The Voice of Fish & Wildlife Agencies: Multistate Conservation Grant Program

Focus Areas

Multistate Conservation Grant Program

The Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) funds projects that address the regional or national level priorities of state fish and wildlife agencies.

The MSCGP was established in 2000 by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act, which amended the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperatively administer the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.

The Association solicits grant applications and makes “priority list” recommendations to the USFWS, which can only fund projects from the Association's list. Once the USFWS makes its final selection, AFWA notifies the successful applicants and then manages and monitors grant awards. Each year, up to $6 million is available to fund MSCGP projects. Projects may be funded for one, two or three years on a calendar year basis.

Eligibility Requirements

• Projects must benefit sport fish, wild birds or wild mammals since the funding comes from the Sport Fish Restoration Account and the Wildlife Restoration Fund.

• Projects must benefit (a) more than 26 states; (b) a majority of the states in a region of the USFWS; or (c) a regional association of state fish and wildlife agencies.

• A project must address a National Conservation Need (NCN), which are selected each year to establish the states' funding priorities for the grant program.

• Eligible grant recipients are (a) a state or group of states; (b) a non-governmental organization; and (c) the USFWS only for the purpose of conducting the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

• Any non-governmental organization that applies for a grant is required to certify that grant funds will not be used to fund any activity, project or program that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife, or to the regulated taking of fish.

2014 Multistate Conservation Grant Cycle

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is currently soliciting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the 2014 Multistate Conservation Grant Program. Please use the 2014 Letter of Intent Template . Additional program information and LOI instructions can be found here: MSCGP Funding Opportunity Announcement

LOIs must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format to the Multistate Conservation Grants Program Coordinator no later than 5:00pm (Eastern Time) on Monday, May 13, 2013. LOIs received after the deadline will not be considered. The National Grants Committee and appropriate AFWA committees will review and evaluate the LOIs. In June, the National Grants Committee will invite the applicants with the most competitive LOIs to submit a Full Grant Proposal for consideration.