USFWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program was established by Title III of P.L. 101-646, Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1990. Under the Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides matching grants to States for acquisition, restoration, management or enhancement of coastal wetlands. The Act also establishes a role for the Fish and Wildlife Service in interagency wetlands restoration and conservation planning in Louisiana. To date, about $183 million in grant monies have been awarded to 25 coastal States and one U.S. Territory and to acquire, protect or restore over 250,000 acres of coastal wetland ecosystems.

USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
In Wisconsin, 85 percent of the land base is privately owned. Likewise, the fish and wildlife that residents and visitors watch, photograph and harvest spend some or all of their life cycles on private lands. Wisconsin’s fish and wildlife populations depend on private lands. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program works one-on-one with private landowners to improve respective fish and wildlife habitats. During initial site visits, program biologists work with private landowners to identify potential projects and assess the feasibility of restoring native plant communities on their properties. If private lands are eligible for the PFW program, a wildlife management agreement and plan will be developed to get projects underway. The involvement and commitment of landowners to improve their lands for fish and wildlife habitat makes them better stewards of Wisconsin’s natural resources. This program is a good source of funding for private landowners interested in doing wetland restoration work on their own property.

Natural Resources Foundation Besadny Grant Program
The C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program promotes the responsible stewardship of Wisconsin's natural resources at the local level by providing matching grants for small-scale, natural resource projects and programs. The Besadny Conservation Grant Program is supported by the Besadny Conservation Endowment and the ATC Environmental Stewardship Fund. Grants awarded through this program range from $100 to $1,500. Grants must be matched 100% by recipient organizations either through cash or in-kind donations. Grant applications must be received in the Natural Resources Foundation office by January 15 of the year in which the grants are awarded. Funds are awarded in early March of each year.

USFWS Private Stewardship Grants Program
The Private Stewardship Program provides grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservation efforts that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species. Diverse panels of representatives from State and Federal Government, conservation organizations, agriculture and development interests, and the science community assess applications and make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior, who awards the grants. The Private Stewardship Program was initiated during Fiscal Year 2002, with grants first awarded during Fiscal Year 2003. For 2005, the Service awarded more than $5.7 million in Federal funding under the Private Stewardship Program. A ten percent (10%) match of cash or through in-kind contributions is required. The program is available to private landowners and their partners.

USFWS Great Lakes Coastal Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes Coastal Program is accepting project proposals for the 2008 grant cycle. Beginning in 2008, the Coastal Program-Great Lakes will be accepting project applications throughout the year and entering into cooperative agreements on an ongoing basis, though it is highly recommended that project applications be received by February 22. The Coastal program focuses efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in bays, estuaries and watersheds around the Great Lakes basin. The Service provides funding through the program to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitats and to support healthy coastal ecosystems. Because coastal areas have the highest population densities in the country and are expected to face continuing population pressures, there is a strong need for action to protect and restore these habitats.

USFWS Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grants Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking pre-proposals for conservation projects to restore Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources through its Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grants Program. This program provides federal grants on a competitive basis to states, tribes and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources and their habitat in the Great Lakes basin. The projects are funded under authority of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006.

Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants
The Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program is a partnership between NACo, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Council, and made possible with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This wetland restoration funding program provides challenge grants, technical support and opportunities for information exchange to enable community-based restoration projects. Funding levels are modest, from $5,000 to $20,000, with $10,000 as the average amount awarded per project. However, when combined with the contributions of partners, projects that make a meaningful contribution to communities become possible. At the completion of Five Star projects, each partnership will have experience and a demonstrated record of accomplishment, and will be well-positioned to take on other projects. Aggregating over time and space, these grassroots efforts will make a significant contribution to our environmental landscape and to the understanding of the importance of healthy wetlands and streams in our communities.

Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
The goal of GLAHNF’s grants program is to provide financial support to advocacy activities that strengthen the role of individuals and community groups working locally to protect and restore shorelines, inland lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Advocacy work, as defined here, involves local community members actively promoting aquatic habitat protection by influencing community and/or individual behavior or opinion, corporate conduct, and/or public policy.

There are four funding programs in the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund: the Project Grants Program, the Technical Assistance Grants Program, the Special Opportunities Grants Program and the Theme Grants Program. You can apply for a Project Grant only or a Project Grant and a Technical Assistant Grant. The Project Grants Program provides grant awards ranging from $500 to $3,500 USD to be used for specific project expenses for river, lake, and wetland protection.

USFWS & WDNR Landowner Incentive Program
The Landowner Incentive Program is a cost-share program that helps private landowners by providing financial and technical assistance to manage and restore habitat for at-risk species on their land. The program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and administered by the DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources. LIP provides up to 75% of the costs for eligible projects. At-risk species are rare plants and animals such as those listed as state or federally endangered or threatened, state special concern or species of greatest conservation need.

WDNR Lake Protection Grants
Counties, towns, cities, villages, tribes, qualified lake associations, public inland lake districts, qualified nonprofit conservation organizations, town sanitary districts, and other local governmental units as defined in s. 66.0301 (1) )(a) Wis. Stats. established for lake management, are eligible to apply for funding to protect and improve the water quality of lakes and their ecosystems.

Grant awards may fund up to 75 percent of project costs (maximum grant amount $200,000). Because of the size, complexity, and technical nature of many projects, a pre-application meeting with the DNR is highly recommended, especially if the project requires plan or permit approvals. This will ensure the application will be complete and can be evaluated and considered for funding. Eligible projects include restoration of wetlands and shorelands that will protect a lake's water quality or its natural ecosystem (these grants are limited to $100,000). Special wetland incentive grants of up to $10,000 are eligible for 100 percent state funding if the project is identified in the sponsor's comprehensive land use plan.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act) of 1989 provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Act was passed, in part, to support activities under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international agreement that provides a strategy for the long-term protection of wetlands and associated uplands habitats needed by waterfowl and other migratory birds in North America. In December 2002, Congress reauthorized appropriations for the Act through Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, reflecting its and the public’s support of the Act’s goals. Congress increased the appropriation authorization to $55 million in 2003, with $5 million increases to occur annually until FY 2007, when the appropriation cap will be $75 million..

Fund for Wild Nature

The Fund for Wild Nature provides money for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity. FWN funds advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors. Activities that are not eligible include basic scientific research, private land acquisition, individual action or study, or conferences. FWN will only fund media projects that have a clear strategic value and a concrete plan for dissemination of the final product.

Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP)
The Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) is administered under the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and uses existing authority to enhance the delivery of WRP. Specifically, WREP provides an avenue for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to form special partnerships with others to improve or expand the delivery of WRP, including, but not limited to, easement acquisition and activities associated with wetland restoration, creation, or enhancement. Additionally, NRCS may use WREP to obtain assistance with easement management activities from those who have the appropriate expertise, as determined by the Chief of NRCS.

For Federal fiscal year (FY) 2005, NRCS, on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, is making $4,045,000 million in financial assistance available for WREP partnership proposals: 1) that address wetland creation and enhancement efforts on easements enrolled in prior years; 2) where partners will contribute significantly to WRP technical assistance costs; and 3) that provide assistance with managing easement projects.

Citizen-Based Monitoring Partnership Program
The purpose of the Citizen-based Monitoring Partnership Program is to provide funding and support to initiate or expand citizen-based monitoring programs involved in the monitoring of aquatic and terrestrial plants, animals and their habitats. $100,000 is available for the 2007 funding period.

Dane County Environmental Council Capital Grants Program
As a part of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk’s Land and Water Legacy initiative, the Dane County Environmental Council competitively awards grants of up to $5,000 to support not-for-profit conservation organizations’ capital projects that improve, protect and enhance land management and water quality in Dane County. Projects must be conducted within Dane County and must provide clear and significant public benefits. The grants may be used for equipment purchases, equipment rentals, construction of conservation measures, or maintenance of previously constructed conservation measures.

WDNR Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Control Grants
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Control Grants are designed to assist in a state/local partnership to control aquatic invasive species. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was directed to establish procedures to award cost-sharing grants to public and private entities for up to 50% of the costs of projects to control invasive species. These funds are available to units of local government and others for grants to control aquatic invasive species. The grant projects are broken down into three major categories:
1) Education, Prevention and Planning
2) Early Detection and Rapid Response
3) Controlling Established Infestations
Grants are available to conduct projects on all waters of the state, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and the Great Lakes.

ERA/NOAA Estuary Habitat Restoration Program
The Estuary Habitat Restoration Program currently seeks projects that achieve cost-effective restoration of ecosystems while promoting increased partnerships among agencies and between public and private sectors. Projects will be evaluated for their support of the Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy, which aims to ensure a comprehensive approach to restoration activities and to foster the coordination of federal and non-federal efforts. Projects funded under this program will contribute to the Estuary Habitat Restoration Strategy goal of restoring 1,000,000 acres of estuary habitat. Eligible habitat restoration activities include re-establishment of chemical, physical, hydrologic, and biological features and components associated with an estuary.

Native Plant Conservation Initiative- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is offering the 2005 Native Plant Conservation Initiative, which provides federal dollars to nonprofit organizations and government agencies to promote the conservation of native plants. There is a strong preference for "on-the-ground" projects that involve local communities and citizen volunteers in the restoration of native plant communities. Projects that include a pollinator conservation component are also encouraged. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000 with an average grant size of $15,000. It is expected that all grant funds will be matched by non-federal contributions from project partners.

NOAA Community-based Restoration Program Direct Grants
Through NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program, funds are provided to implement individual, grass-roots restoration projects to restore fish habitat. The program invites the public to submit proposals for available funding to implement grass-roots habitat restoration projects that will benefit living marine resources, including anadromous fish, under the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program. The Federal Funding Opportunity (link below) describes the conditions under which applications (project proposals) will be accepted under the CRP and describes criteria under which applications will be evaluated for funding consideration. Projects funded through the CRP will be expected to have strong on-the-ground habitat restoration components that provide educational and social benefits for people and the communities in addition to long-term ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a project grant or cooperative agreement mechanism.

NFWF Pulling Together Initiative: Partnerships to Manage Invasive Weeds
The Pulling Together Initiative, a program of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), supports nonprofit organizations and government agencies interested in managing invasive and noxious plant species through the formation of local Weed Management Area (WMA) partnerships. These partnerships engage federal resource agencies, state and local governments, private landowners, and other interested parties in developing long-term weed management projects within the scope of an integrated pest management strategy. To be competitive, a project must prevent, manage, or eradicate invasive and noxious plants through a coordinated program of public/private partnerships. In addition, funded projects should increase public awareness of the adverse impacts of invasive and noxious plants.

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program
Approximately $1,500,000 is available through the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) to enhance and restore coastal resources within the state’s coastal zone - all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan, with their 820 miles of shoreline. 2006-07 Coastal Management Grants are available for coastal land acquisition, wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resources and community planning, Great Lakes education, and public access and historic preservation.

Great Lakes Watershed Restoration Program
NOAA is partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S.D.A. Forest Service to fund the Great Lakes Watershed Restoration Program. This is a new program designed to demonstrate real, on-the-ground commitment to improving water quality and ecological health of the Great Lakes Basin. Funding will focus on habitat restoration, water quality improvements, watershed planning and management, applied research, and conservation education. A total of more than $700,000 will be available for grants ranging from $35,000 to $100,000.

Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program for Friends Groups
The Wisconsin Legislature has allocated $46 million annually through 2010 to provide outdoor recreational opportunities, protect sensitive lands, and conserve and restore wildlife habitat. Each year, $250,000 will be set aside in a special grant program for Friends groups and nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) to improve facilities, build new recreation projects and restore habitat on state properties. The program recognizes the important role these groups play in meeting the development and restoration needs of state properties.

NFWF Bring Back the Natives Aquatic Species Program
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in cooperation with its partner agencies, requests pre-proposals from nonprofit organizations; universities; Native American tribes; and local, state, and federal agencies interested in restoring native populations of sensitive or listed aquatic species for its Bring Back the Natives (BBN) program. The initiative funds on-the-ground efforts to restore native aquatic species to their historic range. Projects should involve partnerships between communities, agencies, private landowners, and organizations that seek to rehabilitate streamside and watershed habitats, and should focus on habitat needs of species such as fish, invertebrates, and amphibians that originally inhabited waterways across the United States.

LoonWatch Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award
Since 1986, the loon research award has provided funding for original research that leads to better understanding and management of loon populations. LoonWatch will accept proposals for research conducted in North America on any Gavia species. Research on behavior, breeding ecology, migration, winter ecology, toxicology and evolution will be considered. Proposals addressing human impacts to loons will be given special consideration. The award will be designated for research that will be conducted during the 2008 calendar year. The maximum grant is $2,000. A portion of the award is funded by the North American Loon Research Endowment.

Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership Grants
The Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) wants help in identifying possible wetlands restoration projects for the group to fund. Nonprofit groups, and state and local government agencies are eligible. CWRP is a public-private partnership in which corporations contribute funds that are then matched by federal and state funds to undertake restoration of wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems. CWRP is coordinated by Coastal America, a federal office representing 13 federal departments and agencies. The group was formed in 1999 in Massachusetts, expanded to the rest of New England in 2000, and has accomplished dozens of projects on the east and west coasts, and Alaska. CWRP is now looking for Midwest projects. In the Midwest, CWRP is being assisted by the Environmental Protection Agency.