Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Grant Cycle 2026
🏛 Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
✓ Free, no account · Source: Montana WebGrants · Last verified May 31, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for wildlife habitat improvement and conservation projects in Montana. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, conservation organizations, tribal nations, and government agencies with conservation missions. Projects must create habitat uplift or net conservation gain for species of conservation need, or restore and improve terrestrial or aquatic habitats. The program funds work addressing noxious weeds, drought resilience, wildlife-domestic livestock conflicts, disease mitigation, and habitat restoration across Montana.
Activities include habitat improvement, water enhancement, range restoration, and support for state tribal wildlife programs. Priority goes to projects demonstrating measurable conservation outcomes. Match funding is not required.
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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
Required documents
- WHIP Grant Application Form
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Project Maps and Baseline Data
- Monitoring Plan
- Letters of Support (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Andrew Amidon
- 📧 andrew.amidon@mt.gov
- 📞 406-444-7291
FAQ
Who can apply for the WHIP grant?
Eligible organizations typically include conservation nonprofits, tribal nations, government agencies, and landowners with conservation focus. Contact Montana FWP directly to confirm your organization's eligibility.
What is the deadline?
Applications must be submitted by June 19, 2026. Check the WHIP Grant Application Instructions for specific submission procedures and portal details.
What types of projects are funded?
Projects addressing habitat restoration, water enhancement, range improvement, noxious weed control, and wildlife-livestock conflict mitigation. Work must demonstrate net conservation gain for species of conservation need.
How competitive is this grant?
Competitiveness varies by project quality and funding cycle demand. Projects with clear conservation metrics and stakeholder support score higher. Review scoring criteria in the guidance document.
How much funding is available?
Up to $2 million from the Habitat Legacy Account is distributed through WHIP annually. Individual award amounts are not specified; contact FWP for typical project ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the WHIP Grant Application Instructions and Scoring Criteria document carefully before drafting your proposal. Alignment with evaluation criteria is critical.
- Clearly define conservation outcomes with measurable metrics tied to species of conservation need. Vague habitat benefits weaken competitiveness.
- Demonstrate local or regional support through partnerships with landowners, tribal governments, or conservation groups. Collaboration strengthens applications.
- Budget realistically for implementation timeline and staff capacity. Underestimated costs or timelines hurt credibility.
- Include maps, baseline data, and monitoring plans showing how success will be tracked. Specific detail outweighs general claims.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail to define measurable conservation outcomes or species of conservation need alignment. Proposals lack baseline data, maps, or clear implementation timelines. Poor budget justification or unclear cost allocation reduces competitiveness scores.
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