F26AS00051_FY 2026 Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program_Funding Opportunity Announcement

The Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program provides Federal cost-sharing awards that help the State, Territory, and District of Columbia fish and wildlife agencies and their regional associations design and implement proactive conservation programs benefiting wildlife and their habitats. Proactive approaches to conservation help these recipients and their conservation partners avoid more prescriptive Federal regulatory requirements associated with species listing under the Endangered Species Act.The C-SWG Program prioritizes implementation of conservation actions described in the State and Territory Wildlife Action Plans (Plans). Projects must benefit one or more species of greatest conservation need or their habitats as identified in the Plans.This announcement provides complete information on preparing and submitting an application, including details on award tiers, partnership requirements, and the maximum Federal share of an award. The award tiers and related requirements are intended to encourage partnerships dedicated to cross-jurisdictional conservation efforts supporting landscape-scale conservation.

Please note that ONLY the State, Territory, and District of Columbia fish and wildlife agencies and the four regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies (NEAFWA, SEAFWA, MAFWA, and WAFWA) are eligible to apply. All other entities, including but not limited to academic institutions, non-profit or for-profit organizations, private landowners or other individuals, or local units of government, are not eligible to apply.