Opportunity Information: Apply for F25AS00286
The FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Region 5), funding opportunity number F25AS00286, is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to help States and Territories strengthen and carry out their programs for conserving and recovering species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The core purpose is practical, on-the-ground conservation that measurably helps threatened and endangered species under FWS jurisdiction, while also supporting work that can keep species from needing to be listed in the first place. The program is designed to fund projects that produce clear, direct benefits to species or the habitats they rely on, and applicants are expected to explain specifically how the proposed work advances recovery or reduces listing risk.
Eligible applicants are limited to State governments (State agencies) that have an active ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement with FWS, or that will enter into or reconfirm such an agreement within 30 days after the application deadline. Importantly, FWS cannot obligate federal funds until a complete, signed cooperative agreement is in place, so having that agreement finalized is a hard requirement for an award. While only States can receive the grant as the official recipient, the program allows partners such as counties, nonprofits, and conservation organizations to participate through the State as subgrantees when the work is aligned and mutually beneficial.
Funding can be used for a wide range of conservation activities, including management actions, applied research, monitoring, and outreach, or a combination of these approaches. To be considered, proposals must focus on conservation work for federally listed resident species that are already covered by the State’s Section 6 cooperative agreement. In addition, States may request funding to monitor species that are candidates or “eligible unlisted” by the application deadline, as well as species delisted due to recovery within the last five years. All projects must be voluntary conservation efforts carried out within the United States and must be consistent with approved or draft recovery plans; proposals cannot conflict with an approved recovery plan (see 50 CFR 81.2). Applications can cover brand-new projects or continuation projects; if a project is a continuation, the application must briefly summarize accomplishments so far and explain why continued funding is needed.
The opportunity also includes several notable compliance and allowability rules. If a project involves activities such as take, interstate transport, introduction outside a species’ historical range, or holding wildlife in captivity for more than 45 days, a permit from the Regional Director may be required, and an Environmental Assessment must be submitted in advance if those activities are anticipated (referenced at 50 CFR 81.9 and related requirements). The grant funds (and the required non-federal cost share) cannot be used to meet ESA regulatory obligations, such as Section 7 biological opinion compliance, mitigation/monitoring required under a Section 10 habitat conservation plan, or other federal mitigation requirements (including certain Clean Water Act permit mitigation). Applications also cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs. State administrative costs must either be covered by the State or built into the proposal consistent with federal cost principles. Generally, only costs incurred during the approved period of performance are reimbursable, although pre-award costs may be requested for certain necessary expenses if they are clearly described in the application and are approved in writing by the awarding agency, consistent with 2 CFR 200.458. Land acquisition is explicitly not eligible under this funding opportunity.
Key logistics from the posted notice include: the agency is the Fish and Wildlife Service; the assistance listing/CFDA number is 15.615 (Environment); the application deadline is September 19, 2025; and the listed award ceiling is $818,529. The selection emphasis is on proposals that clearly connect proposed actions to tangible conservation outcomes for eligible species and habitats, with a strong, specific explanation of how the work contributes to recovery or prevents future ESA listing.Apply for F25AS00286
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F25AS00286 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 5" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $818,529.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants (Region 5) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program (Region 5), funding opportunity number F25AS00286. It is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to help States and Territories strengthen and carry out programs that conserve and recover species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is practical, on-the-ground conservation that measurably benefits threatened and endangered species under FWS jurisdiction. The program also supports conservation work that can reduce the risk of species needing ESA listing in the first place. Applications are expected to explain specifically how the proposed work advances recovery or reduces listing risk.
Which agency is offering and administering this grant?
The agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number provided is 15.615 (Environment).
What is the application deadline?
The posted application deadline is September 19, 2025.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The listed award ceiling is $818,529.
Who is eligible to apply as the official applicant/recipient?
Eligible applicants are limited to State governments (State agencies) that have an active ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement with FWS, or that will enter into or reconfirm such an agreement within 30 days after the application deadline.
Is an ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement required to receive an award?
Yes. FWS cannot obligate federal funds until a complete, signed ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement is in place. Having that agreement finalized is a hard requirement for an award.
Can a State apply if its cooperative agreement is not yet finalized?
A State agency may apply if it will enter into or reconfirm an ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement within 30 days after the application deadline. However, federal funds cannot be obligated until the complete, signed cooperative agreement is in place.
Can counties, nonprofits, or conservation organizations apply directly?
No. Only States can receive the grant as the official recipient. However, partners such as counties, nonprofits, and conservation organizations may participate through the State as subgrantees when the work is aligned and mutually beneficial.
What kinds of projects or activities can be funded?
Funding may support a wide range of conservation activities, including management actions, applied research, monitoring, outreach, or a combination of these approaches, as long as the work produces clear, direct benefits to eligible species or the habitats they rely on.
What species must projects focus on to be eligible?
To be considered, proposals must focus on conservation work for federally listed resident species that are already covered by the State's Section 6 cooperative agreement.
Can the grant fund monitoring for candidate or unlisted species?
Yes. States may request funding to monitor species that are candidates or "eligible unlisted" by the application deadline.
Can the grant support work on species recently delisted due to recovery?
Yes. States may request funding for species delisted due to recovery within the last five years.
Where must the funded work take place?
All projects must be voluntary conservation efforts carried out within the United States.
Do proposed projects need to be consistent with recovery plans?
Yes. Projects must be consistent with approved or draft recovery plans, and proposals cannot conflict with an approved recovery plan (referenced at 50 CFR 81.2).
Are continuation projects allowed?
Yes. Applications can cover brand-new projects or continuation projects. If a project is a continuation, the application must briefly summarize accomplishments to date and explain why continued funding is needed.
Are there activities that may require a permit from the FWS Regional Director?
Yes. If a project involves activities such as take, interstate transport, introduction outside a species' historical range, or holding wildlife in captivity for more than 45 days, a permit from the Regional Director may be required (referenced at 50 CFR 81.9 and related requirements).
When is an Environmental Assessment required?
An Environmental Assessment must be submitted in advance if the application anticipates activities such as take, interstate transport, introduction outside a species' historical range, or holding wildlife in captivity for more than 45 days (as referenced in the notice along with 50 CFR 81.9 and related requirements).
Can grant funds be used to meet ESA regulatory obligations (for example, ESA Section 7 or Section 10 requirements)?
No. Grant funds and the required non-federal cost share cannot be used to meet ESA regulatory obligations. Examples listed include Section 7 biological opinion compliance and mitigation/monitoring required under a Section 10 habitat conservation plan.
Can grant funds be used for other federal mitigation requirements (including certain Clean Water Act permit mitigation)?
No. The notice indicates funds (and the required non-federal cost share) cannot be used for other federal mitigation requirements, including certain Clean Water Act permit mitigation.
Can the application include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs?
No. Applications cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.
Are State administrative costs allowed under this program?
State administrative costs must either be covered by the State or built into the proposal consistent with federal cost principles (as described in the opportunity information).
Are costs incurred before the award start date reimbursable?
Generally, only costs incurred during the approved period of performance are reimbursable. However, pre-award costs may be requested for certain necessary expenses if they are clearly described in the application and are approved in writing by the awarding agency, consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.
Is land acquisition eligible under this funding opportunity?
No. Land acquisition is explicitly not eligible under this funding opportunity.
What is emphasized in selection and review of proposals?
The selection emphasis is on proposals that clearly connect proposed actions to tangible conservation outcomes for eligible species and habitats, with a strong and specific explanation of how the work contributes to recovery or prevents future ESA listing.
What makes a proposal responsive to the program's intent?
A responsive proposal is one that focuses on practical conservation actions with clear, direct benefits to eligible species or habitats and that explains, in specific terms, how the work advances recovery goals or reduces listing risk.
Can projects include multiple components (for example, management plus monitoring plus outreach)?
Yes. The opportunity allows funding for management actions, applied research, monitoring, and outreach, including combinations of these approaches.
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