F26AS00062: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act FY 2026

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act grant program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, and their habitats. This funding opportunity is authorized under federal legislation aimed specifically at restoring and sustaining the ecological health of the Great Lakes Basin. The program is supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and reflects a coordinated federal effort to address environmental degradation, habitat loss, invasive species, and declining wildlife populations across one of the most significant freshwater ecosystems in the world. The primary purpose of this grant program is to provide financial assistance to states, tribal governments, local governments, nonprofits, academic institutions, and other eligible entities to carry out projects that support conservation, restoration, research, and management of fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes Basin. Projects must directly contribute to outcomes such as restoring self-sustaining populations, improving habitat quality, minimizing contamination impacts, or protecting migratory species. Activities may include habitat restoration, barrier removal, research studies, monitoring programs, and ecosystem management efforts, provided they align with federal and regional conservation strategies. Funding is available through both grant agreements and cooperative agreements, depending on the project type. Restoration and research proposals are typically funded through grants, while larger, multi-state Regional Project proposals are funded through cooperative agreements involving substantial federal participation. Award amounts vary widely depending on the project scope, with smaller research and restoration efforts starting at a few thousand dollars and larger regional initiatives reaching up to several hundred thousand dollars. Funding cannot be used for certain restricted purposes, such as salaries of permanent staff under certain conditions or activities conducted prior to the authorized project start date. A cost-sharing requirement applies to most restoration and research proposals, requiring a minimum 25 percent non-federal match of total project costs. This match may include cash or in-kind contributions and must meet federal cost-sharing guidelines. Regional Project proposals may be exempt from this requirement under specific conditions determined by program leadership. Applicants must carefully document and justify all matching contributions, including allowable indirect costs and eligible land or conservation easement valuations. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entity types, such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, higher education institutions, small businesses, and individuals. However, all proposed activities must occur within the Great Lakes Basin or directly impact species located in the basin. The application process includes a structured, multi-phase submission pathway for most applicants. Restoration and research applicants must first submit a short pre-proposal, which is reviewed and scored by a Proposal Review Committee. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal with detailed project plans, budgets, and supporting documentation. Applications must be submitted electronically through the GrantSolutions platform by the stated deadline. Pre-proposals are limited in length and must include key elements such as project objectives, methods, budget estimates, and expected outcomes. Full proposals require expanded documentation, including budget justifications, evaluation criteria responses, and supporting materials such as resumes and letters of support. All applications undergo eligibility screening followed by merit-based evaluation using established review criteria that assess significance, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and potential impact. The review process is conducted by a multi-state and tribal Proposal Review Committee, supported by peer reviewers for technical evaluation. Final funding decisions are made by the regional leadership of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Applicants can expect notification of funding decisions between January and March following submission, with project performance periods typically beginning at the start of the calendar year. Projects are generally expected to span multiple years, with reporting and compliance requirements outlined in the award agreement. This program is offered on a recurring annual basis, providing ongoing opportunities for entities engaged in Great Lakes conservation efforts.

Align proposal with Great Lakes restoration priorities; clearly demonstrate measurable impact; ensure match requirement is met; follow formatting and submission instructions precisely