Wildlife Refuge Friends RFP

Posted by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on April 25, 2016

NFWF Issues Wildlife Refuge Friends RFP

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with additional corporate sponsorship from Enbridge, has issued a Request for Proposals for projects that assist refuge friends organizations in being effective co-stewards of the nation’s important natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Through the 2016 National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program, NFWF will award grants of up to $15,000 for creative and innovative projects that aim to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the refuge system nationwide. The overarching goals of the program are to help refuge friends organizations build their expertise, expand and increase their capacity and skills, gain and build community recognition and support, build long-term relationships, and encourage the sharing of expertise within the refuge friends network. Within each area of emphasis outlined below, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate their ability to meet some or all of these overarching programmatic goals.

1) Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants: Grants will be awarded to assist both startup and established refuge friends organizations build their capacity. Funds for newly formed organizations may include formative and/or initial operational support. Funds for established refuge friends organizations may include activities that strengthen the organization’s ability to fully achieve its mission and sustain itself over time.

2) Project Specific Grants: Grants will be awarded to refuge friends organizations seeking support for projects initiated and managed by friends. For these grants, friends must clearly demonstrate their involvement in all elements of the project, including how it will benefit the friends and foster increased engagement on the part of the public, community, volunteers, and/or members.

3) Peer-to-Peer Coaching: Funds will be provided to refuge friends organizations that propose to coordinate and execute a friends training workshop for a minimum of four other refuge friends organizations.

Eligible applicants include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Friends organizations whose primary mission is to support a refuge or complex of refuges. Applicants must either be tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status. Applicants in the latter category must submit a copy of the letter from the IRS confirming their determination application has been filed with their grant application.

See the NFWF website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.

DEADLINE: JULY 12, 2016

http://www.nfwf.org/refugefriends/Pages/2016rfp.aspx