Copy – FWP Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Grant Cycle 2026 – TEST
🏛 Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
✓ Free, no account · Source: Montana WebGrants · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and entities seeking to improve wildlife habitat in Montana. Land trusts, nonprofits, Native American tribes, landowners, and conservation organizations can apply. Projects must benefit species of conservation need or restore aquatic/terrestrial habitat through conservation activities. The program prioritizes habitat uplift, water enhancement, range improvement, weed mitigation, and wildlife-livestock conflict reduction across Montana.
Eligible activities include habitat restoration, water quality improvements, drought resilience projects, and disease mitigation between wildlife and livestock. Applicants must demonstrate how their project creates net conservation gain or addresses specific habitat needs.
The program distributes up to $2 million annually from the Habitat Legacy Account. All projects must align with state wildlife conservation priorities.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
WHIP applications must be submitted by June 19th, 2026. The Kelly Flynn Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program and Legacy Act provides up to $2M of Habitat Legacy Account funds to be distributed through the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) for conducting projects that would create habitat uplift or net conservation gain for species of conservation need or restore, rehabilitate, improve, or manage land or water as wildlife or aquatic habitat through habitat improvement or conservation. Projects must address one or more of the following;improve, conserve, protect, or maintain terrestrial or aquatic habitats; water enhancement projects to benefit aquatic habitat and allow for other watershed enhancements that benefit fish, wildlife, and water conservation; improve, maintain, or restore range conditions and increase drought resilience; address and mitigate detrimental impacts to wildlife habitat and the environment, and improve the condition of the land due to noxious weeds, soil disturbance, or loss of diverse habitat communities; mitigate conflicts and reduce the potential for disease transmission between wildlife and domestic livestock; support activities and employees of the state tribal wildlife programs or create habitat uplift and net conservation gain for species of conservation need. IMPORTANT: For more detatiled information about Grant Application Instructions, WHIP Terminology, WHIP Grant Application Scoring Criteria, and Q&A about WHIP, see the “WHIP Grant Application Instructions – FAQs document, and Guidance Document in the “
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Grant application form (WHIP specific)
- Project narrative with habitat goals and conservation outcomes
- Budget and budget narrative
- Letters of support from relevant agencies or partners
- Maps showing project location and habitat conditions
- Monitoring and evaluation plan
Program contact
- 👤 Andrew Amidon
- 📧 andrew.amidon@mt.gov
- 📞 406-444-7291
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for WHIP grants?
Nonprofits, land trusts, tribal organizations, conservation groups, and private landowners can apply. Contact Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for specific eligibility verification.
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by June 19, 2026. The grant cycle completes by September 30, 2027.
What types of projects are funded?
Habitat restoration, water enhancement, range improvement, noxious weed mitigation, wildlife disease control, and aquatic habitat projects. Projects must benefit species of conservation need.
How much funding is available?
Up to $2 million is distributed annually from the Habitat Legacy Account. Individual award amounts are not specified publicly.
How competitive is this grant?
Scoring criteria favor projects with clear conservation outcomes and net habitat gain. Contact FWP for detailed scoring rubric details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the WHIP Grant Application Instructions and FAQs document before drafting your proposal. Terminology and scoring criteria are critical.
- Clearly articulate how your project creates "net conservation gain" for species of conservation need. This is the core evaluation criterion.
- Include specific habitat metrics and restoration targets. Vague or general conservation language scores poorly.
- Connect your project to Montana's wildlife management priorities. State alignment strengthens competitiveness.
- Budget for monitoring and evaluation activities. Funders prioritize projects that track and document habitat improvements over time.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack clear conservation metrics or fail to demonstrate net habitat gain for priority species. Proposals without concrete habitat targets or monitoring plans are typically rejected. Projects that don't align with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' identified conservation needs rarely succeed.
Similar grants
- CLOSED FWP Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Grant Cycle 2026 — Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- CLOSING SOON F26AS00062: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act FY 2026 — Fish and Wildlife Service
- OPEN AGR Noxious Weed Trust Fund 2027 Development — Montana Department of Agriculture
- OPEN AGR Noxious Weed Trust Fund 2027 Statewide Education Program – 3 Year — Montana Department of Agriculture
- OPEN F26AS00105 National Fish Passage Program — Fish and Wildlife Service