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.