F25AS00292 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 7 | F25AS00292

Opportunity Information: Apply for F25AS00292

F25AS00292 is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary grant opportunity under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, specifically the FY 2025 Traditional Conservation Grants Program for Region 7. The overall purpose of this program is to strengthen State and Territorial endangered species programs by funding on-the-ground and programmatic work that helps conserve and recover species that fall under FWS jurisdiction, with a clear emphasis on measurable, direct conservation benefits. The program is tied to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is intended to support voluntary conservation actions that either move listed species toward recovery or reduce the likelihood that additional species will need to be listed in the future.

The funding is meant for projects that directly benefit (1) federally listed threatened and endangered species, (2) candidate species and other eligible unlisted species, and (3) species that have been delisted due to recovery within the past five years (primarily for monitoring). Projects can include management actions, research, monitoring, outreach, or any combination of these, as long as the application clearly explains how the work connects to recovery outcomes or proactive conservation goals. A strong application, in practical terms, is one that spells out what will be done, where it will happen, which species or habitats will benefit, how success will be measured, and why the results matter for recovery or for preventing future listing.

Eligibility is narrow: only State governments (State agencies) may apply, and they must have an active ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement with FWS. If a State does not yet have one in place, it can still be eligible if it enters into or reconfirms the cooperative agreement within 30 days of the application deadline, but FWS will not obligate federal funds until a complete, signed agreement is in place (with cited regulatory requirements in 50 CFR 81.3 and 81.5 and 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)). While individuals, counties, Tribes, and nonprofits cannot apply directly under this opportunity, they can participate through partnerships with an eligible State agency, typically as subgrantees or project partners, if the State includes that work in its proposal and manages the award.

Projects must focus on federally listed resident species that are already covered under the State's Section 6 cooperative agreement to be eligible for consideration. In addition, States may request funds to monitor species that are candidates or eligible unlisted species as of the application deadline, or species delisted due to recovery within the last five years. All funded work must occur within the United States and must be consistent with approved or draft recovery plans; proposals cannot conflict with approved recovery plans (50 CFR 81.2). In other words, the grant is designed to complement established recovery planning, not replace it or fund actions that contradict the official recovery direction.

The announcement also highlights several important compliance and cost limitations. If a project involves certain handling or movement of wildlife such as take, interstate transport, introducing a species outside its historical range, or holding wildlife in captivity for more than 45 days, a permit from the Regional Director may be required. If those activities are anticipated, the applicant must submit an Environmental Assessment before a permit will be granted (50 CFR 81.9 and 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)). Another major restriction is that neither the federal share nor the required non-federal cost share can be used to satisfy ESA regulatory requirements. That means the grant cannot be used to pay for actions that an entity is already legally required to do, such as obligations stemming from ESA Section 7 biological opinions, mitigation or monitoring required under ESA Section 10 habitat conservation plans, or other federal regulatory mitigation requirements (including examples like Clean Water Act permit mitigation). The intent is to fund voluntary conservation progress, not compliance costs.

On budgeting and reimbursement, the opportunity notes that applications cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs, meaning you cannot budget FWS staffing positions as project costs. State administrative costs must either be absorbed by the State or included in the proposal in a way that complies with federal cost principles and grant requirements. As a general rule, only costs incurred during the approved period of performance are reimbursable, starting from the grant's effective date. However, States may request pre-award costs for certain necessary expenses, but those costs are only allowable if the grant is ultimately awarded, only if they would have been allowable after award, and only with written approval from the awarding agency, consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.

The program accepts both new projects and continuation projects. Continuation projects are described as ongoing conservation efforts where the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes remain consistent over time. If applying for continuation funding, the application must summarize accomplishments to date and provide a clear justification for why continued funding is needed, included in the Project Narrative. Finally, land acquisition is explicitly not eligible under this opportunity, so proposals centered on purchasing land or interests in land would be nonresponsive.

Key administrative details in the posting include: the agency is the Fish and Wildlife Service; the assistance listing/CFDA number is 15.615 (Environment); the eligible applicant type is State governments; the application deadline is September 19, 2025; and the listed award ceiling is $115,513. The listing also indicates expected awards, but the number is not clearly provided in the source text as presented.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F25AS00292 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 7" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-19. (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 $115,513.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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