State Wildlife Grant Program | F19AS00164

State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program FAQs

What is the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program?

The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It is designed to help state-level governments conserve wildlife and the habitats wildlife depend on, including species that are not traditionally managed through hunting or fishing programs.

What is the main purpose of SWG funding?

SWG funding supports long-term, science-based conservation work intended to maintain wildlife diversity and promote healthy ecosystems. The program is structured to help states plan for and carry out conservation priorities through an approved State Wildlife Action Plan.

Who administers the SWG Program?

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

Eligible applicants are state governments, including the States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Commonwealths and Territories as described in the opportunity information.

What types of projects can be funded under SWG?

Projects funded through SWG fall into two main categories: conservation planning and conservation implementation.

What qualifies as an eligible conservation planning activity?

Planning activities must directly support the development, revision, or improvement of a State Wildlife Action Plan that has been approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Planning funds are meant to strengthen the state roadmap that guides wildlife conservation decisions.

What qualifies as an eligible conservation implementation activity?

Implementation activities are on-the-ground or operational efforts a state undertakes to execute the priorities in its approved Wildlife Action Plan. Examples listed in the opportunity include habitat restoration, species monitoring, management actions, and other direct conservation measures aligned with the plan.

Does SWG funding have to be tied to a State Wildlife Action Plan?

Yes. Planning funds must support the development, revision, or improvement of a State Wildlife Action Plan approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and implementation funds are intended to carry out the priorities identified in the state’s approved plan.

What species must SWG-funded work benefit?

A core requirement is that funded work must benefit "species of greatest conservation need" (SGCN) identified in the applicant's Wildlife Action Plan.

What does "species of greatest conservation need" (SGCN) mean in this program?

Within the SWG context, SGCN are the species identified in the applicant state’s Wildlife Action Plan as needing conservation attention. SWG-funded projects must benefit these species as documented in the plan.

Does the program encourage focusing on Endangered Species Act (ESA) species?

Yes. Consistent with congressional direction, the Fish and Wildlife Service specifically encourages prioritizing conservation actions for species listed under the Endangered Species Act or being considered for listing (including candidate, threatened, and endangered species), as long as those species are included in the state’s plan and the work fits the state’s priorities and operational approach.

How should states decide what to prioritize?

The program expects states to use their Wildlife Action Plans to target species and habitats where conservation needs are most urgent. It also encourages states to consider how much other funding is available for those species when setting priorities.

Are wildlife education activities eligible for SWG funding?

Wildlife education activities are generally ineligible, except when they are minor or incidental components that are critical to successfully completing an otherwise eligible conservation project.

Are law enforcement activities eligible for SWG funding?

Law enforcement activities are generally ineligible, except when they are minor or incidental components that are critical to successfully completing an otherwise eligible conservation project.

Can education or enforcement be included at all in an SWG project?

Yes, but only in a limited way. The opportunity states that education and law enforcement are generally not eligible as stand-alone activities and may only be supported when they are minor/incidental and necessary to complete an otherwise eligible conservation planning or implementation project.

What is the program’s broader mission context?

SWG is tied to the broader mission of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program, which emphasizes partnership-driven conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of current and future generations.

What vision or outcomes does the program highlight?

The vision described emphasizes healthy, diverse, and accessible wildlife populations that support recreation, economic activity, and ecological functions.

What departmental priorities does SWG support?

The program is described as supporting priorities such as building a lasting conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly using natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities, with an emphasis on practical conservation outcomes delivered through collaboration.

What is the official funding opportunity title and number?

The funding opportunity title is "State Wildlife Grant Program" and the Funding Opportunity Number is F19AS00164.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed is 15.634.

What type of opportunity is this (grant, cooperative agreement, etc.)?

The listing describes it as a grant.

Is this a mandatory or discretionary opportunity?

The opportunity category is listed as mandatory.

What are the activity categories associated with the listing?

The activity categories include education and natural resources, though the narrative clarifies that education is generally not an eligible stand-alone use under SWG.

What is the award ceiling shown in the opportunity record?

The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000.

When was the opportunity record created?

The record shows a creation date of March 27, 2019.

What was the original closing date shown?

The original closing date listed is August 31, 2020.

Why does the posting show an expected number of awards as 0?

The opportunity record lists the expected number of awards as 0, which may reflect the nature of the program's allocation process or how the listing was configured rather than a prediction that no funding would be awarded.