Tribal Wildlife Grants Program | F20AS00050

Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00050

The Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, designed specifically to help federally recognized Tribal governments develop and carry out wildlife conservation projects. The focus is on improving conditions for wildlife and their habitats, with particular attention to species that hold Tribal cultural or traditional importance. Importantly, the program is not limited to game species or popular recreational fish; it also supports conservation work for species that are not hunted or fished, which often includes sensitive, lesser-known, or culturally significant plants and animals tied to Tribal lifeways and traditions.

TWG sits under the broader umbrella of the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program, which provides conservation funding across States, territories, and Tribes under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. However, TWG is set up as a distinct Tribal-focused competitive program. Its funding traces back to the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-63), when Congress directed the Fish and Wildlife Service to use a portion of SWG appropriations to create a grant program specifically available to federally recognized Tribes. That same legislative direction allows the Secretary of the Interior, through the Service Director, to operate TWG separately, meaning it is not bound to the same provisions or requirements that apply to the SWG portion of funding. In practical terms, that separation is meant to better fit the unique governance, priorities, and conservation needs of Tribal nations.

A major purpose of TWG is to strengthen Tribal capacity to plan and implement on-the-ground conservation actions on Tribal lands. Many Tribal lands are located next to lands managed by the Department of the Interior, so projects can also produce regional conservation benefits that extend beyond reservation boundaries. The types of activities supported can include habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring and surveys, management planning, conservation education and outreach, and other actions that measurably improve wildlife populations and habitat quality. Because healthier fish and wildlife populations can increase sustainable hunting and fishing opportunities, TWG-funded work can benefit both on- and off-Tribal lands while also supporting Tribal food systems, subsistence practices, and cultural uses connected to wildlife.

The program also explicitly supports work that aligns with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). That includes project activities that help prevent species from needing to be listed in the first place, or that contribute to downlisting or delisting by addressing threats and improving population status. This makes TWG relevant not only for general wildlife conservation, but also for targeted recovery and proactive conservation efforts where Tribes can play a direct role in protecting at-risk species and habitats.

For the specific opportunity information provided, the grant is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00050) under CFDA 15.639, with an environmental and natural resources focus. Eligible applicants are federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The opportunity was created February 3, 2020, with an original closing date of May 4, 2020. Awards were anticipated for about 25 projects, with an award ceiling of $200,000 per award.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Wildlife Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.639.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 03, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 04, 2020. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).

Apply for F20AS00050

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