The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) annual Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund annual Request for Proposal it now out.  They estimate awarding up to $12 million in grants in 2017.

The RFP detailing NFWF’s funding priorities can be found at http://www.nfwf.org/chesapeake.  You will see that, once again, riparian forest buffer projects are a funding priority. Proposals are due by midnight, Tuesday, May 9th and must be submitted through NFWF’s online application at www.nfwf.org/easygrants.

NFWF will host a webinar for applicants on Tuesday, March 21st to review the Request for Proposals and respond to questions.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to participate, and can register for the webinar by following this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2140438358055751170.  In addition, NFWF will provide training on the new online FieldDoc tool for calculating nutrient and sediment load reductions from proposed Stewardship Fund projects on Thursday, March 23rd.  All applicants proposing to improve water quality through their project, including those who have received Stewardship Fund grants previously, are strongly encouraged to participate, and can register for the webinar by following this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5213283086620071426.

Major funding for the Stewardship Fund comes from the EPA. Other important contributions are provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Altria Group, and CSX.

For additional information or to discuss project ideas, please contact Jake Reilly (jake.reilly@nfwf.org), Elizabeth Nellums (elizabeth.nellums@nfwf.org), or Alyssa Hildt (alyssa.hildt@nfwf.org) via e-mail or by phone at (202) 857 0166.