The Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), seeks proposals to enhance fish, wildlife, habitat, and water quality in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes basin. For the 2025 funding cycle, SOGL will award up to $8.7 million in grants to projects that align with program priorities, including habitat restoration, green stormwater infrastructure, invasive species control, and community engagement at restored habitats. Significant funding is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in partnership with federal and private organizations.
Program Priorities:
The 2025 grant program emphasizes projects in four key areas:
Habitat Restoration to Conserve Species and Improve Water Quality: Focuses on stream and riparian restoration, benefiting species like brook trout and lake sturgeon, and improving water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient inputs.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI): Supports natural solutions to mitigate stormwater runoff, reduce flooding, and improve water quality while enhancing community greenspaces.
Invasive Species Control: Funds retreatment of invasive species in previously restored habitats to sustain their ecological value.
Activating Restored Habitats and Greenspace: Promotes community engagement, public access, and stewardship of restored habitats to ensure long-term benefits.
Grants range from $200,000 to $1,000,000, and projects typically span 2-3 years. Matching contributions are encouraged but not required, with a 1:1 match ratio making applications more competitive. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and local, state, Tribal, or municipal governments. Federal agencies and for-profit entities are not eligible.
Application Process:
Pre-Proposal Deadline: February 11, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET.
Invitations for Full Proposals: March 14, 2025.
Full Proposal Deadline: April 11, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET.
Applications must be submitted via NFWF’s Easygrants system. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an informational webinar on January 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET, and to review guidance materials available on the NFWF website.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals are assessed on conservation merit, technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. Projects must include performance metrics and monitoring plans to track ecological outcomes, such as acres of habitat restored or gallons of stormwater retained annually.
For assistance, applicants can contact Aislinn Gauchay at 612-564-7284 or Traci Giefer at 612-564-7296, or email the Easygrants Helpdesk for technical support at Easygrants@nfwf.org. Further details and resources are available on the NFWF website.
