Upper Mississippi River Watershed Fund

Request for Proposals

Project Eligibility and Funding Priorities

The Program Overview provides information on funding priorities and types of projects supported by the Upper Mississippi River Watershed Fund.

Applicant Eligibility and Use of Funds

Eligible applicants include non-profit 501 (c) organizations and local and State units of governments.
Grant funds from the Upper Mississippi River Watershed Fund cannot be used for political advocacy, lobbying, litigation or mitigation projects, general administrative overhead or indirect expenses, clothing, food, or fundraising.

Grant Size
Grant awards will range from $15,000 to $75,000.

Matching Requirements
During past funding cycles, the Foundation emphasized a match ratio of 2:1, which posed a barrier to some organizations interested in applying to the program. To reduce this barrier and encourage proposals from a larger pool of prospective applicants, the Foundation has reduced the minimum match requirement to 1:1 for the current funding cycle. Match contributions above the minimum requirement may increase the competitiveness of an application. Matching funds may include cash, other non-Federal funds, in-kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes. To be eligible, matching funds must be:

Non-Federal in origin (federally appropriated or managed funds are ineligible; e.g., Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act);
Raised and dedicated specifically for the project;
Spent between the project start and end dates designated in the grant application;
Voluntary in nature (mitigation, restitution, or other permit or court-ordered settlements are ineligible); and
Applied only to the Foundation grant and not to any other Federal matching programs.

Deadlines and Application Procedures
Pre-proposals are due by midnight on April 15, 2009. Following selection of pre-proposals for further consideration, the Foundation will invite the appropriate applicants to submit full proposals. Invited full proposals will be due by midnight on June 15, 2009. All application materials are to be submitted online at www.nfwf.org/easygrants. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Foundation staff before submitting an application.

Whom may I contact with questions? For questions regarding the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation application procedures contact:

Todd Hogrefe
Central Partnership Office
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1 Federal Drive
Minneapolis MN 55111
612-713-5185
todd.hogrefe@nfwf.org

For questions about the Upper Mississippi River Watershed Fund priorities and the Upper Mississippi Forest Partnership contact:

Teri Heyer
USDA Forest Service
Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry
1992 Folwell Ave.
St. Paul MN 55108
651-649-5239
theyer@fs.fed.us

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