Funding search · EIN 521384139 · Washington, DC

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.

3,150
grants reported
$1.09B
total given
2021–2023
filing years
$77,254
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20212023. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

conservationrestorationhabitatrivercoastalrestoringchesapeakerestore

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Coastal marsh, oyster reef and shoreline restoration on the Gulf
  • Salmon, steelhead and trout habitat in rivers and estuaries
  • Grassland, prairie and sagebrush habitat for birds and game species
  • Chesapeake Bay watershed stream, buffer and nutrient work
  • Named species recovery: sage-grouse, sea turtles, saltmarsh sparrow, ferrets
  • Water rights, leasing and flow transactions in western basins

Typical grant

Median grant is about $77,000, with the middle half between $29,000 and $199,000. The eight-figure checks go almost entirely to state agencies, parishes and county commissions doing Gulf coastal restoration construction, much of it flowing from post-spill settlement money; the $50,000 to $500,000 range covers nonprofits, tribes, conservation districts and universities doing design, monitoring and on-the-ground restoration. With 3,150 grants to 1,991 recipients over three years, many organizations show up more than once, and large multi-phase projects clearly get renewed.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • habitat
  • restoration
  • restore
  • resilience
  • watershed
  • living shoreline
  • working lands

Positioning adjacent work

  • Name the target species and the acres or stream miles restored, the way their own grant titles do.
  • Ask in the $150,000 to $800,000 band for research, monitoring, design or planning components.
  • Attach to an existing landscape effort: Chesapeake, Gulf coast marsh, Great Plains grasslands, Pacific salmon.
  • Partner with a state agency, tribe or local government; those are the largest and most frequent recipients.

Worth knowing: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Florida absorb the largest single awards through coastal settlement-driven restoration, so raw grant counts in California and Pennsylvania hide where the money concentrates. Big national partners like Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and Audubon recur, and pure research is funded mainly when it monitors or designs a restoration project rather than standing alone.

30 grants matching “upper · $5.2M

  • $1.7M

    US Forest Service · Portland, OR · 2023

    Restoring upper trout creek for native steelhead

  • $662,993

    Chesapeake Bay Foundation · Annapolis, MD · 2023

    Protect upper potomac watershed with wetlands md

  • $349,380

    Friends of the Upper Delaware River · Hancock, NY · 2023

    Managing invasive knotweed in the delaware river

  • $193,277

    Wildlife Management Institute · Cabot, VT · 2023

    Enhancing forests for birds in the upper delaware

  • $88,855

    Lake Hopatcong Commission · Landing, NJ · 2023

    Streambank stabilization in the upper musconetcong

  • $58,850

    Town of Clinton · Clinton, CT · 2023

    Fish passage at the upper mill pond dam

  • $47,303

    Upper Nehalem Watershed Council · Vernonia, OR · 2023

    Nehalem watershed bdas salmonid rearing habitat

  • $29,584

    Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District · Templeton, CA · 2023

    Santa rosa creek steelhead habitat restoration

  • $28,420

    Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority-Wallkill River Watershed Manage · Lafayette, NJ · 2023

    Stormwater infrastructure in upper paulins kill ii

  • $22,989

    Weequahic Park Association · Newark, NJ · 2023

    Restoration of the arthur kill-upper bay watershed

  • $22,918

    Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council · Marquette, MI · 2023

    Restoring coastal wetland in upper peninsula mi/wi

  • $15,339

    Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission · Lebanon, NH · 2023

    Water quality improvements in new england

  • $13,563

    Orange County Coastkeeperinland Empire Waterkeeper · Costa Mesa, CA · 2023

    Upper newport bay living shorelines for oysters

  • $12,940

    Stillwater Sciences · Berkeley, CA · 2023

    Upper klamath basin wetland restoration study

  • $7,516

    Klamath Watershed Partnership · Klamath Falls, OR · 2023

    Upper klamath lake water quality monitoring

  • $5,250

    Aquatic Ecosystem Sciences Llc · Ashland, OR · 2023

    Upper klamath lake nutrient balance analysis

  • $480,343

    Friends of the Upper Delaware River · Hancock, NY · 2022

    Delaware river watershed

  • $129,140

    Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy · Gunnison, CO · 2022

    Sagebrush restoration

  • $74,085

    Upper Nehalem Watershed Council · Vernonia, OR · 2022

    Coho salmon project

  • $55,565

    Upper Peninsula Rc&D Council · Marquette, MI · 2022

    Invasive species management

  • $8,895

    Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Dist · Templeton, CA · 2022

    Steelhead habitat restor.

  • $331,702

    Friends of the Upper Delaware River · Hancock, NY · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $324,626

    Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy · Gunnison, CO · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $156,277

    Gs Black · Etna, CA · 2021

    Upper parks creek water

  • $116,594

    Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Auth · Oakland, CA · 2021

    Improving drainage

  • $65,885

    Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Dist · Templeton, CA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $54,000

    Klamath Watershed Partnership · Klamath Falls, OR · 2021

    Upper sycan bull trout

  • $50,000

    Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited · Atlanta, GA · 2021

    Chattahoochee river water

  • $49,391

    Upper Peninsula Rc&D Council · Marquette, MI · 2021

    Controlling phragmites

  • $7,711

    Upper Nehalem Watershed Council · Vernonia, OR · 2021

    Coastal salmon project

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • La Coastal Protection & Restoration1 grant · $99.0M
  • Ms Department of Environmental Quality2 grants · $39.3M
  • Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority1 grant · $36.9M
  • The Nature Conservancy3 grants · $36.6M
  • Town of Dauphin Island3 grants · $29.8M
  • Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana1 grant · $29.0M
  • Texas General Land Office3 grants · $28.9M
  • Mobile County Commission3 grants · $25.8M
  • Walker Basin Conservancy3 grants · $23.7M
  • Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium Dauphin Island Sea Lab1 grant · $23.5M

Giving over time

$333.2M
2021
$323.0M
2022
$432.4M
2023

Grant history

The 100 largest of 3,150 grants.

  • $99.0M

    La Coastal Protection & Restoration · Baton Rouge, LA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $36.9M

    Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority · Baton Rouge, LA · 2022

    Barrier island restoration

  • $34.0M

    Ms Department of Environmental Quality · Jackson, MS · 2022

    Marsh creation

  • $29.0M

    Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana · Baton Rouge, LA · 2023

    Restoring louisiana wetlands for marsh habitat

  • $24.7M

    Mobile County Commission · Mobile, AL · 2023

    Dauphin island causeway shoreline

  • $24.6M

    Town of Dauphin Island · Dauphin Island, AL · 2023

    Restore al bay marsh & oyster reefs for resilience

  • $23.5M

    Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium Dauphin Island Sea Lab · Dauphin Island, AL · 2023

    Saltmarsh stabilization and restoration

  • $18.0M

    Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality · Jackson, MS · 2023

    Mississippi coastal habitat restoration & mgt

  • $17.2M

    Texas General Land Office · Austin, TX · 2022

    Beach/dune restoration

  • $15.0M

    Walker Basin Conservancy · Reno, NV · 2023

    Establishment of walker basin conservancy phase ii

  • $14.3M

    The Nature Conservancy · Durham, NC · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $12.5M

    Ducks Unlimited · Memphis, TN · 2023

    N great plains grassland habitat for birds

  • $12.4M

    The Nature Conservancy · Durham, NC · 2022

    Oyster restoration

  • $12.0M

    Alabama Dept Conservation & Natural Res · Montgomery, AL · 2023

    Coastal habitat protection

  • $10.4M

    Galveston Bay Foundation · Webster, TX · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $9.9M

    The Nature Conservancy · Arlington, VA · 2023

    Mn prairie restoration - monarch & skipper habitat

  • $7.4M

    Texas General Land Office · Austin, TX · 2023

    Restore tx coastal marsh for wildlife habitat

  • $6.6M

    Galveston Bay Foundation · Webster, TX · 2022

    Land acquisition

  • $5.9M

    Trout Unlimited · Arlington, VA · 2023

    Pacific salmon habitat restored in eklutna river

  • $5.9M

    Great Basin Land & Water · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    Walker basin

  • $5.6M

    Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission · Tallahassee, FL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $5.6M

    Walker Basin Conservancy · Yerington, NV · 2022

    Walker basin

  • $5.4M

    Texas Agricultural Land Trust · San Antonio, TX · 2022

    Coastal habitat protection

  • $5.2M

    Ms Department of Environmental Quality · Jackson, MS · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.7M

    National Audubon Society · New York, NY · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.6M

    Trout Unlimited · Arlington, VA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.5M

    Town of Dauphin Island · Dauphin Island, AL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.5M

    Ducks Unlimited · Washington, DC · 2022

    Marsh restoration

  • $4.4M

    Texas General Land Office · Austin, TX · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.3M

    City of Foley · Foley, AL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.3M

    American Littoral Society · Highlands, NJ · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $4.2M

    Trout Unlimited · Arlington, VA · 2022

    Columbia basin

  • $4.0M

    Walker River Irrigation District · Yerington, NV · 2023

    Walker basin water leasing demonstration program

  • $3.9M

    Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe · Nixon, NV · 2023

    Pyramid lake water rights and management projects

  • $3.9M

    Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co · Centennial, CO · 2021

    Usmc - flood structure

  • $3.9M

    Apalachee Regional Planning Council · Tallahassee, FL · 2023

    Fl reefs & marshes protect 12 miles of coast

  • $3.7M

    Department of the Interior US Fish and Wildlife Service · Fairhope, AL · 2023

    Florida wading bird & beach mouse habitat

  • $3.6M

    National Audubon Society · New York, NY · 2022

    Species monitoring & shorebird conservation

  • $3.4M

    Town of Navassa · Navassa, NC · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $3.3M

    Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project · Kaneohe, HI · 2022

    Marine debris removal

  • $3.2M

    Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay · Richmond, VA · 2022

    Conservation projects

  • $3.2M

    Walker Basin Conservancy · Yerington, NV · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $3.0M

    Dtn · Chicago, IL · 2023

    Reporting services for farmer partnerships

  • $3.0M

    National Marine Sanctuary Foundation · Silver Spring, MD · 2022

    Stormwater infrastructure

  • $3.0M

    Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay · Annapolis, MD · 2023

    Chesapeake stream restoration monitoring plan

  • $3.0M

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · Tallahassee, FL · 2023

    Fl marine debris cleanup protects coastal waters

  • $2.9M

    National Audubon Society · New York, NY · 2023

    Restoring long island marsh for saltmarsh sparrow

  • $2.8M

    University of Florida · Gainesville, FL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.8M

    Pheasants Forever · St Paul, MN · 2022

    Sagebrush ecosystem conserv

  • $2.8M

    City of Buffalo · Buffalo, NY · 2023

    Restore marsh habitat on lake erie's shoreline

  • $2.6M

    The Conservation-Fund · Arlington, VA · 2022

    Coastal habitat protection

  • $2.5M

    National Wildlife Federation · Reston, VA · 2023

    Restoring mt grassland meadows for sage-grouse

  • $2.5M

    Pheasants Forever · St Paul, MN · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.5M

    The Conservation Fund · Arlington, VA · 2023

    Protect alaska rivers for sockeye salmon spawning

  • $2.4M

    Quileute Tribe · La Push, WA · 2023

    Quillayute river restoration for salmon habitat

  • $2.4M

    Fl F&W Conservation Commission · Tallahassee, FL · 2022

    Oyster restoration

  • $2.3M

    Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program · Corpus Christi, TX · 2023

    Shoreline restoration

  • $2.3M

    Alabama Dept of Marine Resources · Montgomery, AL · 2021

    Install artificial reefs

  • $2.3M

    The Trust for Public Land · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.3M

    Town of Braintree · Braintree, MA · 2023

    Restoration of the monatiquot river

  • $2.2M

    Ducks Unlimited · Washington, DC · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.2M

    Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay · Richmond, VA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.2M

    American Bird Conservancy · The Plains, VA · 2023

    Protecting hawaii's forest birds & dry landscapes

  • $2.2M

    City of Mobile · Mobile, AL · 2021

    Gulf env benefit fund

  • $2.2M

    Mississippi Department of Marine Resources · Biloxi, MS · 2023

    Install artificial reefs

  • $2.1M

    Texas Parks and Wildlife Department · Austin, TX · 2023

    Reduce white-nose syndrome bat mortality in texas

  • $2.0M

    Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs · Gretna, LA · 2023

    Restoring la marsh & shoreline for fish habitat

  • $2.0M

    American Bird Conservancy · Washington, DC · 2022

    Delaware river watershed

  • $2.0M

    Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium · Dauphin Island, AL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $2.0M

    Groundwork Jacksonville · Jacksonville, FL · 2023

    Final design to restore hogans creek

  • $2.0M

    City of Jacksonville · Jacksonville, FL · 2022

    Wetland restoration

  • $1.9M

    Pheasants Forever · St Paul, MN · 2023

    Grassland bird conservation in western sd prairies

  • $1.9M

    City of Mobile · Mobile, AL · 2023

    Mobile waterways cleared of storm debris

  • $1.9M

    North Carolina Coastal Federation · Newport, NC · 2023

    Building a living shoreline along the neuse river

  • $1.9M

    The Conservation-Fund · Arlington, VA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.8M

    American Littoral Society · Highlands, NJ · 2023

    Nj beach habitat for horseshoe crabs & red knots

  • $1.7M

    State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources · Honolulu, HI · 2023

    Restoring coral reefs in west maui, hi

  • $1.7M

    US Forest Service · Portland, OR · 2023

    Restoring upper trout creek for native steelhead

  • $1.7M

    Village of Kotlik · Kotlik, AK · 2023

    Restore alaska wetlands for salmon habitat

  • $1.7M

    The Longleaf Alliance · Andalusia, AL · 2023

    Advancing longleaf restoration and management

  • $1.7M

    South Alabama Land Trust · Fairhope, AL · 2022

    Coastal habitat protection

  • $1.7M

    Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project · Kailua, HI · 2023

    Removing debris from papahanaumokuakea reefs

  • $1.6M

    Great Basin Land & Water · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.6M

    Stroud Water Research Center · Avondale, PA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.6M

    Earth Island Institute · Berkeley, CA · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.6M

    St Bernard Parish Government · Chalmette, LA · 2023

    Restoring cypress & tupelo forests along bayou

  • $1.6M

    Mississippi Dep'T of Marine Resources · Biloxi, MS · 2022

    Install artificial reefs

  • $1.6M

    Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District · Albuquerque, NM · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.5M

    Escambia County · Pensacola, FL · 2023

    Watershed restoration

  • $1.5M

    City of Niceville · Niceville, FL · 2023

    Watershed restoration

  • $1.5M

    The Longleaf Alliance · Andalusia, AL · 2022

    Species recovery in the gulf

  • $1.5M

    California Fire Safe Council · McClellan, CA · 2022

    Wildfire mitigation

  • $1.5M

    National Wildlife Federation · Ann Arbor, MI · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.5M

    Native Village of Napakiak · Napakiak, AL · 2022

    Coastal resilience

  • $1.5M

    Uss North Carolina Battleship Commission · Wilmington, NC · 2023

    Nc shoreline and marsh habitat restoration

  • $1.5M

    The Longleaf Alliance · Andalusia, AL · 2021

    Conservation projects

  • $1.4M

    Stroud Water Research Center · Avondale, PA · 2023

    Protect lancaster streams via riparian buffers pa

  • $1.4M

    Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District · Albuquerque, NM · 2023

    Water conservation for minnow in middle rio grande

  • $1.4M

    Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium · Dauphin Island, AL · 2022

    Watershed restoration

  • $1.4M

    National Marine Sanctuary Foundation · Silver Spring, MD · 2021

    Conservation projects

View all 3,150 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.