Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00260
Apply for F16AS00260
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Five Star-Urban Waters Migratory Bird Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The recipient has been selected.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $215,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Five Star-Urban Waters Migratory Bird Program (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00260) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.655. The award provides $215,000 in FWS funding to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to continue operating and strengthening the existing Five Star-Urban Waters grant program, specifically by supporting an Urban Refuge focal area that emphasizes urban bird conservation. Rather than funding on-the-ground applicants directly through FWS, this opportunity channels federal funds to NFWF, which then runs a competitive subgrant process and coordinates with other public and private partners to select and support local projects.
A key feature of the program is leveraging. The FWS contribution is designed to be combined with funds already committed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and multiple non-federal corporate partners. That blended public-private structure is central to the program model: it aims to concentrate resources in priority urban watersheds and support community-based conservation projects that deliver measurable ecological benefits while also increasing public engagement in conservation. Projects supported with the FWS Urban Refuge funding are expected to be located near FWS lands or offices, or in areas where FWS already has established urban partnerships, reinforcing the goal of connecting urban communities with nearby fish and wildlife resources and the Service itself.
The intended applicants for the overall Five Star-Urban Waters competitive grant rounds (managed by NFWF) include state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, and academic institutions. For this specific federal listing, the eligible applicant category is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (other than institutions of higher education), reflecting that the direct recipient selected for the cooperative agreement is NFWF. The opportunity record indicates one expected award and notes that the recipient has already been selected, meaning the federal competition has closed and the funding relationship is established primarily to sustain the program infrastructure and subaward pipeline.
Program priorities are framed around standards of excellence for Urban Wildlife Refuges, with a clear focus on urban bird conservation and broader community well-being. The program’s objectives emphasize four main qualities in project proposals. First, partnerships: proposals are expected to include public and private partners and demonstrate a real ability, or at least a credible strategy, to work with specific urban cultures and communities. Collaboration with FWS staff is not treated as optional window dressing; applicants are asked to explain how working with the Service helps achieve shared goals, especially connecting people with nature. Second, measurable benefits: funded work should produce trackable outcomes, such as increased participation in fish and wildlife-related activities among diverse urban audiences, and improved understanding of how conservation supports healthier, stronger communities. Third, sustainability: projects are expected to build long-term neighborhood capacity and remain engaged beyond the grant period, strengthening the durability of local conservation leadership and community ties. Fourth, community assets: projects should show tangible ways FWS becomes a useful resource to the community, for example through technical assistance on fish and wildlife issues, pathways for youth employment, support for urban bird initiatives, and education or recreation that deepens local stewardship.
The grant program is positioned as a response to long-term demographic and cultural trends, particularly continued urban population growth and the resulting disconnect many residents experience from local natural systems. In that context, the Five Star-Urban Waters framework is meant to make re-engagement practical by using a ready-made national grant platform that already attracts a wide range of community-based proposals. FWS benefits by tapping into NFWF’s established application, review, and monitoring systems, while also amplifying impact through multiple federal and private funding partners.
Administration follows a fairly consistent annual cycle. Outreach typically begins in October, with the request for proposals and application materials published in November along with an applicant webinar that same month. Proposals are generally due in February, followed by a review period from mid-February through late March. Funding decisions are made in April through review committee meetings that include NFWF, FWS, and other partners, with final slate approval and congressional notification occurring in May and June. Awards are announced in early to mid-July through press releases and award letters, and grant agreements are negotiated from mid-July into August. From August onward, the emphasis shifts to monitoring implementation, tracking results, and ensuring performance goals are being met.
Accountability and learning are built into the program design. An external evaluation completed by Oregon State University (commissioned in 2007 and concluded in 2008) reviewed 123 projects funded between 1999 and 2005, using application and reporting data to assess outcomes and strengthen performance metrics. Those findings, combined with evolving priorities from Urban Bird and Urban Water partners, informed updated evaluation criteria that were incorporated into NFWF’s electronic grants management system. Applicants are required to define activities, outputs, outcomes, and indicators, along with baseline values to measure change over time. Example metrics can include participation measures like volunteer numbers, along with conservation and environmental results tailored to each project’s objectives.
Reporting and compliance requirements are structured to satisfy federal standards while keeping project oversight consistent across many grantees. Under NFWF’s standard grant agreement templates, grantees must submit periodic and final programmatic and financial reports, using standardized templates and data standards to maintain compatibility with FWS requirements. Reports are due annually, and NFWF uses them to monitor progress against targets, identify when corrective action may be needed, and ensure funding is used appropriately. NFWF’s Compliance Department oversees adherence to relevant federal regulations, and at project closeout, grantees must provide an evaluation report summarizing how they met the objectives in their agreements, including documented outputs, outcomes, and environmental results. NFWF then aggregates these results and provides FWS with a final summary report covering accomplishments across the cooperative agreement period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Five Star-Urban Waters Migratory Bird Program (F16AS00260)
What is the Five Star-Urban Waters Migratory Bird Program (F16AS00260)?
The Five Star-Urban Waters Migratory Bird Program is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.655. It provides federal support to continue operating and strengthening the existing Five Star-Urban Waters grant program, with a specific emphasis on an Urban Refuge focal area centered on urban bird conservation.
Who is the direct recipient of this federal award?
The direct recipient is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Under this listing, the eligible applicant category is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (other than institutions of higher education), reflecting that NFWF is the selected recipient for the cooperative agreement.
What is the total amount of funding provided by FWS under this opportunity?
The award provides $215,000 in FWS funding to NFWF to support program operations and strengthen the Five Star-Urban Waters grant program through the Urban Refuge focal area.
Does FWS fund local, on-the-ground projects directly through this opportunity?
No. Rather than awarding project grants directly through FWS, this opportunity channels federal funds to NFWF. NFWF then runs a competitive subgrant process and coordinates with public and private partners to select and support local projects.
Is this federal funding opportunity still open for applicants?
No. The opportunity record indicates one expected award and notes that the recipient has already been selected. This means the federal competition has closed and the cooperative agreement is established to sustain the program infrastructure and subaward pipeline through NFWF.
If the federal award is closed, how do local organizations participate?
Local participation occurs through the competitive Five Star-Urban Waters grant rounds managed by NFWF. Those rounds are the mechanism through which state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, and academic institutions may seek funding for community-based projects.
What types of organizations are intended to apply for the competitive grant rounds managed by NFWF?
The intended applicants for the overall Five Star-Urban Waters competitive grant rounds (managed by NFWF) include state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, and academic institutions.
What is the purpose of the Urban Refuge focal area within the program?
The Urban Refuge focal area is designed to emphasize urban bird conservation while connecting urban communities with nearby fish and wildlife resources and the Fish and Wildlife Service. It supports projects that deliver measurable ecological benefits and increase public engagement in conservation.
Where are projects expected to be located?
Projects supported with the FWS Urban Refuge funding are expected to be located near FWS lands or offices, or in areas where FWS already has established urban partnerships. This supports the goal of linking urban communities with nearby fish and wildlife resources and FWS staff and programs.
What is meant by the program emphasis on "leveraging"?
Leveraging refers to combining the FWS contribution with funds already committed by other partners, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and multiple non-federal corporate partners. The program model relies on this blended public-private structure to concentrate resources in priority urban watersheds and increase overall impact.
Which partners are specifically mentioned as contributing to the leveraged funding model?
The opportunity description highlights the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and multiple non-federal corporate partners as part of the leveraged funding structure combined with FWS support.
What kinds of outcomes are projects expected to deliver?
Funded projects are expected to produce trackable, measurable outcomes. Examples mentioned include increased participation in fish and wildlife-related activities among diverse urban audiences and improved understanding of how conservation supports healthier, stronger communities, along with ecological and environmental results aligned to project goals.
What are the main qualities FWS and partners are looking for in project proposals?
The program highlights four core qualities in project proposals: (1) partnerships, including public and private partners and credible strategies to work with specific urban cultures and communities; (2) measurable benefits with trackable outcomes; (3) sustainability, including long-term neighborhood capacity and engagement beyond the grant period; and (4) community assets, demonstrating tangible ways FWS becomes a useful resource to the community (for example, technical assistance, youth employment pathways, support for urban bird initiatives, and education or recreation that builds stewardship).
How important is collaboration with FWS staff in this program?
Collaboration with FWS staff is treated as a meaningful part of the approach. Applicants are asked to explain how working with the Service helps achieve shared goals, particularly goals tied to connecting people with nature and strengthening urban conservation outcomes.
What does "sustainability" mean in the context of this program?
Sustainability refers to designing projects that build long-term neighborhood capacity and remain engaged beyond the grant period. The intent is to strengthen durable local conservation leadership and maintain strong community ties after the funded period ends.
What does the program mean by building on "community assets"?
Community assets refer to tangible benefits and supports that make FWS a useful resource to the community. Examples in the listing include technical assistance on fish and wildlife issues, pathways for youth employment, support for urban bird initiatives, and education or recreation that deepens local stewardship.
Why is this program focused on urban areas and urban watersheds?
The program is positioned as a response to long-term demographic and cultural trends, especially continued urban population growth and the disconnect many urban residents experience from local natural systems. The Five Star-Urban Waters model is meant to make re-engagement practical through a national grant platform that attracts community-based proposals and concentrates resources in priority urban watersheds.
What role does NFWF play beyond simply awarding subgrants?
NFWF operates the competitive application process, coordinates with public and private partners on project selection and support, and uses established systems for application intake, review, grant management, and monitoring. NFWF also aggregates grantee results and provides FWS with summary reporting across the cooperative agreement period.
How are projects selected in the competitive process managed by NFWF?
Funding decisions are made through review committee meetings that include NFWF, FWS, and other partners. The process includes a defined review period and final slate approval, followed by congressional notification as part of the annual cycle described.
What is the typical annual timeline for the Five Star-Urban Waters grant cycle?
The described cycle generally works as follows: outreach begins in October; the request for proposals and application materials are published in November along with an applicant webinar; proposals are due in February; review runs from mid-February through late March; funding decisions occur in April; final slate approval and congressional notification occur in May and June; awards are announced in early to mid-July; grant agreements are negotiated from mid-July into August; and from August onward the program emphasizes monitoring implementation and tracking results.
When are awards typically announced?
Awards are typically announced in early to mid-July through press releases and award letters, based on the annual cycle described.
What happens after awards are announced?
After awards are announced, grant agreements are negotiated from mid-July into August. From August onward, the emphasis shifts to implementation monitoring, tracking results, and ensuring performance goals are being met.
What kinds of evaluation and learning processes are built into the program?
The program incorporates accountability and learning through evaluation and performance measurement. An external evaluation by Oregon State University (commissioned in 2007 and concluded in 2008) reviewed 123 projects funded between 1999 and 2005 and helped strengthen performance metrics. Updated evaluation criteria were then incorporated into NFWF's electronic grants management system, informed by findings and evolving partner priorities.
What kinds of metrics are applicants expected to define?
Applicants are required to define activities, outputs, outcomes, indicators, and baseline values to measure change over time. Example metrics mentioned include participation measures such as volunteer numbers, along with conservation and environmental results tailored to each project's objectives.
What reporting requirements apply to grantees under the NFWF process?
Under NFWF's standard grant agreement templates, grantees must submit periodic and final programmatic and financial reports using standardized templates and data standards designed to remain compatible with FWS requirements. Reports are due annually, and NFWF uses them to monitor progress, assess performance against targets, and identify when corrective action may be needed.
Who oversees compliance with federal requirements?
NFWF's Compliance Department oversees adherence to relevant federal regulations, according to the opportunity description.
What is required at project closeout?
At closeout, grantees must provide an evaluation report summarizing how they met the objectives in their agreements, including documented outputs, outcomes, and environmental results. NFWF then aggregates results across projects and provides FWS with a final summary report covering accomplishments across the cooperative agreement period.
How does this cooperative agreement benefit FWS?
FWS benefits by using a ready-made national grant platform that already attracts diverse community-based proposals and by tapping into NFWF's established application, review, and monitoring systems. The approach also amplifies impact by blending support from multiple federal and private funding partners.
What is the relationship between urban bird conservation and broader community well-being in this program?
The program frames priorities around standards of excellence for Urban Wildlife Refuges with a focus on urban bird conservation and broader community well-being. The measurable benefits described include both ecological results and community outcomes such as increased public engagement in conservation and improved understanding of how conservation contributes to healthier, stronger communities.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Environment
Next opportunity: Notice of Intent: Assessment of Resource Status and RNA Marine Reserve Performance for the Dry Tortugas National Park Reef Fish Community
Previous opportunity: National Hemophilia Program Coordinating Center
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for F16AS00260
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F16AS00260) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs Apply for F16AS00415 Funding Number: F16AS00415 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs Apply for F16AS00440 Funding Number: F16AS00440 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $26,000 |
| Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs Apply for F16AS00442 Funding Number: F16AS00442 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| National Outreach and Communications Grant Program Apply for F17AS00144 Funding Number: F17AS00144 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $13,000,000 |
| Green Hackathon Apply for M NOFO 17 102 Funding Number: M NOFO 17 102 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to India Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Investigate the Ecology of Resident Birds in relation to Climate Change in Interior Alaska Apply for P17AS00390 Funding Number: P17AS00390 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $235,000 |
| Ocean Connectors Bird and Habitat Study Apply for F17AS00298 Funding Number: F17AS00298 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Wildlife Ranger Apply for F17AS00299 Funding Number: F17AS00299 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $55,140 |
| Outdoor Outreach Club Apply for F17AS00330 Funding Number: F17AS00330 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $105,105 |
| River Rover Apply for F17AS00342 Funding Number: F17AS00342 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $176,983 |
| Development of Experimental System for Longfin Smelt and Associated Live Feed Rearing Apply for F17AS00456 Funding Number: F17AS00456 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $95,500 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for F18AS00009 Funding Number: F18AS00009 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for F18AS00010 Funding Number: F18AS00010 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Engaging Alaska Teachers Through Field-based Teacher Workshop Apply for P18AS00065 Funding Number: P18AS00065 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $83,250 |
| San Diego Audubon Society Share our Shores Apply for F18AS00223 Funding Number: F18AS00223 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $65,576 |
| San Diego Zoo Wildlife Rangers Apply for F18AS00228 Funding Number: F18AS00228 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $55,189 |
| Conservation Stewardship and Environmental Education Apply for F18AS00242 Funding Number: F18AS00242 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $80,412 |
| Smart Cities Collaboration Competition Apply for ND NOFO 19 102 Funding Number: ND NOFO 19 102 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to India Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Tipping Point: Addressing the Expanded Demand for Living Shorelines in North Carolina Apply for F19AS00088 Funding Number: F19AS00088 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| AN EVALUATION OF THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES: UNDERSTANDING LANDOWNER PARTICIPATION AND ONGOING STEWARDSHIP BEHAVIORS Apply for F19AS00143 Funding Number: F19AS00143 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "F16AS00260", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.