NFWF’s National Conservation Initiatives support targeted investments that address urgent conservation needs across the United States. These initiatives help restore fish and wildlife habitat, advance species recovery, strengthen community stewardship and support landscape-scale conservation outcomes. Through competitive grantmaking and collaboration with public and private partners, NFWF directs funding to conservation partners implementing projects that benefit wildlife, ecosystems and communities nationwide.
Across the country, fish, wildlife, plants and the habitats they depend on face complex and connected challenges, from habitat loss and fragmentation to degraded watersheds, declining species populations, invasive species, wildfire risk and limited community capacity for local stewardship. NFWF’s National Conservation Initiatives are designed to respond to these challenges through focused funding opportunities that advance measurable conservation outcomes at a national scale. These initiatives include:
- America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative
- Five Star Program
- Healthy American Forests Initiative
- National Species Recovery Grants
These initiatives bring together public and private funding to support conservation partners working in communities, forests, watersheds, working lands and other important landscapes across the United States. Some initiatives provide recurring funding opportunities, while others are time-limited efforts developed to address a specific conservation need or funding opportunity. Together, they reflect NFWF’s ability to mobilize resources quickly and strategically for projects that restore habitat, improve ecosystem resilience, support voluntary conservation actions and help communities connect with and care for natural resources.
Information about current and past initiatives can be found under the Program Information or Application Information tabs. Visit the pages at top for further details about program priorities, funding status, awarded projects, partners, application resources and related announcements.