The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting proposals to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

NFWF is soliciting proposals under the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants (INSR) program to accelerate the rate and scale of water quality improvements specifically through the coordinated and collaborative efforts of sustainable, regional-scale partnerships in implementing proven water quality improvement practices more cost-effectively.

Program Priorities

• Cultivating Partnership and Network Growth and Enhancement
  • Building and Sustaining Motivation
  • Establishing and Improving Effective Collaborative Processes
  • Enhancing Core Capacities
  • Promoting Continuous Evaluation
• Accelerating the Scale and/or Rate of Water Quality Improvements
• Managing Upland Agricultural Runoff through Farm-Scale Conservation Systems and Solutions
• Managing Upland Urban Runoff through Green Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements (GSI)
• Restoring Riparian and Freshwater Habitats through Forested Buffers, Floodplain and Wetland Reconnection, Stream Restoration and Habitat Improvements

Funding Information

• NFWF will award a total of $7-10 million in grants through the INSR program in 2021.
• Awards will range from $500,000 to $1 million each, for an estimated 8-12 individual grants awards.
• These grants require non-federal matching contributions equal to the grant request.
• All 2021 INSR grants must be completed within three years of grant award.

Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds

• Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases.
• NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities, or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
• NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation, and settlement agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts, for example in achieving municipal separate storm sewer system requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible and Ineligible Entities:

• Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions.
• Ineligible applicants businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations.

For more information, visit NFWF.