An FY 2016 grant to the State of Hawaii will help permanently protect 969 acres to support the recovery of numerous endangered Hawaiian birds, as well as minimize sedimentation of the near shore ecosystem and the Nation's largest fringing coral reef.
Photo Credit:USFWS
Grants | Overview
Because more than half of all species currently listed as endangered or threatened spend at least part of their life cycle on privately owned lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes that success in conserving species will ultimately depend on working cooperatively with landowners, communities, and tribes to foster voluntary stewardship efforts on private lands. States play a key role in catalyzing these efforts.
A variety of tools are available under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to help states and landowners plan and implement projects to conserve species. The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (section 6 of the ESA) is a tool that provides grants to states and territories to participate in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for candidate, proposed, and listed species. The program provides funding to states and territories for species and habitat conservation actions on non-federal lands. States and territories must contribute a minimum non-federal match of 25 percent of the estimated program costs of approved projects, or 10 percent when two or more states or territories implement a joint project. A state or territory must currently have, or enter into, a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior to receive grants. Most states and territories have entered into these agreements for both plant and animal species.
To learn more, download the Grants fact sheet [9/2016].
View information about current Endangered Species grant programs.
Find out how to apply for a grant.
Access the full library of documents related to grants.
Awards for FY 2016 Announced September 15, 2016 
The Service is awarding $44.8 million in grants to 20 states to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered species across the nation. The grants, awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF), will benefit numerous species ranging from the coastal California gnatcatcher to the bog turtle in the northeast.
News Release
Full Announcement
FY 2015 Request for Proposals
The Service accepted grant proposals for the FY 2015 funding period between October 30, 2014 and January 23, 2015.
View the Standard Form 424 "Application for Federal Assistance"
View the Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program Toolkit (forms and compliance requirements for receiving federal grants)
Read the Director's Memorandum Regarding Prescribed Burning Off-Service Lands
Access the archive of section 6 grants information
Learn about other Service grant programs
Gray wolf.
Photo credit: Gary Kramer/USFWS
Service Invites Submissions for Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grants
The Service invites eligible states and Native American tribes to apply for demonstration projects intended to reduce and address the impact of wolves on livestock operations. The agency will award approximately $900,000 in two categories: Prevention Grants that assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, non-lethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves, and Compensation Grants that reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses caused by wolves. The Service is accepting grant proposals for FY 2016 funding through August 31, 2016.
Awards for FY 2015 Announced September 24, 2015
The Service’s Wolf Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program will distribute $900,000 in grants to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, non-lethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss from predation by wolves, and compensate producers for livestock losses caused by wolves. The grants will go to the states of Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, and to the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
News Release
2015 Depredation Compensation and Prevention Awards