F26AS00040_Fiscal Year 2026_Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG)_NOFO
Can you apply?
This grant is for federally recognized Tribal governments working on fish and wildlife conservation. Eligible applicants are Tribes listed in the Federal Register Notice of Indian Entities Recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribes must be current on all reporting requirements from previous awards before applying.
No single Tribe may receive multiple grants in one fiscal year totaling more than $200,000. Tribes may submit multiple applications but funding will be consolidated if the combined request exceeds this limit. The program supports planning, research, habitat work, and species monitoring across any fish or wildlife species of cultural importance to the Tribe.
Program description
Tribal Wildlife Grants provide technical and financial assistance to federally recognized Tribes for the development and implementation of programs that benefit fish and wildlife and their habitats. Funding may be used for conserving any plant or animal species of interest to a Tribe, including those of Native American cultural or traditional importance. The grants are an adaptable resource supporting tribal conservation priorities. Species targeted in a project are not restricted to those that are hunted, fished, or gathered, listed as threatened or endangered, or identified in a conservation plan.Activities may include but are not limited to:planning for wildlife and habitat conservationfish and wildlife conservation and management actionsfish- and wildlife-related laboratory and field researchnatural history studieshabitat mappingfield surveys and species population monitoringhabitat protection and enhancementconservation educationFunding may be used for salaries, equipment, consultant services, subawards, materials, and travel costs.For more information, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service”s Tribal Wildlife Grants Home Page (https://www.fws.gov/service/tribal-wildlife-grants).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed application form
- Project narrative or proposal
- Budget and budget narrative
- Tribal resolution or letter of support
- Evidence of Tribal eligibility (Federal Register Notice listing)
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 dj_monette@fws.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.639 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$200,000
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$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
-
$200,000
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$200,000
Top States by Funding
- AK 18 awards $3.6M
- CA 13 awards $2.6M
- WA 12 awards $2.4M
- FL 7 awards $1.4M
- MN 7 awards $1.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.639). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $4,209,000 | |
| 2020 | $3,384,103 | |
| 2021 | $6,000,000 | |
| 2022 | $5,999,998 | |
| 2023 | $5,200,000 | |
| 2024 | $6,100,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $6,100,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $6,100,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for Tribal Wildlife Grants?
Only federally recognized Tribal governments listed in the current Federal Register Notice of Indian Entities are eligible. Your Tribe must be in good standing with reporting requirements from previous awards.
Can my Tribe submit multiple applications in one year?
Yes, but the total federal funding requested across all applications cannot exceed $200,000. If multiple applications exceed this amount, only the highest-scoring ones will be funded.
What activities and costs can the grant support?
Funding covers wildlife planning, conservation actions, research, habitat work, surveys, monitoring, and education. Salaries, equipment, consultants, subawards, materials, and travel are all allowable expenses.
What species can we target with this grant?
You can focus on any plant or animal species of interest to your Tribe, including those with cultural or traditional importance. The species do not need to be hunted, endangered, or listed in a conservation plan.
When is the application deadline and what is the funding range?
The deadline is August 14, 2026. Individual grants range from $25,000 to $200,000.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start by reviewing the Federal Register Notice to confirm your Tribe's eligibility status before investing time in an application.
- Plan your budget carefully. If submitting multiple applications, calculate total federal requests to stay under the $200,000 cap per Tribe per year.
- Document that all previous grant reports are complete before submitting. Any outstanding reports can delay your application review or trigger ineligibility.
- Clearly connect your project to cultural or traditional significance of the species or habitat. This helps demonstrate tribal priorities and conservation value.
- Include letters of support from Tribal leadership and any partner agencies. This strengthens the case for funding your specific conservation priorities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting applications without confirming your Tribe's current eligibility status in the Federal Register Notice. Not completing required reports from previous awards before the application deadline. Requesting combined federal funding across multiple applications that exceeds the $200,000 annual cap per Tribe.
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