The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) 2025 Request for Proposals is now open for applications through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This fund supports projects that contribute to the restoration and protection of the Long Island Sound's health, habitat, and communities. The program is a partnership between NFWF, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Zoetis Foundation.
Applications for the LISFF are due by May 29, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. Awards will be announced in November 2025. Grants must begin within six months of award notification and must be completed within 24 months for most project types. Education projects may extend up to 36 months. Project start dates cannot be earlier than October 1, 2025.
Funding is available under several categories. Implementation grants range from $50,000 to $1.5 million for high-impact projects involving habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and resilience. Education and public participation grants range from $50,000 to $250,000, while design and planning projects may request between $50,000 and $500,000. All grants require a minimum 50 percent non-federal match. Larger match contributions improve a proposal's competitiveness.
Projects must fall within the Long Island Sound Watershed, with additional location-specific criteria depending on project type. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, local, state, and municipal governments, and educational institutions. Federal agencies, for-profit businesses, and individuals are not eligible to apply.
Projects must align with the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) 2020–2024 Update, which includes three key themes: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Competitive proposals will also address CCMP cross-cutting principles and performance metrics, and will engage local communities and diverse stakeholders in planning and implementation.
Technical assistance is available through NFWF and its partners, including one-on-one proposal labs and a grant writing assistance program for coastal communities in Connecticut and New York. Applicants must submit their applications through NFWF’s Easygrants system and include specific outcome metrics and documentation on project sustainability, compliance, and community impact.
For additional assistance, contact Victoria Moreno at Victoria.Moreno@nfwf.org or the Easygrants Helpdesk at Easygrants@nfwf.org.
