Opportunity

Dates:

• Pre-Proposal Due Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
• Full Proposal Due Date (by invitation only): Thursday, July 20, 2023, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time

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 America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) 2023 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 RFP consolidates 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 two of the ATBC approximately $116 million will be awarded in nationwide funding to conserve, connect and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend. The ATBC seeks to fund projects across the following themes:

1.  Conserving and restoring rivers, coasts, wetlands and watersheds 
2.  Conserving and restoring forests, grasslands and 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 invite applicants to develop landscape-level ATBC proposals that address conservation and public access needs with: cumulative benefits to fish and wildlife, enhanced carbon sequestration and storage, benefits to and engagement with underserved communities, and protection of ecosystems through 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

All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system:

1. Go to easygrants.nfwf.org to register in our Easygrants online system. New users to the system will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a registered user, use your existing login). 
2. Once on your homepage, click the “Apply for Funding” button and select this RFP’s “Funding Opportunity” from the list of options.
3. Follow the instructions in Easygrants to complete your application. Once an application has been started, it may be saved and returned to at a later time for completion and submission.

Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s Applicant Information page. Including pages about required financial documents, budget narrative instructions, Easygrants mapping tool, and our indirect cost policy.