Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to protect and restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

NFWF is soliciting proposals under two distinct programs through this request. Through the Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program, delivered in partnership with EPA and the CBP partnership, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote voluntary, community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. Through the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Grants (WILD) Program, delivered in partnership with FWS, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects that conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats and related conservation values in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

For the SWG Program, NFWF will award funding through two distinct funding opportunities. All SWG Program proposals must directly align with one or more of the SWG PROGRAM PRIORITIES outlined further in this Request for Proposals.

1. SWG Implementation grants will be awarded for projects that result in direct, on-the-ground actions to protect and restore water quality, species, and habitats in the Bay watershed.
   
2. SWG Planning and Technical Assistance (SWG-PTA) grants will be awarded for projects that enhance local capacity to implement future on-the-ground actions, consistent with SWG Program priorities, through community-based assessment, planning, design, and other technical assistance-oriented activities.

For the WILD Program, NFWF will award funding through two distinct funding opportunities. All WILD Program proposals must directly align with one or more of the WILD PROGRAM PRIORITIES outlined further in this Request for Proposals.

1. WILD Implementation grants will be awarded for projects that result in direct on-the-ground conservation, stewardship, and enhancements of fish and wildlife habitats and related conservation values in the Bay watershed.
   
2. WILD Planning and Technical Assistance (WILD-PTA) grants will be awarded for projects that enhance the capacity of local and regional partners to implement future on-the-ground actions, consistent with WILD Program priorities, through community-based assessment, planning, design, and other technical assistance-oriented activities. 

All projects must occur wholly within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Priority consideration will be provided to projects located within priority subwatersheds or habitat units based on the unique opportunities to maximize multiple goals and outcomes for water quality, species and habitats, and communities. NFWF has developed a CBSF Applicant Toolbox with resources to help applicants target proposed actions to understand and maximize outcomes and benefits for associated program priorities.

Program Priorities can be found starting at https://www.nfwf.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/cbsf_spring_2023_rfp_final.pdf#page=2.

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