Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00184
Apply for F15AS00184
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NWRS 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 Apr 16, 2015 and posted on Apr 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a Single Source continuation of a previous activity. The awardee has already been selected.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NWRS Friends Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00184) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Its purpose is to sustain and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Friends Group grant program, which provides small, competitive seed grants that help local Friends Groups support national wildlife refuges. These Friends Groups act as community-based partners that advance refuge conservation goals while also strengthening visitor engagement through interpretation, environmental education, outreach, and related public-facing work.
The total estimated funding for this action is $100,000. Of that amount, $87,000 is intended to flow to on-the-ground projects supported through the Friends grant program, while $13,000 is allocated to NFWF operations to administer and manage the program under the cooperative agreement structure. The program is framed as a continuation of an existing effort with an established partner and track record, and the notice states that it is a single-source continuation where the awardee has already been selected. In practice, that means this particular posting was not a typical open competition for a new recipient at the cooperative agreement level, even though the underlying Friends seed grants are described as competitive for project proposals.
The activities supported by the NWRS Friends Grant Program center on three main themes: start-up support for new Friends Groups, capacity building for existing organizations, and targeted project funding that directly helps Friends Groups function as effective co-stewards of refuge resources. Capacity building can include the kinds of foundational improvements that make volunteer organizations more durable and effective, such as strengthening governance, improving outreach and communications, developing volunteer programs, or building partnerships that increase a group’s ability to contribute to refuge priorities. Project funding is aimed at practical conservation, visitor service, and educational efforts that align with refuge needs and help communicate the Refuge System mission to the public.
A highlighted emphasis within the agreement is support for Friends mentoring projects. This focus is meant to encourage knowledge transfer and peer support across the Friends network, pairing more experienced Friends organizations with newer or developing groups so they can build skills faster, avoid common pitfalls, and expand the overall effectiveness and reach of community support for refuges nationwide. The broader program goal is to increase both the number of organizations assisting the Refuge System and the effectiveness of those organizations in delivering measurable conservation and public engagement outcomes.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Education and Environment, uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, and is associated with CFDA 15.654 (Refuges and Wildlife), specifically referencing visitor facility enhancements and refuge-related visitor services. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed. The expected number of awards under this announcement is one, consistent with the single-source continuation language and the intent to fund NFWF to run the Friends grant program on behalf of the Refuge System.
Eligibility is listed as nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), which aligns with NFWF’s nonprofit role in administering and re-granting support for local Friends projects. Key dates indicate the announcement was posted and created on April 16, 2015, and archived on May 16, 2015, with no conventional closing date because the awardee had already been selected. For further information or access issues, the notice points to a grants.gov link and provides a contact at the Fish and Wildlife Service: Kevin Kilcullen (kevinkilcullen@fws.gov).
NWRS Friends Grant Program (F15AS00184) - FAQs
What is the NWRS Friends Grant Program (F15AS00184)?
The NWRS Friends Grant Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) through a cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Its purpose is to sustain and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Friends Group grant program, which provides small, competitive seed grants that help local Friends Groups support national wildlife refuges.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to strengthen community-based Friends Groups that support national wildlife refuges by helping them start up, build organizational capacity, and carry out targeted projects that advance refuge conservation goals and improve public engagement (such as interpretation, environmental education, and outreach).
Who administers the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), which manages and administers the Friends grant program under that agreement.
What type of federal funding instrument is used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
How much total funding is available under this action?
The total estimated funding for this action is $100,000.
How is the $100,000 expected to be used?
Of the estimated $100,000 total, $87,000 is intended to flow to on-the-ground projects supported through the Friends grant program, and $13,000 is allocated to NFWF operations to administer and manage the program under the cooperative agreement structure.
Is this an open competitive opportunity for a new cooperative agreement awardee?
No. The notice describes this posting as a single-source continuation where the awardee has already been selected. That means it was not posted as a typical open competition for a new recipient at the cooperative agreement level.
If the cooperative agreement awardee was already selected, are there still competitive grants involved?
Yes. While the cooperative agreement described in this posting is characterized as a continuation with an already-selected awardee, the underlying Friends seed grants are described as small and competitive for project proposals within the Friends network.
Who is the expected awardee under this announcement?
The announcement references administration through a cooperative agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and indicates a single-source continuation with one expected award.
How many awards are expected under this announcement?
The expected number of awards is one, consistent with the single-source continuation language and the intent to fund NFWF to run the Friends grant program.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The supported activities center on three themes: start-up support for new Friends Groups, capacity building for existing Friends organizations, and targeted project funding that helps Friends Groups function as effective co-stewards of refuge resources while strengthening visitor engagement.
What does "start-up support" mean in the context of this program?
Start-up support refers to assistance intended to help establish new Friends Groups so they can begin effectively supporting national wildlife refuges as community-based partners.
What does "capacity building" include for existing Friends Groups?
Capacity building may include improvements that help volunteer organizations become more durable and effective, such as strengthening governance, improving outreach and communications, developing volunteer programs, and building partnerships that increase a group’s ability to contribute to refuge priorities.
What is meant by "targeted project funding"?
Targeted project funding supports practical conservation, visitor service, and educational efforts that align with refuge needs and help communicate the Refuge System mission to the public.
Does the program emphasize any specific type of project?
Yes. The agreement highlights an emphasis on Friends mentoring projects, intended to encourage knowledge transfer and peer support across the Friends network.
What are Friends mentoring projects?
Friends mentoring projects are designed to pair more experienced Friends organizations with newer or developing groups to help them build skills faster, avoid common pitfalls, and increase the overall effectiveness and reach of community support for refuges nationwide.
What broader outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The broader goal is to increase both the number of organizations assisting the National Wildlife Refuge System and the effectiveness of those organizations in delivering measurable conservation and public engagement outcomes.
Which subject areas or categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Education and Environment.
Which CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.654 (Refuges and Wildlife), with specific reference to visitor facility enhancements and refuge-related visitor services.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed.
Who is listed as eligible?
Eligibility is listed as nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). This aligns with NFWF’s nonprofit role in administering and re-granting support for local Friends projects.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was posted and created on April 16, 2015, and it was archived on May 16, 2015.
Is there a standard application closing date?
No. The notice indicates there is no conventional closing date because the awardee had already been selected.
Where can someone look for additional information or access details?
The notice points to a grants.gov link for further information or access issues.
Who is the contact person for this opportunity?
The listed Fish and Wildlife Service contact is Kevin Kilcullen, reachable at kevinkilcullen@fws.gov.
How does this program relate to local Friends Groups?
The program supports local Friends Groups as community-based partners of national wildlife refuges, helping them advance refuge conservation goals and strengthen visitor engagement through interpretation, environmental education, outreach, and related public-facing work.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F15AS00184) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
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| Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders Apply for F15AS00192 Funding Number: F15AS00192 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Youth Wetlands Restoration at INDU Not a Request for Proposals Apply for P15AC00713 NPS Funding Number: P15AC00713 NPS Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Engaging underserved students on National Wildlife Refuges Apply for F15AS00260 Funding Number: F15AS00260 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $50,996 |
| Ecological Services, Southeast Region, Division of Restoration and Recovery Apply for F15AS00290 Funding Number: F15AS00290 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ranchers Supply, Inc. Apply for F15AS00295 Funding Number: F15AS00295 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Student Scientists Series Apply for F15AS00329 Funding Number: F15AS00329 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Anecdotes to Evidence Highlighting the impact of Environmental Education Apply for F15AS00323 Funding Number: F15AS00323 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| Ocean Connectors Bird and Habitat Study Apply for F15AS00352 Funding Number: F15AS00352 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Condor Kids Program Apply for F15AS00358 Funding Number: F15AS00358 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $53,000 |
| Hands on the Land Apply for F15AS00393 Funding Number: F15AS00393 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $67,500 |
| 2016 American Solar Challenge Apply for NPS MWRO P15AC00625 Funding Number: NPS MWRO P15AC00625 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $90,000 |
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| Anchorage is for Birds, Urban Treaty Program Apply for 701818R077 Funding Number: 701818R077 Agency: Region 7 Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $65,000 |
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| Environmental Research Apprenticeship Program for Pre Baccalaureate College Students Apply for EPA ORD NRMRL ADA 2010 01 Funding Number: EPA ORD NRMRL ADA 2010 01 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEEF Environmental Education Initiatives Apply for FWS NCTC 2010 15 Funding Number: FWS NCTC 2010 15 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award Documentary Video Apply for FWS R8 DOCUMENTARY Funding Number: FWS R8 DOCUMENTARY Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Funding Amount: $60,000 |
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