Focused Investment Partnerships (FIPs) Grant Program

The Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) Grant Program is a flagship funding initiative managed by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), a state agency dedicated to the long-term health of Oregon’s land and water. Established to align with board-identified ecological priorities, the FIP program represents a multi-year investment strategy that empowers collaborative partnerships to undertake landscape-scale restoration and conservation projects across the state. The current application window is open from February 18, 2026, to July 13, 2026, with a mandatory pre-application consultation required between February and May 26, 2026. The core objective of the FIP Grant Program is to fund high-performing partnerships that have the capacity and vision to deliver measurable ecological outcomes within a defined geography and scope. To be eligible for funding, proposed initiatives must align with one or more of OWEB's current ecological priorities, which include Aquatic Habitat for Native Species, Closed Lakes Basin Wetland Habitat, Dry-Type Forest Habitat, Estuaries Habitat, Oak and Prairie Habitat, and Sagebrush/Sage-Steppe Habitat. These priorities are updated every five years through a science-informed and publicly vetted process. FIP projects are expected to produce tangible conservation outputs through a strategic action plan and initiative work plan grounded in ecological theory and adaptive monitoring frameworks. Funding is structured to support initiatives over a six-year period, spanning three biennia. Each FIP initiative may receive up to $5 million per biennium, totaling a maximum of $15 million over six years. Project-level match is required, with varying match percentages: Engagement, Technical Assistance, and Monitoring grants require a 5% match, while Restoration, Land Acquisition, and Water Acquisition projects require a 25% match. Although match is tracked at the project level, estimated match funding must be presented in the initiative-level budget to support evaluation. Eligible applicants include a broad array of public and nonprofit entities, provided they are listed as Core Partners in the FIP Partnership Agreement. Core Partners may include Tribes, watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, nonprofit corporations, public and independent institutions of higher education based in Oregon, schools, and other political subdivisions that are not state agencies. All Core Partners are eligible to apply for project-level grants under the broader initiative. To qualify, partnerships must demonstrate a history of collaborative implementation, maintain governance documentation, and submit a strategic action plan aligned with OWEB guidance. The application process is rigorous and includes a required virtual pre-application consultation with OWEB staff. Prior to this consultation, prospective applicants must submit a map of the proposed initiative area, a list of core partners, and a one-page overview of their ecological goals. The full application includes a narrative covering strategies and conservation actions, ecological outcomes, community engagement, climate adaptation strategies, performance monitoring, governance structures, and partner roles. Required uploads include a detailed work plan for the first biennium, draft work plans for the subsequent biennia, partnership governance documents, and a signed letter of participation from each Core Partner. Each project within the initiative must later be submitted as a separate project-level grant for funding and tracked through completion. Evaluation of FIP applications includes a technical review of project-level grant proposals submitted throughout the initiative lifecycle. Partnerships are expected to submit biennial progress reports to the OWEB Board and participate in ongoing learning and monitoring activities coordinated by OWEB. All applications are submitted through OWEB’s online grant portal, and potential applicants are encouraged to contact staff for technical assistance. Contact persons include Eric Hartstein (503-910-6201), Jillian McCarthy (971-345-7016), Denise Hoffert (971-701-3206), and Eric Williams (971-345-7014).

Strong proposals align clearly with ecological priorities and include measurable outputs, effective governance, and detailed work plans.