their organization will not use grant funds to fund, in whole or in part, any activity that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife or the regulated taking of fish in their application. Proposed projects must address traditional sport fish or wildlife restoration projects or recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are beyond the scale, scope, and capabilities of a single State. The priority needs, also known as Strategic Priorities, are identified annually by AFWA with input from State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. Only projects that propose benefits to sport fish, wild birds and/or wild mammals are eligible. Proposed projects must also benefit: 1) At least 26 States or; 2) A majority of the States in a Service Region; or 3) A majority of States in a regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies. Only projects that propose benefits to sport fish, wild birds and/or mammals are eligible. Proposed projects must also benefit: 1) At least 26 States or; 2) A majority of the States in a Service Region; or 3) A regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies.

Projects must benefit at least 26 States, a majority of States in a Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or a majority of States in a Regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies.

Project types that are selected for funding are those considered of regional or national importance according to state fish and wildlife agencies. Funded activities focus on: research, training, human dimension surveys, surveys assessing the values and use of sport fish and wildlife resources and associated activities; evaluations of restoration, enhancement, or protection of sport fish and wildlife and their habitats; new technologies; and hunting, target shooting and fishing participant recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3), including research, marketing, training, and technical assistance. Funds under this program are not used for land acquisition or major construction projects. 100% of funds are for discretionary activities and awarded on a competitive basis. For further information, please contact the Headquarters Office.

Project types that are selected for funding are those considered of regional or national importance according to state fish and wildlife agencies. Funded activities focus on: research, training, human dimension surveys, surveys assessing the values and use of sport fish and wildlife resources and associated activities; evaluations of restoration, enhancement, or protection of sport fish and wildlife and their habitats; new technologies; and hunting, target shooting and fishing participant recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3), including research, marketing, training, and technical assistance. Funds under this program are not used for land acquisition or major construction projects. 100% of funds are for discretionary activities and awarded on a competitive basis. For further information, please contact the Headquarters Office.

Projects are typically approved for one year; however, some projects may be approved for up to five years with available funding amounts dependent on annual competition. The National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation is approved for up to five years. The Program obligates all grant funds at the start of the first year and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. The Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires in order to apply for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This program is co-managed with AFWA. AFWA receives all applications within the two-part application process. Grant Proposal requirements and deadline information is available from AFWA's MSCGP website. Grant Proposals are required to address one or more of the Strategic Priorities listed on the AFWA MSCGP website. Applicants must submit Grant Proposals through the AFWA's MSCGP portal by the published deadline (contact the Headquarters Office for application deadlines). AFWA manages Technical Review Teams that score and rank the Grant Proposals and drafts a priority list of projects that AFWA recommends to the Service for funding.

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated to ensure stated needs are consistent with the enabling legislation and address one or more of AFWA's Strategic Priorities; the stated purpose and objective(s) support the need; proposed methods follow sound practices that can be accomplished within the proposed time frames; the budget is cost effective; and the outcomes are feasible and sustainable. Specific review criteria and the associated point system will be published in the NOFO.

The Director of the Service will select projects for funding from a priority list of projects recommended to the Service by AFWA based on technical review criteria.

AFWA expects to post the availability of FY2025 Multistate Conservation Grants and specific deadlines on their website, https://www.fishwildlife.org/afwa-informs/multi-state-conservation-grants-program by May 15, 2026. The Service expects to post the availability of FY2027 Multistate Conservation Grants by the same date in Grants.gov. To start the application process, Grant Proposals comprised of a detailed Project Statement and budget information must be submitted only through AFWA's Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) portal by July 14, 2026. AFWA manages Technical Review Teams that score and rank the Grant Proposals, then AFWA drafts a priority list of the highest-ranking proposals. Applicants selected for possible funding will be notified by a Directed Announcement posted by the Service in GrantSolutions.gov in October 2026. AFWA submits the final priority list of projects recommended for funding to the Service by October 1, 2026.

Approval of awards by the Service is anticipated before January 2027; however, this time frame depends on the NOFO publication date and application deadlines. Contact the Headquarters Office for application deadlines.

Any differences of opinion over the eligibility of proposed activities or differences arising over the conduct of work may be appealed to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.