NFWF-USFWS Conservation Partnership
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.663
- Agency
-
Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 25 $93,754,374 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- NFWF Conservation Partnership
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1611-0-1-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), through its partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), awards annual funding under CFDA 15.663 to support on-the-ground fish and wildlife conservation projects across all 50 states and territories, with the most recent grant award issued September 1, 2025.
NFWF is the sole eligible applicant under this program. The partnership leverages federal appropriations from USFWS with mandatory 1:1 non-federal matching funds (cash and in-kind contributions) to fund ecosystem restoration, species protection, and habitat stewardship. Recent awards direct funding exclusively to conservation work; no administrative costs are reimbursed. The program supports initiatives including the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund, Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund, wildfire ecosystem restoration in California, forest habitat enhancement for bird species in Central Appalachia, ocean health initiatives for killer whales and sea turtles, pollinator protection, grassland restoration in the Southern Great Plains, and aquatic system conservation in the Southeast and Great Lakes.
Over 25 awards totaling $93.8 million in federal dollars obligated (with $127.9 million in combined federal and non-federal contributions) have been disbursed since 2011. The program operates at a steady annual cadence, with one award issued per year in recent years (2024, 2025). USFWS Region 9 Headquarters funds the dominant share of awards by both count and dollars—12 awards representing $70.1 million federal dollars obligated, followed by the central USFWS office with 10 awards ($21.9 million). The assistance-type mix is predominantly Project Grants (80 percent of 25 awards), with smaller shares of Cooperative Agreements (16 percent) and a single Block Grant (4 percent).
Recent awards exemplify the program's scale and breadth. In September 2025, NFWF received $1.745 million for a five-year conservation initiative spanning multiple regional funds. In April 2024, NFWF was awarded $5.29 million matched at minimum 1:1 to support competitive sub-award conservation programs. A prior October 2022 award of $13.6 million funded a competitive challenge grant program for on-the-ground fish and wildlife conservation.
No grant opportunities are currently open to applicants. The program structure directs all appropriated funds to NFWF as a sole-source award recipient under DOI Policy 505 DM 2.14. Organizations seeking conservation funding under this partnership must apply through NFWF's competitive sub-award programs rather than directly to USFWS.
Objective and description
- Objective
Partnering with individuals, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and corporations, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works to protect and restore imperiled species, promote healthy oceans and estuaries, improve working landsca
- Description
The partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is a cornerstone of American conservation, leveraging public funds with private funds to protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. This partnership funds science-based, community-driven projects focusing on restoring ecosystems across all 50 states and territories. FWS provides critical base funding, which NFWF leverages to attract private sector dollars, creating a massive multiplier effect for conservation projects. Projects cover a vast array of areas to support imperiled species (turtles, birds, bats, fish) and working lands (farmers, ranchers) through targeted conservation projects.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is the only eligible applicant for this annual award.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Beneficiaries include fish, wildlife and their habitats, the American people and, where applicable, international partners, wildlife and natural resources.
- Uses of assistance
To aid cost-share conservation projects to further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of the United States and its territories and possessions for present and future generations of Americans. Funds must be matched on a one-to-one basis by NFWF sub-recipients. Some sub-grants do support construction and the purchase of conservation easements.
- Use restrictions
To aid cost-share conservation projects to further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of the United States and its territories and possessions for present and future generations of Americans. Funds must be matched on a one-to-one basis by NFWF sub-recipients. Some sub-grants do support construction and the purchase of conservation easements.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Annual funding available; award is for five years.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
.
Grant opportunities
Show all 14
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 25 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Fish And Wildlife Foundation | $93,263,582 | 99% |
| 2 | Birdscaribbean | $114,454 | <1% |
| 3 | College Of William And Mary | $111,313 | <1% |
| 4 | Pacific Rim Conservation | $88,825 | <1% |
| 5 | Birdlife International | $88,380 | <1% |
| 6 | New Jersey Audubon Society Inc. | $75,820 | <1% |
| 7 | Biota Of North America Program | $12,000 | <1% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $1,745,000 |
| FY2024 | $4,883,323 |
| FY2023 | $6,821,340 |
| FY2022 | $6,841,340 |
| FY2021 | $6,811,340 |
| FY2020 | $6,937,926 |
| FY2019 | $21,290,348 |
| FY2018 | $11,440,664 |
| FY2017 | $7,030,000 |
| FY2016 | $9,757,372 |
| FY2015 | $8,610,825 |
| FY2014 | $8,304,419 |
| FY2013 | $7,397,000 |
| FY2012 | $8,670,000 |
Show all 14
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.663?
Assistance Listing 15.663 is NFWF-USFWS Conservation Partnership, a federal grant program run by Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for NFWF-USFWS Conservation Partnership?
Its CFDA number is 15.663: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.663 awarded?
25 grant awards under 15.663 have obligated $93,754,374 in federal funds to 7 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.663?
The recipients obligated the most under NFWF-USFWS Conservation Partnership are National Fish And Wildlife Foundation ($93,263,582), Birdscaribbean ($114,454) and College Of William And Mary ($111,313).
How much did 15.663 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.663 obligated $1,745,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.663?
No opportunity listed under 15.663 is open now. The latest, NFWF-USFWF Conservation Partnership, was posted on September 11, 2019.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program