Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00109
Apply for F15AS00109
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Friends Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 19, 2015 and posted on Feb 19, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a continuation of an existing award and is single source.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $363,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Friends Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00109) is a discretionary, environment-focused funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through a cooperative agreement. It is designed to support "Friends" organizations that work alongside the National Wildlife Refuge System, helping strengthen conservation outcomes and improve public engagement across the refuges. These local partner groups play a hands-on role at roughly 230 national wildlife refuges, providing practical support that ranges from enhancing visitor services and recreational opportunities to carrying out inventory, monitoring, communications, and broader partnership-building activities.
A central theme of the program is the recognition that community-based, volunteer-driven support is essential to refuge success. The FWS and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) emphasize the scale and value of this contribution, noting that local citizens collectively volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours each year. The grant program reflects a long-standing working relationship between the Service and NFWF that is intended to foster meaningful, on-the-ground community partnerships and to sustain refuge-related projects through grantmaking and other support mechanisms. The associated CFDA listing is 15.654 (Refuges and Wildlife), with an emphasis on visitor facility enhancements and related refuge support work.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The listing indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The total estimated funding amount shown is $363,000, but the award ceiling and award floor are both listed as $0, which typically signals that specific award sizes are not defined in the public synopsis or may be determined under the continuation structure rather than through a standard competitive range.
This particular announcement is noted as a continuation of an existing award and is single-source, meaning it is not an open competitive solicitation with a standard application deadline. Both the original and current closing dates state that it is a continuation and single source, and the posting was archived shortly after posting (Posted/Created February 19, 2015; Archived February 26, 2015). For those needing help accessing the full announcement or seeking clarification, the contact listed is Kevin Kilcullen at kevinkilcullen@fws.gov. Additional general information is referenced through Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov.
Friends Grant Program (F15AS00109) - FAQs
What is the Friends Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00109)?
The Friends Grant Program is a discretionary, environment-focused funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through a cooperative agreement. It is intended to support "Friends" organizations that work alongside the National Wildlife Refuge System to strengthen conservation outcomes and improve public engagement across national wildlife refuges.
Who administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through a cooperative agreement. The opportunity also references the long-standing working relationship between FWS and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in supporting refuge-related projects.
What types of organizations does the program support?
The program is designed to support local "Friends" organizations that partner with the National Wildlife Refuge System and provide community-based, volunteer-driven support for refuges.
What kinds of activities can be supported with this funding?
Based on the description provided, supported work can include practical, on-the-ground assistance at refuges such as enhancing visitor services and recreational opportunities; supporting inventory and monitoring; helping with communications; and building partnerships that strengthen refuge conservation and public engagement. The CFDA emphasis includes visitor facility enhancements and related refuge support work.
Where do Friends organizations typically operate within the refuge system?
The information provided notes that Friends groups play a hands-on role at roughly 230 national wildlife refuges.
Why does the program emphasize community and volunteer involvement?
A central theme is that community-based, volunteer-driven support is essential to refuge success. The description highlights that local citizens collectively contribute hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year, and the grant program is positioned as a way to foster meaningful community partnerships and sustain refuge-related projects.
What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA listing is 15.654 (Refuges and Wildlife).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility description specifically excludes institutions of higher education.
Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding amount shown is $363,000.
Is there a defined minimum or maximum award amount?
The award ceiling and award floor are both listed as $0. This typically indicates that specific award sizes are not defined in the public synopsis or may be determined under a continuation structure rather than through a standard competitive range.
Is this an open, competitive grant solicitation?
No. The announcement is described as a continuation of an existing award and is single-source, meaning it is not an open competitive solicitation.
Is there an application deadline?
The posting indicates it is a continuation and single source rather than a standard competitive opportunity with a typical application deadline. The original and current closing dates both reflect the continuation/single-source status.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was Posted/Created on February 19, 2015 and was Archived on February 26, 2015.
What does it mean that this is a continuation of an existing award?
Based on the provided information, it means the announcement pertains to ongoing funding under an existing award arrangement rather than inviting new competitive applications from the public.
What does "single-source" mean in this context?
In this listing, "single-source" indicates the funding action is intended for a specific recipient under a continuation arrangement, rather than being open to multiple applicants in a competitive process.
What is the funding instrument used for this program?
The opportunity is administered through a cooperative agreement.
What is the best contact for questions or help accessing the full announcement?
The contact listed is Kevin Kilcullen at kevinkilcullen@fws.gov.
Where can I find additional general information about federal grants?
The opportunity references Grants.gov for general information: http://www.grants.gov.
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