National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program

Posted by on October 24, 2011

National Forest Foundation Announces 2012 Matching Awards Program Guidelines
Deadline: January 17, 2012

The National Forest Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, works to engage America in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the National Forest System. The foundation also administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of national forests.

NFF is currently soliciting proposals for its Matching Awards Program, which provides matching funds for direct on-the-ground and citizen-based monitoring projects benefiting America’s national forests and grasslands.

NFF is interested in supported action-oriented projects that enhance the viability of natural resources while benefiting and directly engaging surrounding communities. MAP funds can be used to support conservation and restoration projects in the areas of wildlife habitat improvement, recreation, watershed health and restoration, and community-based forestry. In addition to focusing on one or more of these four areas of stewardship, NFF requires projects to show a strong commitment to civic engagement and community involvement through the direct involvement of the public in on-the-ground conservation, restoration, and monitoring projects.

The foundation will consider applications from non-federal partners, community-based organizations, Native American tribes, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations implementing action-oriented, on-the-ground conservation and citizen-based monitoring projects on or around national forests or grasslands.

Past awards range from $500 to over $100,000. Organizations new to NFF should keep their first proposal to a moderate sum. All MAP awards require at least a 1:1 cash match of non-federal funds. Projects must be completed within one year. MAP funding is available to support specific conservation and restoration projects and does not provide general programmatic support.

MAP projects are selected for funding through a two-stage process. Applicants must first complete an online questionnaire. Those that successfully complete the questionnaire will be invited to submit a proposal for consideration.

Visit the NFF Web site for complete program guidelines, application requirements, and an FAQ.

http://nationalforests.org/conserve/grantprograms/ontheground/map