F26AS00040_Fiscal Year 2026_Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG)_NOFO

The Tribal Wildlife Grants program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, and represents a long-standing federal investment in conservation efforts led by federally recognized Native American Tribes. Established under congressional appropriations beginning in 2002, the program is part of the broader State and Tribal Wildlife Grants framework but operates as a distinct competitive funding opportunity specifically for Tribes. The program reflects a federal commitment to supporting Tribal sovereignty, ecological stewardship, and culturally significant conservation practices by enabling Tribes to design and implement projects aligned with their environmental priorities. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial and technical assistance for projects that benefit fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats on lands of interest to Tribes. The program emphasizes flexibility, allowing Tribes to pursue conservation activities for species of cultural or traditional importance, regardless of whether those species are hunted, endangered, or formally listed in conservation plans. Program goals include enhancing habitat quality, restoring species populations, supporting subsistence and ceremonial practices, and strengthening Tribal capacity for long-term natural resource management. Funding under this opportunity may be used across a wide range of conservation-related activities. Allowable uses include conservation planning, habitat restoration, species monitoring, field and laboratory research, natural history studies, habitat mapping, conservation education, and invasive species management. Funds may also cover salaries, equipment, travel, consultant services, materials, and subawards. However, the program explicitly prohibits the use of funds for acquiring real property interests such as land, easements, or mineral rights. Projects may also include infrastructure components, subject to federal Buy America requirements, although a temporary waiver exists for smaller grants under certain thresholds. Eligibility for the program is strictly limited to federally recognized Tribal governments listed in the official Federal Register notice of recognized Tribes. While Tribes may collaborate with external organizations, only Tribal governments may serve as primary applicants, with partners participating as subrecipients or contractors. Applicants must be in compliance with reporting requirements from any previously awarded Tribal Wildlife Grants. There is no limit to the number of applications a Tribe may submit, but total funding requested per Tribe in a fiscal year cannot exceed the program’s maximum award ceiling. Importantly, the program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, reducing financial barriers to participation. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, GrantSolutions, email, or mail, following registration in SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. Required application components include standard federal forms such as the SF-424, budget forms, a project abstract, a detailed project narrative, and a budget narrative. The project narrative must address key elements such as need, objectives, methodology, expected results, monitoring plans, and partnerships. Additional documentation includes a Tribal resolution of support and disclosures related to conflicts of interest and duplication of effort. Applications are evaluated through a structured merit review process that considers criteria such as resource benefit, performance measures, work plan quality, budget justification, capacity building, and partnerships. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is August 14, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time for electronic applications. The review process includes eligibility screening, regional scoring, and national ranking, with a tiered selection approach that prioritizes high-scoring proposals and supports first-time Tribal applicants. Awards are expected to be announced in late 2026, with an anticipated project start date of November 21, 2026, and a typical period of performance ranging from two to three years, ending around November 20, 2029. The program includes extensive reporting and compliance requirements for awarded projects. Recipients must submit financial and performance reports, track progress against objectives, and document outcomes and lessons learned. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides regional contacts and technical assistance to support applicants throughout the process. Overall, the Tribal Wildlife Grants program serves as a critical funding mechanism for advancing Tribal-led conservation initiatives and strengthening ecological and cultural resilience across Tribal lands.

Focus on measurable conservation outcomes, strong monitoring plans, and clear alignment with Tribal priorities; emphasize capacity building and partnerships; ensure budget justification is detailed and compliant