Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00044
The Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program is a nationally competitive federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Its purpose is to provide funding to state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies, along with their partners, to carry out on-the-ground conservation work that benefits fish and wildlife species and the habitats they depend on. A key feature of this program is that it is not limited to game species; it also supports conservation for species that are not hunted or fished, which often have fewer dedicated funding sources.
Projects funded through C-SWG must directly support implementation of an approved State Wildlife Action Plan (often called a SWAP). These plans lay out each jurisdiction's priority species, habitats, threats, and specific conservation actions, and they must be approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or a designated official). In practical terms, this means proposals need to clearly connect proposed activities to specific SWAP goals, strategies, or actions, rather than describing general conservation benefits in broad terms.
Funding priority is expected to focus on Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), which are species identified in State Wildlife Action Plans as facing significant conservation challenges. The program also encourages applicants to consider the broader funding landscape for these species, meaning proposals should reflect awareness of where gaps exist and how C-SWG funds would address needs that are not already adequately supported through other programs or sources.
Because the program is competitive at the national level, proposals are evaluated and ranked against each other using scoring criteria published each year in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Those criteria are developed in coordination with state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), which helps ensure the scoring approach reflects shared conservation priorities and practical realities across jurisdictions. Applicants should expect that strong proposals will align closely with the published annual criteria and make a compelling case for conservation impact, feasibility, and relevance to SWAP implementation.
For the specific opportunity listed (Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00044), the assistance is provided as a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.634, within the environment and natural resources category. Eligible applicants include state governments, with additional eligibility details referenced in the opportunity materials. The opportunity was created on January 10, 2020, and had an original closing date of April 10, 2020. The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $1,000,000, and the program expected to make about 18 awards under this notice.Apply for F20AS00044
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.634.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 10, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program (F20AS00044) - FAQs
What is the Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program?
The Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program is a nationally competitive federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It provides funding to support on-the-ground conservation work that benefits fish and wildlife species and the habitats they rely on.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The purpose of C-SWG is to fund conservation actions carried out by state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies (and their partners) that directly benefit fish and wildlife species and their habitats.
Is this program limited to game species (hunted or fished species)?
No. A key feature of the C-SWG Program is that it is not limited to game species. It also supports conservation for non-game species, including species that are not hunted or fished and often have fewer dedicated funding sources.
Who administers and runs the program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula-based program?
This is a nationally competitive grant program. Proposals are evaluated and ranked against one another using scoring criteria published each year in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What must projects align with to be eligible for funding?
Projects funded through C-SWG must directly support implementation of an approved State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). Proposals should clearly link project activities to specific SWAP goals, strategies, or actions.
What is a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) in the context of this grant?
A State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is a jurisdiction-specific plan that identifies priority species, habitats, threats, and conservation actions. For C-SWG purposes, the SWAP must be approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or a designated official), and funded projects must support implementation of that plan.
How specific does the SWAP connection need to be in a proposal?
Proposals should do more than describe general conservation benefits. They should directly connect proposed activities to specific SWAP goals, strategies, or actions and explain how the project will help implement the plan.
Which species are expected to receive funding priority?
Funding priority is expected to focus on Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), which are identified in State Wildlife Action Plans as facing significant conservation challenges.
What are Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)?
SGCN are species identified within SWAPs as having significant conservation needs or challenges. The C-SWG Program is expected to prioritize proposals that benefit these species.
Does the program encourage applicants to consider other funding sources?
Yes. The program encourages applicants to consider the broader funding landscape for the species addressed in the proposal. Strong proposals should reflect awareness of funding gaps and explain how C-SWG funding would address needs that are not already adequately supported by other programs or sources.
How are proposals evaluated?
Because the program is competitive at the national level, proposals are evaluated and ranked using scoring criteria published annually in the NOFO. Strong proposals typically align closely with the annual criteria and present a compelling case for conservation impact, feasibility, and relevance to SWAP implementation.
Where do the annual scoring criteria come from?
The scoring criteria are published each year in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and are developed in coordination with state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).
What role does the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) play?
AFWA is involved in the coordination and development of the annual scoring criteria alongside state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies, helping ensure the scoring approach reflects shared conservation priorities and practical realities across jurisdictions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the specific opportunity described?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is F20AS00044.
What type of financial assistance is this opportunity?
For this opportunity, assistance is provided as a discretionary grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 15.634.
What is the general category of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity falls within the environment and natural resources category.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include state governments. The opportunity materials reference additional eligibility details beyond what is summarized here.
Can partners be involved in projects funded by this program?
Yes. The program supports work conducted by state, commonwealth, and territory fish and wildlife agencies along with their partners, as described in the opportunity overview.
When was this specific opportunity created?
This specific opportunity was created on January 10, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date for this opportunity was April 10, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) for this opportunity?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $1,000,000.
About how many awards were expected under this notice?
The program expected to make about 18 awards under this notice.
What should an applicant emphasize to be competitive?
Based on the information provided, applicants should emphasize a clear and direct link to SWAP implementation, alignment with the annual NOFO scoring criteria, a strong focus on Species of Greatest Conservation Need where relevant, and a credible explanation of conservation impact, feasibility, and how the proposed work fills unmet needs in the broader funding landscape.
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| Tribal Wildlife Grants Program Apply for F20AS00050 Funding Number: F20AS00050 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| BLM-CO Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project Apply for L20AS00081 Funding Number: L20AS00081 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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| Council-Selected Restoration Component 2020 Funded Priorities List 3a Apply for CP GT3 20 001 Funding Number: CP GT3 20 001 Agency: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $26,880,000 |
| Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Subsistence Harvest Surveys Apply for P20AS00048 Funding Number: P20AS00048 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NAWCA 2021-2 Canada Grants Apply for F20AS00066 Funding Number: F20AS00066 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| NAWCA 2021 Mexico Standard Grant Apply for F20AS00069 Funding Number: F20AS00069 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY 2020 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Traditional Conservation Grants Apply for F20AS00070 Funding Number: F20AS00070 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2020 Candidate Conservation Action Funds Apply for F20AS00071 Funding Number: F20AS00071 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Recovery Challenge Apply for F20AS00072 Funding Number: F20AS00072 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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