State ANS Comprehensive Management Plan (CAFWS-180)
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations protecting and restoring Great Lakes habitats and species. Nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and private landowners may apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes Basin. Eligible work includes habitat identification, protection, conservation, management, enhancement, or restoration on public or private lands.
Priority focus is on highest-impact actions under the USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Program. No cost-sharing is required to apply.
This grant is for organizations protecting and restoring Great Lakes habitats and species. Nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and private landowners may apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes Basin. Eligible work includes habitat identification, protection, conservation, management, enhancement, or restoration on public or private lands.
Priority focus is on highest-impact actions under the USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Program. No cost-sharing is required to apply.
Program description
To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. Priority actions are to: identify, protect, conserve, manage, enhance or restore habitat or species on both public and private lands within the Great Lakes Basin USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Program Funding Federal Assistance Listing: 15.662. Administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 422-20-0117).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for organizations protecting and restoring Great Lakes habitats and species. Nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and private landowners may apply. Activities must occur within the Great Lakes Basin. Eligible work includes habitat identification, protection, conservation, management, enhancement, or restoration on public or private lands.
Priority focus is on highest-impact actions under the USFWS Great Lakes Restoration Program. No cost-sharing is required to apply.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Application form (via Illinois GATA Catalog)
- Project narrative describing goals, methods, and ecological outcomes
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of support (if private land involved)
Program contact
- 👤 Cooper, Melissa melissa.cooper@illinois.gov
- 📧 melissa.cooper@illinois.gov
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.662 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$17,348,237
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$15,031,566
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$14,174,757
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$10,024,505
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$9,074,913
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$9,054,943
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$8,937,294
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$7,718,060
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$7,405,665
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$7,252,913
Top States by Funding
- IL 9 awards $42.2M
- MI 25 awards $14.9M
- DC 1 awards $14.2M
- OH 9 awards $11.1M
- WI 8 awards $6.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, state and local government agencies, universities, and private landowners working in the Great Lakes Basin are eligible. Check with Illinois DNR for specific organizational requirements.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000. Total available funding is $150,000 per funding cycle.
What activities are supported?
Habitat protection, restoration, species conservation, enhancement, and management on public or private lands within the Great Lakes Basin.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant.
Is there a deadline?
The deadline is rolling. Check the Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA 422-20-0117) for specific application windows and submission dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact Illinois DNR before applying to confirm your project aligns with current restoration priorities. Alignment increases competitiveness significantly.
- Emphasize measurable ecological outcomes: habitat acreage, species population goals, water quality metrics. Vague restoration plans get rejected.
- Provide letters of support from landowners if your project involves private land. Permission and partnership strengthen applications.
- Budget clearly for technical assistance and on-the-ground work. Reviewers fund implementation, not just planning.
- Demonstrate long-term maintenance plans for restored habitats. One-time work without sustainability planning scores poorly.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Lacking clear ecological metrics or baseline data for success measurement. Proposing activities outside the Great Lakes Basin or unrelated to habitat/species protection. Failing to secure landowner cooperation for private land projects before submitting.
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