Funding Opportunities

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FY2027 ACFHP Project Funding Coming Summer 2026!

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2025 Climate Resilient Fisheries Engagement Grants

The 2025 Climate Resilient Fisheries Engagement Grants is part of Blue Convergence Fund’s Climate Resilient Fisheries portfolio! The Blue Convergence Fund is a new philanthropic initiative aiming to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges in marine conservation and sustainability.

The Climate Resilient Fisheries portfolio aims to fund projects and support engagement that advance (1) our understanding of climate resilient fisheries and (2) climate resilient fisheries management practices and strategies around the world.

• Available Funding: Projects should be 18-24 months in duration with a maximum total budget of $150,000.

Eligible Applicants: This request for proposals (RFP) will support science-based efforts and collaborations that use existing knowledge to catalyze climate resilient fisheries practices and strategies. Specifically, this RFP will support projects where new research is not the primary focus, but rather activities that bring people together to promote knowledge exchange, the uptake of research into management, network building, and planning and implementation.

APPLY HERE

Deadline: Thursday, September 4, 2025, 12:00 am (midnight) ET

Opportunities to learn more: There will be three virtual webinars to provide additional information and answer questions from potential applicants, including:

• June 25, 2025: View this webinar recording on YouTube

• July 31, 2025: Q&A Webinar for applicants to ask questions about the RFP – Register here

• August 19, 2025: Q&A Webinar for applicants to ask questions about the RFP – Register Here 

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AFWA 2026 Multistate Conservation Grants

Multistate Conservation Grants (MSCG) will support wildlife or sport fish projects involving research, restoration, conservation and management of wild birds, wild mammals, sport fish, and their habitats. Funds may also be used for projects providing for public use and benefit from these resources, including hunter safety and education, aquatic education, and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation. Multistate Conservation Grants are awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and the Service and AFWA work cooperatively to manage the MSCG program.

Deadline: Monday, September 22, 2025, 11:59 PM ET

Estimated Total Program Funding: $11,000,000
Expected Number of Awards: 45
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $0

• Estimated Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant (T-MSCG) Funding: $6,000,000
  available, with a per-application request ceiling of $625,000.
• Estimated R3 Multistate Conservation Grant (R3-MSCG) Funding: $5,000,000 available,
  with a per-application request ceiling of $1,000,000.

Eligible Applicants:

• State governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Eligible projects must address one of the 2026 AFWA Strategic Priorities and demonstrate a benefit for:

• A majority of States; or
• A majority (over 50%) of the States in a U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service Region. Please list
  the Regions and States in each Region that will benefit (use State abbreviations); or
• A majority (over 50%) of the States belonging to a regional association of State fish and
  wildlife agencies (click each of the Associations for the state members, WAFWA,
  MAFWA, NEAFWA, SEAFWA). Please indicate the regional fish and wildlife
  association that will benefit and list each region’s States.

Read the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and instructions for applying HERE.

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Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) offers quarterly funding to support projects that promote safe and responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, educate the public on land stewardship and wildlife conservation, and protect sustainable access to public lands.

Eligible applicants: nonprofit organizations or tax-exempt groups (e.g., clubs & associations), public riding areas (local, state and federal), land conservation organizations, and communities working to improve or maintain motorized recreation access.

This program has rolling application deadlines, so applicants can submit a proposal for consideration at any time.  

Submission Guidelines: Yamaha OAI Grant Submission Guidelines

Eligible Project Types:

• Trail development, restoration and/or maintenance (i.e. purchasing materials,
  hiring contractors, renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear).
• Trail signage (i.e., purchasing signs, equipment, installation tools, etc.).
• Stage area renovation/facilities (i.e., renting equipment, purchasing materials,
  hiring contractors, etc.).
• Protecting environmentally sensitive areas from illegal or inadvertent
  OHV use (fencing, bridges, hardscape, etc.).
• Adopt-a-Trail (renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear,
  volunteer coordination, etc.).
• Trail mapping/Map production (GPS equipment purchase, production and
  printing, etc.).
• Safety and Education (educational materials, signage, safety gear, events, etc.).
• Wildlife and habitat maintenance and management.
• Land management projects that increase the diversity of use of land for
  recreational activities.
• Establishing, increasing and/or maintaining access to land for outdoor recreation
  (including but not exclusively limited to motorized recreation).

Note: Outdoor Access Initiative grants will not be awarded for the purpose of
purchasing Yamaha vehicles and the program is not able to donate vehicles
outright.

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Project Endorsement

Thinking of applying to a funding opportunity? Consider requesting a letter of endorsement from ACFHP! ACFHP is happy to endorse a wide variety of projects that promote the conservation of Atlantic coastal, estuarine, and diadromous fish habitats. This includes on-the-ground restoration and land protection, scientific research and assessment tools, and outreach to a variety of audiences. Applying for an endorsement is easy – just fill out our simple application, and a review team will decide whether or not the project aligns with ACFHP’s goals, mission, and vision. We can supply a letter of endorsement and our logo in as little as a week. To learn more, visit our endorsement page.