Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), through anticipated cooperative agreements from the Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is pleased to announce the launch of the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) 2022 Request for Proposals (RFP). The ATBC vision is to streamline grant funding opportunities for new voluntary conservation and restoration projects around the United States. This Request for Proposals is a first step toward consolidating funding from multiple federal agencies and the private sector to enable applicants to conceive and develop large-scale, locally led projects that address shared funder priorities spanning public and private lands.

In year one of the ATBC approximately $85 million will be awarded in nationwide funding to advance the America the Beautiful Initiative and its goals to connect and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend. In the first year, ATBC will seek to fund projects across the following themes:

1. Conserving and restoring rivers, coasts, wetlands and watersheds 
2. Conserving and restoring forests, grasslands and other important ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks 
3. Connecting and reconnecting wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds and seascapes 
4. Improving ecosystem and community resilience to flooding, drought and other climate-related threats
5. Expanding access to the outdoors, particularly in underserved communities

Collectively, these themes allow applicants to develop landscape-level ATBC proposals that address conservation and public access needs that showcase cumulative benefits to fish and wildlife, carbon sequestration and storage benefits, engage with and benefit underserved communities, support community access to nature, and help safeguard ecosystems through conservation, resilience-focused and nature-based solutions. 

Projects funded through the ATBC will advance the principles underlying the America the Beautiful Initiative, as described in the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful Report:

1. Pursue a collaborative and inclusive approach to conservation
2. Conserve America’s lands and waters for the benefit of all people
3. Support locally led and locally designed conservation efforts
4. Honor Tribal sovereignty and support the priorities of Tribal nations
5. Pursue conservation and restoration approaches that create jobs and support healthy communities
6. Honor private property rights and support the voluntary stewardship efforts of private landowners and fishers
7. Use science as a guide
8. Build on existing tools and strategies with an emphasis on flexibility and adaptive approaches

Through the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program, farmers, landowner, and businesses earn tax credits for implementing "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) that will enhance farm production and protect natural resources. REAP is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses, and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices.  Tax credits provided by the REAP program helps farmers off-set the costs of implementing best management practices (BMPs) that benefit their farms and work to protect water quality at the same time.

REAP provides funding at levels of 50% - 90% of costs incurred in the implementation of BMPs that reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution.

• Projects eligible for 50% reimbursement: no-till planting equipment; precision nutrient application equipment; manure storage structures; cover crops; grazing practices; forested riparian buffers; others
• Projects eligible for 75% reimbursement: BMPs that reduce pollution runoff from animal concentration areas; Nutrient/Manure Management Plans; Conservation/Ag E&S Plans; others
• Projects eligible for 90% reimbursement (In a TMDL designated watershed) - multi-species cover crops; forested riparian buffers (50+ ft wide); livestock exclusion from streams and associated practices; others

New for 2023-2024

• Increased focus on multi-species cover crops and cover crop equipment; including cover crop drones
• Precision nutrient application plans
• Silvopasture systems
• No-till and nutrient application equipment upgrade kits

Applications are accepted beginning on the first Monday in August of each calendar year.

The Healing the Planet Grant Program, funded by the GIANT Company, aims to support water conservation efforts across The GIANT Company’s operating area in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Applications will be accepted for $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Interested applicants that have smaller projects that do not meet the minimum grant of $2,500 are encouraged to expand the scope of their project or partner with another organization. Applications for less than $2,500 will not be considered. Applications will be accepted online only until April 28, 2022 at 4:00 PM EST. Applications can be saved and completed at a later date. 

Established in 2005, the annual Environmental Grant Program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, and/or protect the watersheds, surface water, and groundwater supplies in our local communities. Project activities should address a watershed or source water protection need in the local community within American Water service areas.

This annual grant program has donated more than $650,000 to fund more than 135 projects to protect and improve the environment across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2022, 13 Environmental Grant recipients, listed below, received a share of grant funds totaling nearly $75,000 for their community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds.