Migratory Bird Joint Ventures
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.637
- Agency
-
Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 489 $146,045,044 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1611-2-3-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service funds landscape-scale wetland and upland ecosystem protection, restoration, and enhancement for migratory bird conservation through 23 regional Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, with the most recent award disbursed on October 1, 2025, under Assistance Listing 15.637.
The program supports collaborative, regional habitat conservation partnerships among government agencies, nonprofits, tribes, and private landowners. Funded activities span wetland and grassland restoration and enhancement, forest management for priority bird species, habitat acquisition and permanent protection through conservation easements, playa lake restoration addressing water recharge and flood control, sea duck population research and monitoring, upland grassland management including prescribed fire and woody encroachment removal, and administrative and science coordination capacity for individual joint ventures. Representative recent awards funded the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture operations ($776,305 through October 2028), the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture partnership with Nebraska Community Foundation for playa wetland restoration and aquifer recharge ($150,000 through September 2029), the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance grassland restoration support on six Montana and Wyoming reservations ($125,000 through September 2026), and the Roseau Lake shallow-lake ecosystem rehabilitation in Minnesota ($150,000 through December 2028). Projects also address emerging conservation needs such as invasive annual grass management in sagebrush ecosystems and contaminant exposure in sea duck populations across Atlantic Canada.
The portfolio contains 489 awards since 2003, with recent annual volumes declining moderately (25 awards in 2021 to 20 in 2025). Combined federal dollars obligated total $146 million, with non-federal cost-share contributions raising the combined total to $164.4 million, reflecting the program's emphasis on leveraged partnerships. The assistance-type mix is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (56% of awards, 272 awards) with a substantial share of Project Grants (44%, 216 awards) and one Block Grant. Funding concentrates within the Fish and Wildlife Service: the Service central office leads with 239 awards totaling $42.9 million, followed by Region 6 (61 awards, $46.3 million) and Region 2 (48 awards, $15.3 million). Eleven distinct federal agencies contribute, though FWS regional offices dominate 84% of award count. Typical award magnitudes range from under $40,000 for specialized research or personnel support to over $4.8 million for multi-year habitat program administration, with recent land acquisition projects in the $200,000 to $1.2 million range.
Applicants must be existing or potential partners of an active Joint Venture and agree to support its goals and objectives. Projects must fit within an approved Joint Venture Implementation Plan and related conservation plans, demonstrate cost-effectiveness, and preferably leverage grant funds with partner contributions or in-kind services. Eligible applicants include federal, state, and local government agencies; federally recognized Indian tribal governments; nonprofit and for-profit organizations; interstate and intrastate entities; and private landowners. Recipients must maintain detailed accounting records for three years after the final Federal Financial Status Report.
One open grant opportunity is currently posted: the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection program (F26AS00094, due July 6, 2026) seeks habitat restoration, enhancement, or permanent protection projects within the Great Lakes coastal zone or adjacent areas addressing declining wetlands, grasslands, or forests. Grant requests range from $25,000 to $300,000 with a mandatory 25% non-federal match and 24-month completion deadline. The Sea Duck Joint Venture FY25 Competitive Grants (F25AS00014, closed September 30, 2024) previously offered unrestricted funding for sea duck biology, ecology, and management research supporting the joint venture's science priorities.
Objective and description
- Objective
The objectives of this program are to support projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetland and upland ecosystems for the conservation of Migratory Birds. Funds support the work of the 23 Migratory Bird Joint Ventures which are independent regi
- Description
Migratory Bird Joint Ventures are collaborative, regional partnerships of government agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, tribes, and individuals that conserve habitat for the benefit of priority bird species, other wildlife, and people. Joint Ventures bring these diverse partners together under the guidance of national and international bird conservation plans to design and implement landscape-scale conservation efforts in support of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the other bird management plans.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Federal, State and local government agencies, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, private nonprofit institutions/organizations; public nonprofit institutions/organizations; profit organizations, interstate and intrastate entities, and individuals or families who are also private landowners.
- Beneficiary eligibility
General Public.
- Uses of assistance
Joint Ventures are public/private partnerships, guided by a Management Board of public/private representatives and use a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved Implementation Plan that establishes conservation goals, priorities, and strategies. The Implementation Plan typically includes stepped down goals and objectives from a variety of national and international bird planning efforts. A Joint Venture Coordinator facilitates the coordination and implementation of the Joint Venture program. The USFWS provides basic administrative funding to the Joint Venture to cover costs associated with coordination; planning; monitoring, evaluation and applied research; communications and outreach; and project development and implementation. Joint Ventures may provide Federal assistance to partners within these categories to achieve the goals of the Joint Venture. The USFWS does not fund the entire scope of Joint Venture operations. Joint Venture partners are expected to contribute funding towards one or more of these categories. Non-federal match is not required, but leveraging USFWS dollars provided for Joint Ventures administration is a critical component of the Joint Ventures program.
- Use restrictions
Joint Ventures are public/private partnerships, guided by a Management Board of public/private representatives and use a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved Implementation Plan that establishes conservation goals, priorities, and strategies. The Implementation Plan typically includes stepped down goals and objectives from a variety of national and international bird planning efforts. A Joint Venture Coordinator facilitates the coordination and implementation of the Joint Venture program. The USFWS provides basic administrative funding to the Joint Venture to cover costs associated with coordination; planning; monitoring, evaluation and applied research; communications and outreach; and project development and implementation. Joint Ventures may provide Federal assistance to partners within these categories to achieve the goals of the Joint Venture. The USFWS does not fund the entire scope of Joint Venture operations. Joint Venture partners are expected to contribute funding towards one or more of these categories. Non-federal match is not required, but leveraging USFWS dollars provided for Joint Ventures administration is a critical component of the Joint Ventures program.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The assistance is available from the date of the enactment of the federal appropriation, and all funds must be spent before the expiration date for those funds.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Applicants must be an existing or potential partner of a Joint Venture, and must agree to support Joint Venture goals and objectives. Project must fall within scope of a Management Board approved Joint Venture Implementation Plan and related conservation plans. Projects must contribute to overall Joint Venture goals and objectives. Project must be cost-effective. Projects that leverage grant funds with partner funds or in-kind services will receive preference.
- Award procedure
Once the project is designed and either fits within an approved Implementation Plan or is reviewed and approved by a Joint Ventures Management Board, a cooperative agreement or grant agreement is written, executed, and work can begin.
- Time to approval or disapproval
180 days.
- Renewals
Partners/potential partners may request additional projects to meet Joint Venture goals and objectives.
Grant opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 489 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Bird Conservancy | $25,044,791 | 17% |
| 2 | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | $19,787,760 | 14% |
| 3 | Ducks Unlimited Inc. | $15,522,279 | 11% |
| 4 | Playa Lakes Joint Venture | $11,286,220 | 8% |
| 5 | Nebraska Community Foundation | $8,885,564 | 6% |
| 6 | Western Association Of Fish And Wildlife Agencies, Inc. | $7,346,259 | 5% |
| 7 | Ducks Unlimited Inc. | $6,105,220 | 4% |
| 8 | Point Reyes Bird Observatory | $5,844,661 | 4% |
| 9 | Wildlife Management Institute, Incorporated | $3,559,827 | 2% |
| 10 | Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | $2,813,668 | 2% |
10 of 123 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $773,266 |
| FY2025 | $16,192,813 |
| FY2024 | $16,143,457 |
| FY2023 | $13,687,925 |
| FY2022 | $11,083,105 |
| FY2021 | $11,824,848 |
| FY2020 | $8,696,781 |
| FY2019 | $6,831,114 |
| FY2018 | $5,661,630 |
| FY2017 | $6,616,890 |
| FY2016 | $6,085,694 |
| FY2015 | $6,484,887 |
| FY2014 | $5,437,871 |
| FY2013 | $8,272,883 |
| FY2012 | $7,605,397 |
| FY2010 | $796,902 |
| FY2009 | $2,735,068 |
| FY2008 | $1,568,766 |
| FY2007 | $1,875,104 |
| FY2006 | $3,103,327 |
| FY2005 | $1,343,645 |
| FY2004 | $1,538,037 |
Show all 22
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.637?
Assistance Listing 15.637 is Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, a federal grant program run by Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Migratory Bird Joint Ventures?
Its CFDA number is 15.637: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.637 awarded?
489 grant awards under 15.637 have obligated $146,045,044 in federal funds to 123 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.637?
The recipients obligated the most under Migratory Bird Joint Ventures are American Bird Conservancy ($25,044,791), Pheasants Forever, Inc. ($19,787,760) and Ducks Unlimited Inc. ($15,522,279).
How much did 15.637 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.637 obligated $16,192,813 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.637?
None of the latest 50 opportunities under 15.637 is open now. The latest, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative -Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection, was posted on May 6, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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