F25AS00286 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 5 | F25AS00286

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.

• 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.

Apply for F25AS00286

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