Applicant Frequently Asked Questions

Is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation a federal agency?
No. Although the Foundation was chartered by Congress, it works closely with several federal agencies.and re-grants federal funds. The Foundation is a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

Are all Foundation awards federal?
No. The Foundation awards matching grants utilizing federal funds provided by annual Congressional appropriations and agreements with federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and USDA-Forest Service. The Foundation also receives and awards contributions from select foundations, corporations, and other non-federal entities.

Where can I learn more about managing awards of federal funds?
There are a number of resources available through the U.S. Government Office of Management (OMB) and Budget. Information and instructions related to the management of federal funding can be found in OMB circulars (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html). Frequently used circulars include (but are not limited to):

OMB Circular A-21: Cost Principles for Educational Institutions
OMB Circular A-87: Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments
OMB Circular A-102: Grants and Cooperative Agreements With State and Local Governments
OMB Circular A-110: Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations
OMB Circular A-122: Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations
OMB Circular A-133: Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations

Do all applicants need to submit a pre-proposal?
No. This requirement varies depending upon the specific funding opportunity. Keystone Initiatives and several Special Grant Programs do require pre-proposals.

Can I submit the same proposal for multiple programs?
No. Please only submit one application for your project for the program or initiative that best fits the scope of work. If the project does not meet the criteria for the program or initiative selected by the applicant, Foundation staff may move it to a different program(s).

What if a deadline for a pre-proposal, proposal, or review falls on a weekend?
Unless otherwise noted in the program description or RFP, deadlines for all Special Grant Programs will automatically be pushed to the next business day. However, deadlines for the two Keystone Initiative cycles are the same year after year and remain firm regardless of the day of the week.

Does the Foundation fund the acquisition of interests in real property?
Yes. However, opportunities vary depending upon the nature of the initiative or program and its funding source(s). Please review the Initiative or Program description carefully for more information related to allowable costs in proposed budgets.

Are there activities or line items that the Foundation will not Fund?
This may vary depending upon the funding sources available by program. However, regardless of the Program or Initiative, the Foundation does not fund political advocacy or litigation of any kind, shortfalls in government agency budgets, general administrative overhead, or indirect costs.

Does the Foundation only fund projects in the United States?
No. The Foundation funds projects throughout the United States and its territories. Projects in Canada, Mexico, and other international areas that host migratory wildlife and other U.S. trust resources (marine mammals, threatened and endangered species, anadromous and marine fish) are also considered.

What Are Matching Grants?
The Foundation is mandated by Congress to ensure that each federal dollar awarded by the Foundation is leveraged with a non-federal dollar or equivalent goods and services. The Foundation refers to these contributions as "matching contributions." As a policy, the Foundation seeks to achieve at least a 2:1 return on its project portfolio -- $2 raised in matching contributions to every federal dollar awarded. To be eligible, matching funds contributions must be:

Non-federal in origin (federally appropriated or managed funds are ineligible; e.g., Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act);
Raised and dedicated specifically for the project;
Spent between the project start and end dates designated in the grant application;
Voluntary in nature (mitigation, restitution, or other permit or court-ordered settlements are ineligible); and
Applied only to the Foundation grant and not to any other federal matching programs.