Natural Resource Grants for Nonprofits

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · Amount varies

This NOAA Broad Agency Announcement for the Office of Education seeks applications for special projects tied to NOAA's strategic and mission goals, including education and environmental work. Eligibility is broad: higher-education institutions, nonprofits, commercial organizations, international or foreign organizations and governments, individuals, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply, subject to the statutory authority for the specific activity. Federal organizations cannot be funded. No specific award amount is stated; contact program officials and submit to the appropriate line-office BAA.

Fish and Wildlife Service · $1–$500K

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program provides technical and financial assistance for projects protecting and restoring fish and wildlife habitat in priority coastal ecosystems on public and private lands, through cooperative agreements. Projects must align with regional strategic plans; the program does not fund land acquisition or projects generating compensatory mitigation credits, and will not accept mitigation funds as non-federal cost share. All applicants are required to contact a local program office before applying. The stated maximum is about $500,000.

Fish and Wildlife Service · $1–$750K

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program funds habitat restoration and protection on private lands (including tribal, municipal, and non-governmental properties), mainly through cooperative agreements. Eligible projects must be on private lands and align with regional strategic plans; 501(c)(3) organizations should have IRS proof of status, and tribal applicants may need an authorizing resolution. All applicants are required to contact local PFW staff before applying. The stated maximum is about $750,000.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · Amount varies

This NOAA Fisheries Broad Agency Announcement solicits proposals for special projects aligned with the agency's strategic plan and mission goals. It's broadly open to universities, nonprofits, businesses, individuals, and tribal/state/local governments, and even foreign organizations, though federal agencies can't apply directly. Applicants should route submissions to the correct NOAA Line Office BAA rather than this general notice. The deadline is September 30, 2026.

Bureau of Land Management · $30K–$220K

This Bureau of Land Management program funds Qualified Youth Corps organizations to run natural and cultural resource projects on public lands employing youth ages 16 to 30 (veterans up to 35), including tribal members. Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible, so this is aimed at nonprofit/qualified youth corps entities. Note an important restriction: applicants seeking to hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act must instead apply under a separate companion NOFO (15.243). Award amounts range from about $30,000 to $220,000.

Bureau of Reclamation · $50K–$3M

This Bureau of Reclamation program funds water resource projects such as conservation and efficiency, infrastructure improvements, and watershed restoration, with awards from about $50,000 up to $3 million. Eligible applicants are states, tribes, irrigation and water districts, water/power authorities, certain nonprofit conservation organizations partnering with those entities, and qualifying watershed groups; applicants generally must be in the Western U.S. or named territories. Federal entities, individuals, and institutions of higher education are not eligible, and projects require a cost share (typically 25-50 percent of total cost). This is a geographically restricted opportunity aimed at water-management organizations.

Washington Headquarters Services · Up to $100M

A Department of War (Washington Headquarters Services) non-research cooperative agreement program to help manage and sustain DoW land in the U.S. through natural and cultural resource projects supporting installation resilience and military readiness. Eligibility is very broad: public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals are invited to apply. Awards range widely, up to about $100 million. The broad eligibility, including individuals, is unusual, so confirm specific requirements in the announcement.

Bureau of Reclamation · $50K–$300K

Open to watershed groups — and the states, tribes, local governments, special districts, nonprofits, or universities that sponsor them — located in 19 western states and several U.S. territories. Federal entities and individuals cannot apply. Funds forming watershed groups and planning watershed-restoration and water-management projects, with awards of about $50,000–$300,000. Eligibility is narrow: you must be or sponsor a qualifying watershed group in an eligible state.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

Natural Resources · $30K–$2M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp removal and monitoring activities in the Upper Mississippi River. Awards range from $30,000 to $2,000,000.

Department of Natural Resources · $10K–$10M

Open to government agencies, schools/universities, and nonprofits working on wildlife and habitat projects. Funds restoration, conservation, and management of wild birds and mammals and their habitat, plus public access, hunter education/safety, and shooting range development. Awards range widely from $10,000 to $10 million; no deadline is listed, so check with the funder for current cycle timing.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $250K–$30M

Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit companies, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply to this NOAA program for fish habitat restoration in the Great Lakes. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants can be located anywhere, but the proposed work must take place within the Great Lakes basin in one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN). Awards range from about $250,000 to $30 million, making this a large-award opportunity with a strong geographic restriction.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Asian carp control in the Ohio River Basin. Awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.

Natural Resources · Up to $150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources operational grant (FY26) funds entities specifically named in the state's annual appropriation bill (line-item/Member Initiatives), covering local governments, units of government, educational facilities, and not-for-profit organizations, with awards up to $150,000. Because eligibility is limited to entities already designated in the budget bill, organizations not named there cannot apply on their own initiative. No deadline is listed.

Department of Natural Resources · $10K–$10M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Restoration grant (FY26), which supports wildlife habitat restoration and related conservation activities. Awards range from $10,000 to $10,000,000. A detailed program description was not included in this listing.

Natural Resources · $1K–$45.1K

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds work to combat white-nose syndrome in bats and conserve affected species. Awards range from $1,000 to $45,088.

Bureau of Reclamation · $25K–$1.5M

The Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Drought Response Program funds drought-resilience projects (water storage and distribution improvements, source diversification, decision tools, and drought contingency planning), with awards from about $25,000 up to $1,500,000. Category A applicants are states, tribes, irrigation and water districts, and similar entities with water or power delivery authority located in the 17 Western states and listed U.S. territories; Category B is nonprofit conservation organizations partnering with a Category A entity. Federal entities, individuals, and institutions of higher education are not eligible, and applicants are limited to the Western U.S. and named territories. Some restrictions apply by location for drought contingency plans.

National Park Service · $1–$32.3K

This National Park Service grant is open only to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education, to provide research, technical assistance, and educational support to national parks in the National Capital Region. Awards are small, ranging from $1 to $32,270, under the CESU cooperative agreement framework; no deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp management and control in Illinois waterways, supporting Great Lakes restoration priorities. Awards range from $20,000 to $6,000,000.

Department of Natural Resources · $10K–$10M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Restoration grant (FY24), which funds projects to restore and manage wild bird and mammal habitat, expand public access to wildlife resources, hunter education and safety, and shooting range development. Awards range from $10,000 to $10,000,000.