The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is now soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to protect and restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. For the full request, visit our website here.

NFWF is soliciting proposals under two distinct programs through this request:

  • Through the Small Watershed Grants (SWG) Program, delivered in partnership with EPA and the CBP partnership, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote voluntary, community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.
  • Through the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Grants (WILD) Program, delivered in partnership with FWS, NFWF is soliciting proposals for projects that conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats and related conservation values in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • For a quick reference on which program is a fit for your ideas see our QUICK REFERENCE guide located here.

Proposals are due by Thursday, April 20, 2023. NFWF is holding an informational webinar for prospective applicants on Friday, March 3, 2023. Interested applicants must register in advance here in order to participate. NFWF will also record and post the webinar to the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund webpage shortly after its conclusion.

While NFWF will not require consultation prior to application, we strongly encourage interested applicants to contact NFWF staff or its contracted field liaisons to discuss their proposed project, gather constructive feedback in developing a competitive proposal, and to obtain guidance on the most appropriate program and funding opportunity for project consideration. Interested applicants may schedule virtual project consultations with NFWF staff here.