Grants for Private institutions of higher education - Natural Resources

This funding opportunity provides financial support for non-federal members of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit to conduct statistical evaluations and monitoring of native fish populations in the Upper Mississippi River, aimed at improving ecological restoration efforts.

The National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2025 aims to fund innovative research and development projects that reduce bycatch of non-target species in fisheries, promoting sustainable practices and protecting marine ecosystems.

This funding opportunity supports innovative research and development in biological technologies that enhance national security, targeting universities, nonprofits, small businesses, and industry participants, particularly those with commercial potential.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations, including businesses and local governments, for facilities that process wood byproducts from federal and Tribal lands at high risk for wildfires, aiming to enhance ecosystem health and local economies.

This grant provides funding for state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to promote ecological restoration and biodiversity through the use of native plant materials in Alaska.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that conserve and restore rangelands in Oregon and Washington, focusing on climate resilience and environmental health, and is open to state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is offering matching grants through its Surface Water Matching Planning Grant program. This initiative, developed by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC), aims to improve water quality in developed landscapes within Delaware's impaired watersheds. The program aligns with a mission to assist local governments in proactively addressing water quality challenges, particularly through planning and preliminary engineering efforts for surface water improvement projects. The grants target Delaware county and municipal governments, conservation districts, and estuary programs. While non-profit organizations, educational institutions, community organizations, and homeowner’s associations cannot apply directly, they are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants. The primary impact goal is to enhance water quality in impaired watersheds by supporting planning, preliminary engineering, and feasibility analysis of surface water improvement projects. These projects can include retrofitting stormwater systems, establishing green technology practices, restoring streams and wetlands, conducting small watershed studies, and developing master surface water and drainage plans. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate clear benefits to water quality within impaired watersheds. Specific focuses include planning and/or preliminary design for projects associated with watershed management plans, community stormwater management improvements in existing developments and municipalities, and restoration or retrofit projects designed to yield water quality benefits. This strategic approach ensures that funding is directed towards foundational planning and design efforts that are critical for long-term water quality improvement. Expected outcomes include the preparation of surface water projects for future funding through the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund (WPCRLF). Measurable results will be seen in the successful completion of planning, preliminary engineering, and feasibility analyses, leading to actionable project designs ready for loan applications. The funding, capped at $50,000 with a 1:1 cash match requirement, is designed to jumpstart projects, laying the groundwork for significant water quality improvements across Delaware. The grant duration is two years, emphasizing a focused and efficient planning period to achieve these preparatory outcomes.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2024. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the potential availability of funding for agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration and developing state-and-community-level conservation leadership. Proposals must be for projects based in Iowa and focus on conservation issues. Collaborative projects that provide on-the-ground support for Iowa NRCS Field Offices are highly encouraged. Research proposals will not be accepted, nor considered. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2024 will be up to $5,000,000.00, however, budget constraints may prevent NRCS from funding 2024 proposals. Proposals are requested from City or township governments, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), or institutions of higher education for competitive consideration of awards for projects between 2 and 5 years in duration. Awarded organizations may be required to present project updates in the form of a formal presentation to the Iowa NRCS Leadership. Organizations may use this opportunity to request additional funding for existing Iowa IPC agreements. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 7th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by June 7th, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 16, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

The United States Department of the Interior (Department), Bureau of Reclamations (Reclamation) Desalination and Water Purification Research Program (DWPR) works with Reclamation researchers and partners to develop innovative, cost-effective, and technologically efficient ways to desalinate and treat water. DWPR funding plays a critical role in iterating an idea from the lab to a real-world demonstration, yielding products that serve the water treatment community and attract commercialization interest. Reclamation is interested in research where the benefits are widespread but where private-sector entities are not able to make the full investment and assume all the risks. Reclamation is also interested in research that has a national significancewhere the issues are of large-scale concern and the benefits accrue to a large sector of the public. The goal of the DWPR program is to address the need to reduce the costs, energy requirements, and environmental impacts of treating impaired and unusable water. The program also aligns with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, by investing in development and application of advanced water treatment technologies that expand access to otherwise unusable water resources, thereby increasing water supply flexibility under the risks of long-term climate change and shorter-term drought. For further information on the DWPR Program, see www.usbr.gov/research/dwpr.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in specific Pennsylvania counties to develop workforce skills and enhance economic development initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profits, local and tribal governments, and businesses for projects that promote renewable wood energy and innovative wood products, particularly in underserved communities and areas with high unemployment.

This grant provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to improve forest health and fire resilience in Oregon and Washington.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to combat the illegal trade of bushmeat from protected species in Central Africa, aiming to enhance wildlife conservation and community benefits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations within the Colorado Plateau CESU network to establish and maintain a network of high-frequency water quality sensors for monitoring river systems near reservoirs in New Mexico and southern Colorado.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that restore wildlife habitats and enhance conservation efforts in Alaska, targeting state and local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions.

The 2025 NOAA Hawaii Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program aims to enhance environmental literacy and stewardship among K-12 students and teachers in Hawaii through hands-on learning experiences that connect them with local environmental issues, Indigenous Knowledge, and climate science.

The Water Resources Preservation Grant Program, funded by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA), provides cost-share funding to support the design and construction of stormwater management practices. These practices, referred to as Best Management Practices (BMPs), include Low Impact Development (LID), nature-based solutions, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). The goal is to reduce, infiltrate, filter, and delay stormwater runoff, thus protecting the health of waterways in Kerr County. Eligible projects can apply for rebates that cover a portion of the costs associated with these practices, with the aim of reducing pollutants like Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Bacteria by significant percentages. The program supports new constructions or retrofits, emphasizes distributed and centralized treatment methods, and requires adherence to specific design guidelines.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) offers the Section 319(h) Grant Program to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution affecting Illinois’ water resources. This program, funded through the Clean Water Act, supports projects that prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments caused by NPS pollution. Prioritized projects include those implementing approved watershed-based plans or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans, with activities ranging from BMP implementation to monitoring and outreach efforts. The program encourages applications that demonstrate a comprehensive approach to NPS pollution control and offer sustainable environmental benefits. Grant renewed every year.

This funding opportunity supports initiatives by governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions in Oregon and Washington to conserve native plant biodiversity and restore habitats, with a focus on climate resilience and community engagement.

This grant provides funding for organizations within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units program to monitor and analyze the reproductive success of the threatened wood stork in Lake Okeechobee and surrounding areas, ensuring informed ecosystem management in response to changing hydrologic conditions.