FWS-NFWF Urban Refuge Partnership Program 2017-2020 | F17AS00424

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00424

The FWS-NFWF Urban Refuge Partnership Program 2017-2020 (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00424) is a discretionary cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) designed to strengthen urban conservation through a larger, already-established national grant program. The award provides $200,000 in FWS funding (CFDA 15.655, Natural Resources) to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to support the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program. The core intent is to carve out and resource an "Urban Refuge" focal area within that competitive program, with a specific emphasis on urban bird conservation and on advancing proposed "standards of excellence" for Urban Wildlife Refuges.

A defining feature of the opportunity is its leveraged, public-private partnership structure. The FWS contribution is intended to be combined with funds already committed by federal partners such as the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with contributions from numerous non-federal corporate and private partners. By pooling these resources, the program aims to concentrate investments in priority urban watersheds and to stretch limited federal dollars further than a single-agency program could. In practical terms, NFWF administers the competitive grantmaking and uses the combined funding to support local projects that restore and improve urban waterways and habitat, while also building community connections to nearby nature.

The projects supported through this Urban Refuge focal area are expected to be community-based conservation efforts that produce measurable, on-the-ground outcomes. Beyond ecological results, the program emphasizes public engagement and education, with the idea that conservation work in cities should help residents see and experience the value of fish and wildlife conservation in everyday life. The description highlights outcomes such as tangible restoration results, meaningful community involvement, and improved understanding of how conservation contributes to community well-being, which can include healthier local environments, increased access to nature, and stronger stewardship networks.

While the cooperative agreement is awarded to NFWF, the program is structured so that NFWF then solicits project proposals from a broad mix of implementers. Those potential project applicants include state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, and academic institutions. The funding announcement itself lists eligible applicants for the federal award as 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, reflecting that this specific federal agreement is with a nonprofit partner (NFWF) that will manage the subsequent competitive process.

Geography and partnership alignment are also built into the selection approach. Projects chosen specifically with FWS Urban Refuge funding are expected to be located near FWS lands or FWS offices, or in places where FWS already has established urban partnerships. This requirement helps ensure that funded work ties into existing refuge and urban conservation priorities, supports ongoing local relationships, and benefits from FWS presence and coordination rather than operating in isolation.

Administratively, this listing functions as a notice of a single-source cooperative agreement rather than an open call for proposals at the federal level. The posting notes that the recipient has already been selected, that one award is expected, and that there is no standard closing date because it is not an open competition for the primary award. The cooperative agreement format also signals that FWS anticipates substantial involvement in the effort, such as coordination, shared implementation goals, and ongoing collaboration with NFWF and other partners as the Urban Refuge focal area is carried out within the Five Star-Urban Waters Restoration program.

The legal authority for the award is grounded in multiple federal conservation statutes, including the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (as amended), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Together, these authorities align with the program's focus on habitat conservation and restoration, coordination across agencies and jurisdictions, and specific attention to migratory birds, which fits the stated emphasis on urban bird conservation.

In summary, this opportunity channels $200,000 from FWS to NFWF to expand and target a proven restoration grant platform toward Urban Refuge priorities. It relies on leveraging funds from other federal agencies and private partners, supports competitive subawards for local restoration and engagement projects, prioritizes work near FWS lands/offices or established urban partnerships, and aims to deliver both measurable ecological improvements and stronger community connections to urban nature.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FWS-NFWF Urban Refuge Partnership Program 2017-2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 19, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by This is a notification to award a single source cooperative agreement. The recipient has already been selected.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for F17AS00424

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