Opportunity Information: Apply for F14AC01479
Apply for F14AC01479
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nature of Learning and Friends Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 24, 2014 and posted on Feb 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $153,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $153,000.00 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.
- This is a Single Source Award. All applicants have previously been selected.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Nature of Learning and Friends Grant (Funding Opportunity Number F14AC01479) was a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through a cooperative agreement. Its purpose was to support and continue the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) ongoing partnership work with the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), specifically by helping administer the NWRS Friends grant program. In practical terms, the opportunity was designed to keep established education and stewardship efforts moving forward in communities connected to national wildlife refuges, with Refuge Friends organizations playing a key on-the-ground role in delivering or supporting those local initiatives.
The grant focused on activities in the Education category (listed under Employment, Labor and Training as the broader activity classification), emphasizing programs that strengthen natural resource stewardship, conservation education, and community engagement around refuges. The underlying theme of the program was to reinforce the capacity of local partners and volunteer-based Friends groups to help refuges meet public engagement and conservation goals. These efforts have historically included hands-on environmental education, outreach events, interpretive programming, volunteer coordination, and other community-based projects that build understanding of wildlife, habitat, and refuge management while encouraging long-term stewardship.
Financially, the opportunity was structured as a single award totaling $153,000, with an award ceiling and floor both set at $153,000, meaning the funding amount was fixed rather than a range. The announcement anticipated one award in total and did not require cost sharing or matching funds. Because it was issued as a cooperative agreement, it implied a more active partnership relationship between the funding agency and the recipient than a standard grant, typically involving collaboration, coordination, or substantial involvement in carrying out the funded work.
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. However, the listing explicitly stated it was a single-source award and that all applicants had previously been selected. That detail indicates the opportunity was not broadly competitive or open to new applicants; instead, it functioned as a continuation or formalization of support for an already identified partner.
The opportunity was posted and created on February 24, 2014, with an original and current closing date of December 31, 2018, and it was archived on January 30, 2019. For additional information, the listing provided an email contact (gerriwatkins@fws.gov). It also included a point of contact for access issues: Keith Garrison, Administrative Officer, at 703-358-2101 and keithgarrison@fws.gov.
FAQs: Nature of Learning and Friends Grant (F14AC01479)
What is the Nature of Learning and Friends Grant (F14AC01479)?
The Nature of Learning and Friends Grant (Funding Opportunity Number F14AC01479) was a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through a cooperative agreement.
What was the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose was to support and continue the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) ongoing partnership work with the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), specifically by helping administer the NWRS Friends grant program.
Who was the federal funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency was the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What type of award was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates a more active partnership relationship between the agency and the recipient than a standard grant.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?
Based on the listing description, the cooperative agreement structure implied collaboration, coordination, or substantial involvement by FWS in carrying out the funded work, rather than a purely hands-off funding relationship.
What program or partnership did this opportunity support?
It supported NFWF's ongoing partnership work with the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and helped with administration of the NWRS Friends grant program.
What is the role of Refuge Friends organizations in this opportunity?
The opportunity was designed to keep established education and stewardship efforts moving forward in communities connected to national wildlife refuges, with Refuge Friends organizations playing a key on-the-ground role in delivering or supporting local initiatives.
What kinds of activities were emphasized?
The grant focused on activities in the Education category, emphasizing programs that strengthen natural resource stewardship, conservation education, and community engagement around refuges.
What are examples of the types of efforts historically included under this program?
The description referenced efforts such as hands-on environmental education, outreach events, interpretive programming, volunteer coordination, and other community-based projects that build understanding of wildlife, habitat, and refuge management while encouraging long-term stewardship.
How was the activity classified in the listing?
The grant focused on the Education category, listed under Employment, Labor and Training as the broader activity classification.
How much funding was available?
The opportunity was structured as a single award totaling $153,000.
Was the award amount a range or a fixed amount?
It was a fixed amount: the award ceiling and floor were both set at $153,000.
How many awards were expected?
The announcement anticipated one award total.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing stated that cost sharing or matching funds were not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Were institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The listing excluded institutions of higher education.
Was this opportunity open to new applicants?
No. The listing explicitly stated it was a single-source award and that all applicants had previously been selected, indicating it was not broadly competitive or open to new applicants.
What does "single-source award" mean in this context?
Based on the information provided, it meant the recipient(s) had already been identified/selected, and the opportunity functioned as a continuation or formalization of support for an existing partner rather than an open competition.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on February 24, 2014.
What was the closing date for the opportunity?
The original and current closing date listed was December 31, 2018.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on January 30, 2019.
Who can be contacted for additional information?
The listing provided the email contact gerriwatkins@fws.gov for additional information.
Who can be contacted for access issues?
For access issues, the listing identified Keith Garrison, Administrative Officer, at 703-358-2101 and keithgarrison@fws.gov.
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