The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is offering the Wildlife Diversity Grant Program for the 2025-2027 biennium, supporting recovery and conservation projects for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). With $2 million in available funding, the program prioritizes projects that directly benefit SGCN populations through recovery actions or data collection on species abundance, distribution, and habitat associations. Special attention is given to species in habitats under significant pressure, such as shrub-steppe, eastside forests, prairies, and oak woodlands.

Eligible applicants include public entities, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and tribal governments. Projects must occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, with budgets ranging from $40,000 to $400,000, including indirect and overhead costs. Activities may include recovery actions, feasibility studies, or baseline data collection, but ineligible activities include habitat restoration, land acquisition, education, or outreach. Certain species, including fish, aquatic invertebrates, wolves, and most harvested wildlife, are also excluded.

The grant application period opened on November 1, 2024, and proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 19, 2025. An information session was held on November 13, 2024, and the recording is available for review. Proposals will be evaluated, and applicants will be notified of results by May 2025. Successful projects can commence on or after July 1, 2025.

Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with WDFW priorities and coordinate with species leads to enhance project relevance. Detailed eligibility criteria, priority activities, and a list of eligible species are available in the grant opportunity announcement. Proposals should demonstrate clear, measurable benefits to SGCN populations and address direct threats to their habitats.

For more information, applicants can contact Jenna Judge, the Wildlife Diversity Assistant Division Manager, at WildlifeDiversityGrants@dfw.wa.gov. This grant provides an opportunity to contribute to Washington’s biodiversity and the recovery of its most vulnerable species.