F26AS00062: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act FY 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for fish and wildlife restoration, research, and regional projects in the Great Lakes Basin. States, Indian Tribes, and other eligible entities can apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes region or benefit Great Lakes species through research and assessment. Projects range from small restoration efforts to large multi-state regional initiatives.
Restoration and research proposals fund habitat work, barrier removal, and scientific studies. Regional Projects support multi-state fish and wildlife protection initiatives. Both project types are eligible for funding through grants or cooperative agreements.
Continuation proposals from prior years are welcome but reviewed as new submissions. CESU Network partners submitting regional projects must comply with CESU indirect cost caps.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
This grant is for fish and wildlife restoration, research, and regional projects in the Great Lakes Basin. States, Indian Tribes, and other eligible entities can apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes region or benefit Great Lakes species through research and assessment. Projects range from small restoration efforts to large multi-state regional initiatives.
Restoration and research proposals fund habitat work, barrier removal, and scientific studies. Regional Projects support multi-state fish and wildlife protection initiatives. Both project types are eligible for funding through grants or cooperative agreements.
Continuation proposals from prior years are welcome but reviewed as new submissions. CESU Network partners submitting regional projects must comply with CESU indirect cost caps.
Program description
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) requests interested entities to submit research, restoration, and Regional Project proposals for the restoration of the Great Lakes Basin fish and wildlife resources, as authorized under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (16U.S.C. 941c). The purpose of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA) is to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration, research, and management of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we expect approximately $3.5 million to support proposals this fiscal year. Available funding and proposal awards are subject to final Congressional appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026. Up to 33 and one-third percent of the total Congressional appropriation to the GLFWRA is eligible to fund Regional Project proposals. Expected award funding for Regional Project proposals is between $200,000 to $500,000. Successful restoration and research proposals have ranged from $2,000 to $500,000 with the average proposal at $217,843. Expected award funding for restoration and research proposals is between $10,000 and $250,000. Selected restoration and research proposals and Regional Project proposals will be awarded funding for the duration of the proposal via a grant or cooperative agreement between the recipient and the Service. Funding will be made available once the official award letter has been received by the successful applicant and the performance period has started. Continuation of proposals funded in previous fiscal years are eligible but will be considered and reviewed as a new proposal. Restoration and research proposals will be awarded a grant agreement and Regional Project proposals will be awarded a cooperative agreement under this announcement. Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network partners that submit Regional Project proposals that qualify as CESU proposals will be subject to the CESU indirect cost rate cap. Regional Projects are authorized activities of the Service related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement impacting the resources of multiple States or Indian Tribes with fish and wildlife management authority in the Great Lakes Basin. The two-page restoration and research pre-proposals and Regional Project proposals are submitted to the Service to determine eligibility and the Proposal Review Committee (PRC) scores and ranks the proposals using GLFWRA Review Criteria (Review Criteria). Successful restoration and research pre-proposal applicants are invited to submit full proposals, which are scored and ranked by the PRC using the Review Criteria. The PRC recommends the restoration and research full proposals and Regional Project proposals for funding to the Service”s Midwest Region 3 Regional Director for approval. Successful restoration and research and Regional Project proposal applicants can anticipate receiving an official grant or cooperative agreement award letter between January and March 2027.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Individuals
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for fish and wildlife restoration, research, and regional projects in the Great Lakes Basin. States, Indian Tribes, and other eligible entities can apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes region or benefit Great Lakes species through research and assessment. Projects range from small restoration efforts to large multi-state regional initiatives.
Restoration and research proposals fund habitat work, barrier removal, and scientific studies. Regional Projects support multi-state fish and wildlife protection initiatives. Both project types are eligible for funding through grants or cooperative agreements.
Continuation proposals from prior years are welcome but reviewed as new submissions. CESU Network partners submitting regional projects must comply with CESU indirect cost caps.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Two-page pre-proposal (restoration/research) or Regional Project proposal
- Budget and budget narrative
- Cost-sharing documentation
- Project timeline and deliverables
- Organizational qualifications and capacity statement
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 justin_chiotti@fws.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 15.688 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.688). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2025 | $227,099 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,910,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities in or near the Great Lakes Basin can apply. Both government agencies and nonprofit organizations are eligible if they meet the service requirements.
What are the two main proposal types?
Restoration/research proposals ($2,000–$250,000) and Regional Projects ($200,000–$500,000). Regional Projects impact multiple states or tribes. Restoration/research proposals go through a two-page pre-proposal first.
What kinds of activities does this fund?
Habitat restoration, barrier removal, fish and wildlife research, and species assessments. Activities must be within the Great Lakes Basin or benefit Great Lakes species.
When is the deadline and when will we hear about awards?
Deadline is August 3, 2026. Award letters typically arrive between January and March 2027.
What's the typical award size?
Restoration/research proposals average around $217,000. Regional Projects range $200,000–$500,000. Total pool is approximately $3.5 million.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with the two-page pre-proposal for restoration/research projects; only top-ranked pre-proposals advance to full proposal stage.
- Align your project clearly with GLFWRA Review Criteria; the Proposal Review Committee ranks all proposals using these specific standards.
- If you're a CESU Network partner submitting a Regional Project, confirm your indirect cost rate complies with CESU caps before budgeting.
- Include cost-sharing commitment in your budget; match funding is required and strengthens competitiveness.
- Regional Projects must demonstrate impact across multiple states or tribes with Great Lakes fish and wildlife management authority.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Pre-proposal applicants submit incomplete baseline data or vague conservation objectives instead of specific, measurable outcomes. Proposals underestimate cost-sharing requirements or fail to secure documented match commitments before submission. Applicants propose activities outside the Great Lakes Basin without clear documentation of regional species benefits.
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