FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program | F20AS00068

FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program (Modern Multistate) - FAQs

1) What is the FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program?

The FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) framework (CFDA 15.628). It supports multistate-scale conservation-related work, with FY 2020 funding specifically emphasizing recruitment for hunting and recreational shooting.

2) Which federal agency administers this grant?

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), within the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) framework.

3) What does CFDA 15.628 refer to?

CFDA 15.628 is the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance identifier associated with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) framework under which this opportunity is administered.

4) What laws authorize this grant program?

The opportunity builds on long-standing authorities in the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, as updated by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. For FY 2020, Congress expanded the effort through the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act (Public Law 116-94), enacted December 20, 2019 within the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.

5) How much funding can be made available each year under the multistate authority?

The authorities described allow the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $6,000,000 available each year for multistate conservation project grants.

6) What changed for FY 2020 compared to prior years?

For FY 2020, Congress created a new, dedicated Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program and added an additional $5,000,000 specifically targeted to recruitment work. This FY 2020 recruitment funding is described as distinct because it is reserved exclusively for hunter and recreational shooter recruitment projects.

7) What is the purpose of the additional $5,000,000 in FY 2020?

The added $5,000,000 is reserved exclusively for projects focused on hunter and recreational shooter recruitment. The intent is to promote a national hunting and shooting sports recruitment program, including communication and outreach activities designed to attract, engage, and retain new participants.

8) What types of projects are intended to be supported under the FY 2020 recruitment funding?

The FY 2020 reserved funding is meant to support grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sports recruitment program. This includes communication and outreach activities needed to attract, engage, and retain new hunters and recreational shooters.

9) Is this program focused on conservation in general or on recruitment?

The broader multistate grant authority supports conservation work across state lines. However, the FY 2020 funding described here is tightly focused on recruitment outcomes connected to hunting and recreational shooting, with the new $5,000,000 reserved exclusively for that purpose.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education), and private institutions of higher education.

11) Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants. Nonprofit organizations are eligible as well, but nonprofit institutions of higher education are specifically excluded under the nonprofit eligibility description.

12) Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they are not 501(c)(3)?

Yes. The eligibility description includes nonprofit organizations that are 501(c)(3) and nonprofit organizations that are not 501(c)(3), with the noted exclusion related to institutions of higher education.

13) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award size (ceiling) is $1,000,000.

14) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated an estimated 10 awards.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 6, 2020.

16) What was the application deadline?

The original closing date was May 15, 2020. Applications were required to be submitted by 5:00 pm EDT on the due date.

17) Were late applications accepted?

No. Late proposals were not considered, indicating a firm deadline.

18) What does "discretionary grant opportunity" mean in this context?

The opportunity is described as discretionary, meaning awards are made through an agency-run competitive or selection process rather than being automatically distributed by formula.

19) What does "multistate" mean for this program?

In this context, "multistate" refers to conservation project grants intended to operate across state lines, supporting efforts that span more than one state rather than being limited to a single-state focus.

20) What is the overall policy goal behind the FY 2020 recruitment focus?

The FY 2020 recruitment funding reflects a policy goal of strengthening participation in hunting and recreational shooting. The opportunity frames this as part of a broader conservation funding model, emphasizing recruitment, outreach, and retention of participants.