AFWA is Soliciting Letters of Intent for the 2016 Multistate Conservation Grant Cycle

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is currently soliciting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the 2016 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). Up to $6 million dollars is available each calendar year for projects that address regional- or national-level priorities of the state fish and wildlife agencies through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Letters of Intent must address one or more of the 10 MSCGP National Conservation Needs for 2016 that were recently selected by state fish and wildlife agency directors at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in March 2015.

Letters of Intent will be evaluated based on responsiveness to the National Conservation Needs; scientific quality; practical relevance to state agencies; value; and qualifications. Grants are awarded on a calendar-year basis for one, two or three years to eligible recipients.

Please read the full Solicitation Notice and Submission Guidelines for details.

LOIs must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format to the MSCGP Coordinator no later than 5:00pm (Eastern Time) on Monday, May 11, 2015.  The National Grants Committee and appropriate AFWA committees will review and evaluate the LOIs.  In June, the National Grants Committee will invite the applicants with the most competitive LOIs to submit a full grant proposal for consideration. 

Visit the MSCGP section on AFWA’s website to download the LOI announcement, guidelines and template. 

10 National Conservation Needs Selected for the 2016 Cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program

State fish and wildlife agency directors approved a slate of 10 National Conservation Needs for the 2016 Multistate Conservation Grant Program on March 13, 2015 during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Omaha, Nebraska.

NCN 1: Outdoor Heritage – Participation, Recruitment and Retention in Hunting, Fishing, Boating and Conservation-related Recreational Activities; Enhanced Relations among State Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Related Industries

NCN 2: Strengthening the National Fish Habitat Partnership

NCN 3: The Management Assistance Team (MAT) or similar entity to increase leadership capacity and agency effectiveness within state fish and wildlife agencies and the conservation community through leadership and professional development initiatives, training, consulting, and support of the National Conservation Leadership Institute

NCN 4: Incorporating Fish and Wildlife Considerations into Energy Development Decisions

NCN 5: Preserve State Wildlife Agencies’ Authority to Manage Wildlife Resources and Promote Their Interest in the Implementation of International Treaties and Conventions

NCN 6: Policy and Legislative Advocacy – Implementing Goal 2 of AFWA’s Strategic Plan

NCN 7: Building Stakeholder Support for a 21st Century Model of Funding Fish & Wildlife

NCN 8: Develop, Maintain and Enhance State-led Conservation Land Use Pre-planning Tools

NCN 9: State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration

NCN 10: Management of the 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (National Survey)

The MSCGP funding opportunity/letter of intent solicitation will be posted on March 30. 

Each year, up to $6 million is available to fund MSCGP projects. AFWA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperatively administer the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.

> Read the full description of each NCN

> Learn more about the MSCGP

AFWA is Soliciting National Conservation Needs for the 2016 Cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is now soliciting National Conservation Needs (NCNs) for the 2016 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). NCNs are the foundation of the multistate grant program and establish the states’ priorities for the grant cycle that uses funding from the Wildlife Restoration Fund and Sport Fish Restoration Account.   

Each regional association of fish and wildlife agencies and each AFWA committee are allowed to submit one NCN for consideration by the Association’s National Grants Committee. AFWA committees are encouraged to collaborate and submit joint NCNs.



The National Grants Committee then selects the top NCNs to recommend for state directors’ approval at the March 2015 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. NCNs are due by February 2, 2015.

The MSCGP was established in 2000 by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act, which amended the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. AFWA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperatively administer the grant progam.

Each year, up to $6 million is available to fund MSCGP projects. Projects may be funded for one, two or three years on a calendar year basis.

>Read the NCN Guidelines for the 2016 MSCGP grant cycle

> Download the 2015 NCNs

> Learn more about the Multistate Conservation Grant Program

AFWA Now Accepting Letters of Intent for 2012 Multistate Conservation Grant Program Cycle

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is now accepting Letters of Intent for the 2012 funding cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). Up to $6 million dollars is available each calendar year for projects that address regional- or national-level priorities of the state fish and wildlife agencies.

Letters of Intent must address one the six 2012 MSCGP National Conservation Needs:

Subject 1: Improve benefits for fish, wildlife and their habitats as provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill are implemented

Subject 2: Outdoor heritage - participation, recruitment and retention in hunting, fishing, boating and conservation-related recreational activities

Subject 3: Incorporating fish and wildlife considerations into energy development decisions

Subject 4: State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration

Subject 5: Formation and Operations of Fish Habitat Partnerships to Facilitate National Fish Habitat Action Plan Implementation

Subject 6: Multistate Conservation Grant Program Coordination

Letters of Intent are due to the MSCGP Coordinator, Chad Klinkenborg, by Wednesday, May 4, 2011. No federal forms are required for Letters of Intent. The Association’s National Grants Committee will reconvene at the end of May to review and select the most competitive Letters of Intent to invite to submit full grant proposals. Grants are awarded on a calendar-year basis for one, two or three years to eligible recipients.

Please read the full RFP for details or contact the MSCGP Coordinator, Chad Klinkenborg, at cklinkenborg@fishwildlife.org.

2012 MSCGP Request for Letters of Intent

2012 Selected MSCGP National Conservation Needs

Schedule for the 2012 MSCGP Cycle

Learn more about the MSCGP

2012 Cycle Multistate Conservation Grant NCNs

The Association is now soliciting National Conservation Needs (NCNs) for the 2012 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP). NCNs are the foundation of the MSCGP and establish the states’ priorities for the grant cycle. Each AFWA committee is allowed to submit one NCN. NCNs are due by February 11, 2011. Committees are encouraged to work together and submit joint NCNs.

Before submitting a new NCN, review the selected NCNs for the 2011 MSCGP since these NCNs may still be of highest importance and priority. Typically, if a committee is considering more than one NCN, the Chair asks committee members to vote and/or the Chair makes the final selection. It may be appropriate to refer NCNs to other committees or regional associations for their consideration.

All proposed NCNs from committees and the regional associations will be evaluated by the National Grants Committee, which will select NCNs to recommend for state directors’ approval at the March 2011 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Letters of Intent will be solicited beginning in April to address the NCNs.

The guidelines for submitting 2012 NCNs, last year’s NCNs and a general timeline for the 2012 MSCGP are available online at www.fishwildlife.org/multistate_grants.html or visit AFWA's MSCGP blog to ask questions, http://fishwildlifemscgp.blogspot.com.

National Conservation Needs for 2010 Multistate Conservation Grant Cycle

National Conservation Needs
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is pleased to announce the seven National Conservation Needs for the 2010 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) Cycle:

Agricultural Conservation Committee
Subject 1: Integration of Fish and Wildlife Needs as the Conservation Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill are Implemented

Angler/Boating Participation and Hunting and Shooting Sports Participation Committees
Subject 2: Outdoor Heritage – Participation, Recruitment and Retention in Hunting, Fishing and Conservation-related Recreational Activities

Climate Change Committee and the Midwest Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Subject 3: Regional Climate Change Workshops for State Fish & Wildlife Managers on Current Information and Tools for Management of Fish and Wildlife

Executive Committee
Subject 4: State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration

Fish & Wildlife Health Committee
Subject 5: A National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative

Fisheries/Water Resources Policy Committee
Subject 6: Formation and Operations of Fish Habitat Partnerships to Facilitate National Fish Habitat Action Plan Implementation

International Relations Committee
Subject 7: Protect State Wildlife Agencies’ Authority to Sustainably Manage Wildlife Resources in Concert with Federal Actions Required by International Treaties and Conventions


Letters of Intent
The MSCGP is now soliciting Letters of Intent for the 2010 cycle of this competitive grant program. Letters are due by midnight EDT Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

For more information about applying to the program carefully review the Guidelines below.

2010 MSCGP Letters of Intent Guidelines

2010 National Conservation Needs

Frequently Asked Questions

Additional information about the Program is available at http://www.fishwildlife.org/multistate_grants.html

Contact Christina Zarrella, MSCGP Coordinator at czarrella@fishwildlife.org with questions.

2009 MSCGP Letter of Intent Deadline Approaching

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies has issued its Request for Proposals for Letters of Intent to address the nine 2009 Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) Cycle National Conservation Needs (NCNs). Letters of Intent are due by midnight, EDT Friday, May 2, 2008. NOTE: No federal forms are required for Letters of Intent. Grants are awarded on a calendar-year basis for one, two or three years.

Click here to view Letter of Intent Guidelines, which include the full NCN descriptions, eligibility checklist, the 2009 Cycle timeline, and more.