F26AS00006 2026 Multistate Conservation Grant Program Announcement

The 2026 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), supports regional and national projects that address the priority needs of state fish and wildlife agencies. These priorities are determined annually by AFWA with input from state agencies, conservation organizations, academic institutions, and industry partners. The program is authorized under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, as amended. The MSCGP consists of two funding tracks: Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) and R3 Multistate Conservation Grants (R3-MSCG), the latter focusing specifically on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) efforts for hunters and recreational shooters. The MSCGP offers approximately $11 million in total funding for 2026, with $6 million allocated for T-MSCG and $5 million for R3-MSCG projects. The award ceiling for T-MSCG applications is $625,000, while R3-MSCG proposals may request up to $1,000,000. The program anticipates making around 45 awards. Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Projects must benefit a majority of U.S. states, a majority of states within a Fish & Wildlife Service region, or a majority of members within a regional association (WAFWA, MAFWA, NEAFWA, SEAFWA). Applicants must initially submit a Grant Proposal—including a Project Statement, Budget Narrative, and Budget Table—via the AFWA MSCGP Portal by September 22, 2025, 11:59 PM ET. If selected, applicants will then be invited to submit a formal Grant Application through a Directed Announcement in GrantSolutions.gov by a deadline specified in that announcement. Applications should not be submitted via Grants.gov. The formal Grant Application must include additional documentation such as federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL), a Project Abstract Summary, indirect cost rate agreements (if applicable), and several required certification statements. Each application must clearly identify which of the 2026 Strategic Priorities the project addresses. These priorities fall under four categories: Conservation & Science, Relevancy & Capacity Building, Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3), and AFWA Funding Principles. The review process includes eligibility screening, a merit-based technical review scored across six weighted categories, and a multi-tiered review by AFWA’s National Grants Committee and the Service. Projects are evaluated on need, benefit to multiple states, feasibility, innovation, long-term impact, and budget accuracy. The program is not subject to a matching requirement and does not support projects from countries subject to U.S. sanctions. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Grant awards are anticipated to be issued by January 2026, with project periods beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026. Reporting requirements include financial and programmatic updates, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and proper acknowledgment of federal support on all project deliverables. For additional guidance or questions, applicants can contact Karen A. Bennett, the Multistate Conservation Grants Coordinator, via phone at 703-615-3226 or email at karen_bennett@fws.gov. Applicants are encouraged to review the AFWA MSCGP website and the Partner with a Payer website for current and prior year grant abstracts, reporting formats, and Strategic Priorities guidance.

Proposals must align with 2026 Strategic Priorities and demonstrate multi-state benefits.