2025-2027 Wildlife Diversity Grant Funding

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is offering a funding opportunity through its Wildlife Diversity Grant Program for the 2025–2027 biennium. This initiative is part of the state’s ongoing commitment to restore and protect biodiversity across Washington. With a total of approximately $2 million available, the program is intended to support projects that benefit some of the state’s most imperiled wildlife species. The funding originates from a legislative investment aimed at expanding conservation efforts, enabling strategic recovery actions, and informing land use and habitat management decisions. The program is designed to assist a broad range of conservation partners—including public agencies, non-profits, academic institutions, and tribal entities—by equipping them with the financial resources necessary to advance wildlife recovery efforts. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with one of these organizational types. Individual applicants and for-profit entities are not eligible under the current guidelines. Each funded project must be implemented within the state of Washington and must occur within the performance window from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Awards will range between $40,000 and $400,000 per project, with the department expecting to support between ten and fifteen projects. The program encourages collaborative partnerships and data collection initiatives that are aimed at preserving biodiversity and avoiding new species listings. Allowable uses of the funding include on-the-ground recovery actions, data collection to support policy and management decisions, and other conservation-focused activities. No mention is made of cost-share or match requirements, indicating that there may be none required for this round of funding. The application process opens on November 1, 2024, and closes on January 19, 2025. All proposals must be submitted by the deadline through the specified WDFW channels, with further instructions available on their website. The Department is also hosting a virtual information session on November 13, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to explain the opportunity and respond to questions. Prospective applicants must register in advance to attend this session. Once the submission window has closed, WDFW will begin its review and evaluation of proposals during Spring 2025. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in May 2025. Evaluation criteria were not detailed in the release but are expected to focus on the project's alignment with program objectives, potential conservation impact, and the applicant's capacity to execute the work effectively. Although no recurring language was explicitly used in the opportunity description, the program is expected to continue in future biennia due to legislative backing, suggesting a likelihood of future funding rounds. For questions related to the grant or proposal process, applicants are encouraged to contact Jenna Judge at 564-233-5839 or via the Department's accessibility team. Additional inquiries may be directed to media contact Anour Esa at 564-233-8339.