The Wildlife Diversity Grant opportunity is open for 2025-27 applications. Find the full announcement, the recorded information session and frequently asked questions on this page. This flyer (PDF) provides a high-level summary of the opportunity and examples of past-funded projects.
Grant Opportunity Announcement for Washington 2025-27 Biennium (7/1/2025 - 6/30/2027)
WDFW’s Wildlife Diversity Grant Program aims to support recovery actions for a suite of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Grant funding can also be awarded for projects aimed at collecting data and information on species abundance, distribution, and habitat associations, with priority for SGCN whose habitats are under significant threat of incompatible development, land use, or resource management. Coordination with WDFW species leads and alignment with WDFW priorities is critical to the success of grant-funded projects.
Please read the full grant opportunity announcement (PDF) for details on eligibility criteria, WDFW priorities, how to coordinate with WDFW staff ahead of applying, and how to apply. Be sure to read the full announcement thoroughly as details and instructions to apply have been updated for this grant round.
An information session was held on November 13 and the recording can be viewed below. See the FAQ section below for responses to common questions and clarifications.
Funding for the Wildlife Diversity Grant program comes from a significant investment by the state legislature to restore and protect biodiversity in Washington. The Department expects funding to be available in future biennia to continue this grant program.
Estimated Schedule
Grant Activities | Date |
|---|---|
Grant application period and submission form opens | November 1, 2024 |
Information session, view recording | November 13, 2024, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
Grant proposals due by 11:59 p.m. | Sunday, January 19, 2025 |
WDFW notifies grant applicants of selection results | May 2025 |
Earliest possible project start date | July 1, 2025 |
Grant Opportunity Basics
- Total available funding: $2 million
- Eligible Applicants: Applicants affiliated with public, nonprofit, academic, or tribal entities
- Project Timeframe: Projects must occur from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027
- Project budget range: $40,000 to $400,000, including indirect/overhead
- Eligible species: SGCN within the Wildlife Diversity Division's scope (see table below). Ineligible SGCN include fish, aquatic invertebrates, wolves, and most harvested wildlife.
Eligible Activities
- Implementing recovery and conservation actions for eligible Washington SGCN that directly and measurably benefit species populations. These projects contribute to increased species abundance, distribution, population health, or clear abatement of direct threats.
- Collecting data and information on the abundance, distribution, habitat associations, or natural history of eligible SGCN, with additional priority given toward species whose habitat is under significant pressure from development, land use, or resource management (i.e., shrubsteppe, eastside forest, prairies, and oak woodlands).
- Completing direct actionable steps toward increasing eligible species’ populations (e.g., conservation translocation feasibility studies) or collecting baseline data about eligible species (e.g., developing survey protocols or assessing habitat use).
Ineligible Activities
- Habitat restoration, conservation easements, or land acquisition
- Outreach and education
- Projects that primarily benefit species outside WDFW Wildlife Diversity Division’s scope of responsibility are not eligible. These include fish, aquatic invertebrates, wolves, and most harvested wildlife.
Review the grant opportunity announcement (PDF) (PDF) for more details on priority, eligible, and ineligible activities for inclusion in grant proposals, including a list of eligible species.
How to apply
Grant applicants must complete an application form and submit all required components through the grant submission form no later than 11:59 pm on January 19, 2025.
Agency contact info
Questions and communications concerning this grant opportunity may be directed to:
Jenna Judge
Wildlife Diversity Assistant Division Manager
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
WildlifeDiversityGrants@dfw.wa.gov
List of Eligible Species
The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are eligible for activities funded through this grant opportunity. Each species has unique data- and recovery-related needs, and applicants are strongly encouraged to consult relevant WDFW species leads prior to submitting a grant proposal. Applicants may email WildlifeDiversityGrants@dfw.wa.gov to ask questions or to be connected to relevant WDFW subject matter experts to inform their grant proposal.
This table includes species that have had recent taxonomic revisions; therefore, the listed names may not match the name listed on the linked webpage. The information on linked webpages may not be fully up to date and the species without a link do not have a webpage. Again, we encourage direct communication with WDFW biologists to best inform potential grant proposals.
Eligible Species of Greatest Conservation Need | Major taxonomic group | Minor taxonomic group |
|---|---|---|
Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) | Birds | Alcids |
Birds | Alcids | |
Birds | Alcids | |
Sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) | Birds | Cranes |
Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Birds | Cuckoos |
Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Birds | Falcons |
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Birds | Hawks, Eagles |
Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) | Birds | Hawks, Eagles |
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Birds | Hawks, Eagles |
Northern goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | Birds | Hawks, Eagles |
American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Clark's grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Common loon (Gavia immer) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Birds | Marine Birds |
Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) | Birds | Owls |
Flammulated owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) | Birds | Owls |
Great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) | Birds | Owls |
Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) | Birds | Owls |
Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) (Western WA only) | Birds | Owls |
Western screech-owl (Megascops kennicotii) | Birds | Owls |
Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Oregon vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus affinis) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Purple martin (Western North America subspecies) (Progne subis arboricola) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Sagebrush sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis aculeata) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Streaked horned lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (Western WA only) | Birds | Perching Birds |
Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa) | Birds | Shorebirds |
Red knot (Calidris canutus) | Birds | Shorebirds |
Rock sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) | Birds | Shorebirds |
Snowy plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) | Birds | Shorebirds |
Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Birds | Shorebirds |
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) | Birds | Upland Game Birds |
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) | Birds | Upland Game Birds |
White-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura rainierensis) | Birds | Upland Game Birds |
Black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | Birds | Woodpeckers |
Lewis's woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) | Birds | Woodpeckers |
Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | Birds | Woodpeckers |
White-headed woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus) | Birds | Woodpeckers |
Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) (Columbia basin only) | Herps | Frogs |
Northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) | Herps | Frogs |
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) | Herps | Frogs |
Rocky Mountain tailed frog (Ascaphus montanus) | Herps | Frogs |
Northern sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) | Herps | Lizards |
Pygmy short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) | Herps | Lizards |
Side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) | Herps | Lizards |
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) | Herps | Marine Reptiles |
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) | Herps | Marine reptiles |
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) | Herps | Marine reptiles |
Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) | Herps | Salamanders |
Columbia torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri) | Herps | Salamanders |
Cope's giant salamander (Dicamptodon copei) | Herps | Salamanders |
Dunn's salamander (Plethodon dunni) | Herps | Salamanders |
Larch Mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli) | Herps | Salamanders |
Olympic torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus) | Herps | Salamanders |
Western Tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) | Herps | Salamanders |
Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandykei) | Herps | Salamanders |
California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) | Herps | Snakes |
Common sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis) | Herps | Snakes |
Desert striped whipsnake (Coluber [Masticophis] taeniatus taeniatus) | Herps | Snakes |
Desert nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea) | Herps | Snakes |
Ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) | Herps | Snakes |
Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) | Herps | Toads |
Woodhouse's toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) | Herps | Toads |
Northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) | Herps | Turtles |
Beller's ground beetle (Agonum belleri) | Invertebrates | Beetles |
Columbia River tiger beetle (Cicindela columbica) | Invertebrates | Beetles |
Hatch's click beetle (Eanus hatchii) | Invertebrates | Beetles |
Mann's mollusk-eating ground beetle (Scaphinotus mannii) | Invertebrates | Beetles |
Siuslaw sand tiger beetle (Cicindela hirticollis siuslawensis) | Invertebrates | Beetles |
Morrison's bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni) | Invertebrates | Bumblebees |
Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi) | Invertebrates | Bumblebees |
Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) | Invertebrates | Bumblebees |
Golden/Chinquapin hairstreak (Habrodais grunus herri) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Great arctic (Oeneis nevadensis gigas) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Hoary elfin (Puget Trough segregate) (Callophrys polios) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Island marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Johnson's hairstreak (Callophrys johnsoni) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Juan de Fuca blue (Icaricia acmon) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Juniper hairstreak (Columbia Basin segregate) (Callophrys gryneus) = Callophrys gryneus nr chalcosiva | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Makah copper (Tharsalea mariposa makah = Lycaena mariposa charlottensis) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Mardon skipper (Polites mardon) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona toddi = Boloria bellona jenistai = Boloria bellona) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Oregon branded skipper (Salish Sea segregate) (Hesperia colorado = Hesperia comma, Hesperia colorado nr oregonia) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Oregon silverspot butterfly (Argynnis zerene hippolyta = Speyeria zerene Hippolyta) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Propertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Puget blue (Icaricia icarioides blackmorei) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Puget Sound fritillary or Great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele pugetensis = Speyeria cybele pugetensis, Argynnis leto pugetensis) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Silver-bordered fritillary (Boloria myrina) = Boloria selene atrocostalis, Boloria myrina atrocostalis | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Sonora or Dog Star skipper (Polites sonora siris) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Taylor's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Valley silverspot or Zerene Fritillary (Argynnis zerene bremnerii = Speyeria zerene bremnerii) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Yuma skipper (Ochlodes yuma) | Invertebrates | Butterflies |
Caddisfly - Allomyia acanthis (Allomyia acanthis) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Caddisfly - Goereilla baumanni (Goereilla baumanni) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Caddisfly - Psychoglypha browni (Psychoglypha browni) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Caddisfly - Rhyacophila pichaca (Rhyacophila pichaca) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Forbidden free-living caddisfly (Rhyacophila vetina) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Yellowstar northern caddisfly (Limnephilus flavastellus) | Invertebrates | Caddisflies |
Columbia clubtail (dragonfly) (Gomphurus lynnae) | Invertebrates | Dragonflies |
Pacific clubtail (dragonfly) (Phanogomphus kurilis) | Invertebrates | Dragonflies |
Subarctic bluet (damselfly) (Coenagrion interrogatum) | Invertebrates | Dragonflies |
White-belted ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus) | Invertebrates | Dragonflies |
Giant Palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus) | Invertebrates | Earthworms |
Mayfly - Cinygmula gartrelli ( Cinygmula gartrelli) | Invertebrates | Mayflies |
Mayfly - Paraleptophlebia falcula (Paraleptophlebia falcula) | Invertebrates | Mayflies |
Mayfly - Paraleptophlebia jenseni (Paraleptophlebia jenseni) | Invertebrates | Mayflies |
Mayfly - Siphlonurus autumnalis (Siphlonurus autumnalis) | Invertebrates | Mayflies |
Leschi's millipede (Leschius mcallisteri) | Invertebrates | Millipedes |
Copablepharon columbia moth (Copablepharon columbia) | Invertebrates | Moths |
Copablepharon mutans moth (Copablepharon mutans) | Invertebrates | Moths |
Copablepharon viridisparsa hopfingeri moth (Copablepharon viridisparsa hopfingeri) | Invertebrates | Moths |
Sand-verbena moth (Copablepharon fuscum) | Invertebrates | Moths |
Blue-gray taildropper (slug) (Prophysaon coeruleum) | Invertebrates | Slugs |
Spotted taildropper (slug) (Prophysaon vanattae pardalis) | Invertebrates | Slugs |
Ashy pebblesnail (Fluminicola fuscus) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Barren juga (snail) (Juga hemphilli hemphilli) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Brown juga (snail) (Juga sp. 3) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Chelan mountainsnail (Oreohelix sp. 1) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Columbia Oregonian (snail) (Cryptomastix hendersoni) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Crowned tightcoil (Pristiloma pilsbryi) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Dalles hesperian (snail) (Vespericola depressa) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Dalles juga (Juga hemphilli dallesensis) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Dalles sideband (snail) (Monadenia fidelis minor) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Dry Land Forestsnail (Allogona ptychophora solida) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Hoko vertigo (snail) (Vertigo rowellii) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Idaho vertigo (snail) (Vertigo idahoensis) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Limestone Point mountainsnail (Oreohelix sp. 18 or O. idahoensis baileyi) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Masked duskysnail (Lyogyrus sp.) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Mission Creek Oregonian (snail) (Cryptomastix magnidentata) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Nimapuna tigersnail (Anguispira nimapuna new spp.) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Olympia pebblesnail (Fluminicola virens) | Invertebrates | Snails |
One-band juga (Juga sp. 8) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Oregon megomphix (Megomphix hemphilli) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Pacific vertigo (snail) (Vertigo andrusiana) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Poplar Oregonian (snail) (Cryptomastix populi) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Puget Oregonian (snail) (Cryptomastix devia) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Rocky mountainsnail (Oreohelix strigosa) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Salmon River pebblesnail (Fluminicola gustafsoni) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Shortface lanx (Fisherola nuttalli) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Three-band Juga (snail) (Juga sp. 7) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Unknown Oregonian (snail) (Cryptomastix mullani hemphilli) | Invertebrates | Snails |
Cascades needlefly (Megaleuctra kincaidi) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Northern forestfly (Lednia borealis) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Pacific needlefly (Megaleuctra complicata) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Rainier roachfly (Soliperla fenderi) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Sasquatch snowfly (Bolshecapnia sasquatchi) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Talol springfly (Pictetiella lechleitneri) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Wenatchee forestfly (Malenka wenatchee) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Yosemite springfly (Megarcys yosemite) | Invertebrates | Stoneflies |
Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) | Mammals | Bats |
Keen's myotis bat (Myotis keenii) (all Myotis species are eligible) | Mammals | Bats |
Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) | Mammals | Bats |
Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) | Mammals | Bats |
Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) | Mammals | Bats |
American badger (Taxidea taxus) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Cascade red fox (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Fisher (Pekania pennanti) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Pacific marten (Coastal population) (Martes caurina pop. 3) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) | Mammals | Carnivores |
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Killer whale (Orcinus orca) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) | Mammals | Marine Mammals |
American pika (Ochotona princeps) | Mammals | Rabbits |
Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) | Mammals | Rabbits |
Pygmy rabbit (Columbia Basin population) (Brachylagus idahoensis) | Mammals | Rabbits |
White-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) | Mammals | Rabbits |
Brush Prairie pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides douglasii) | Mammals | Rodents |
Gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) | Mammals | Rodents |
Kincaid meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus kincaidi) | Mammals | Rodents |
Mazama pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama) | Mammals | Rodents |
Northern bog lemming (Synaptomys borealis) | Mammals | Rodents |
Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus) | Mammals | Rodents |
Shaw Island Townsend's Vole (Microtus townsendii pugeti) | Mammals | Rodents |
Townsend’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii) | Mammals | Rodents |
Washington ground squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) | Mammals | Rodents |
Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) | Mammals | Rodents |
Destruction Island shrew (Sorex trowbridgii destructioni) | Mammals | Shrews |
Merriam's shrew (Sorex merriami) | Mammals | Shrews |
Preble's shrew (Sorex preblei) | Mammals | Shrews |
Columbian white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) | Mammals | Ungulates |
Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) | Mammals | Ungulates |
Fiscal Year 2025 Grant Recipients
WDFW selected 17 grants to be funded in state fiscal year 2025, allocating $1.1M this grant cycle. These grants advance a range of recovery actions and data collection efforts that will support recovery of at least twenty Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) (PDF) (PDF) representing a variety of wildlife species in Washington. WDFW announced the new grant program in March 2024, and received 46 grant proposals, for a total budget request of $3.9 million, from applicants interested in conducting projects to benefit a wide variety of wildlife species in Washington. The FY25 grant opportunity announcement (PDF) (PDF) details the priorities and grant selection process for that first single-year grant opportunity.
A full list of the grant recipients and project titles is available below:
| Title | Grantee | Entity | Primary Species Benefitting | Total Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximizing Habitat Restoration for the Endangered Western Grey Squirrel in Washington State with a Spatial Prioritization Model | Sunny L. Jardine | University of Washington | Western Gray Squirrel | $100,724 |
Where are the Whipsnakes? Understanding the distribution of Washington's rarest snake | Adrian | Central Washington University | Desert Striped Whipsnake | $64,160 |
Implementing Long Term Monitoring for Bumble Bee SGCN at Sentinel Sites in Washington State | Sarina | The Xerces | Bumble Bees | $48,005 |
Washington Butterfly Assessments | Candace Fallon | The Xerces | Butterflies | $82,691 |
Cross-Boundary Aquatic Invasive Bullfrog Control for Columbia Gorge Western Pond Turtles | Sara | Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust | Northwestern Pond Turtle | $41,690 |
Burrowing Owl Inventory on the Yakama Nation Reservation | Mark Nuetzmann | Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation | Burrowing Owl | $27,428 |
Identifying populations and cliff habitat for rare bat species of Washington | Shawn K. Davis | Slippery Rock University Foundation | Townsend's big-eared and Myotis bats | $24,547 |
Multi-species monitoring in coastal dune habitat on partner lands to advance recovery of Western snowy plover and streaked horned larks | Gary | EcoStudies Institute | Snowy plover and streaked horned larks | $103,563 |
Does habitat restoration in agroecosystem contribute to bat conservation? An assessment for Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) in Eastern Washington | Christopher Cosma | Conservation Biology Institute | Townsend’s big-eared bat | $79,717 |
Implementing Oregon spotted frog recovery actions and greater Sandhill crane monitoring at Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge | Trevor Sheffels | US Fish and Wildlife Service | Oregon spotted frog, Sandhill crane | $63,000 |
Baseline surveys for shrub-steppe priority species on Hanford Reach National Monument | Sheri Whitfield | US Fish and Wildlife Service | Burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, Townsend’s/ Washington ground squirrels | $66,900 |
Upper Methow Grizzly Bear Conflict Prevention Project | Madelyn Hamilton | Methow Valley Citizens Council | Grizzly bear | $63,757 |
Lynx Habitat Use in the Face of Increasing Fire in the North Cascades | Carmen Vanbianchi | Home Range Wildlife Research | Lynx | $100,000 |
Bat Hibernacula Surveys on Gifford Pinchot National Forest & North Cascades Level III Ecoregion | Shawn Thomas | Bat Conservation International | Townsend's big-eared and myotis bats | $56,789 |
Assessing movements and habitat selection of Northwestern Pond Turtles | Sarah Converse | University of Washington | Northwestern pond turtle | $114,460 |
Fungal-associated shell disease and immunogenetics assessment of northwestern pond turtles to evaluate their long-term health potential in the state of Washington | Obed Hernandez-Gomez | New Mexico State University | Northwestern pond turtle | $77,486 |
| Conserving Greater Sage-Grouse in South Central Washington | Seth Hulett | Audubon | Greater sage-grouse | $110,614 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of a public entity?
For the purposes of this grant program, a public entity is the same as a public agency, as defined by RCW 39.34.020: (1) "Public agency" means any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government of this state including, but not limited to, municipal corporations, quasi municipal corporations, special purpose districts, and local service districts; any agency of the state government; any agency of the United States; any Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal government; and any political subdivision of another state.”
Will this grant opportunity be available in future years?
This is a biennial opportunity we expect will continue to be funded. This round is for 7/1/25-6/30/27, and the next one would be for 7/1/27-6/30/29, and so forth.
Match is not required, but could a grant proposal request WDFW grant funding to cover a portion of a larger or longer-term project?
Yes, absolutely. There is an optional question in the form where applicants can explain how a WDFW grant would complement or be used to cover a portion of a project funded by other sources or with “in-kind” capacity. WDFW grant funds could be used to pick up a phase or portion of a longer-term project. The deliverables and outputs of the grant should be clearly described.
Are there restrictions on grant funds paying for salary?
No, grant funds can be used for salary, supplies, equipment, and travel expenses to implement grant-eligible activities.
Why isn’t habitat restoration or land acquisition an eligible activity for this grant program? Are there cases where habitat restoration could be part of an eligible proposal?
Habitat restoration is not eligible for this particular funding opportunity for a few reasons:
We agree that habitat restoration and protection is critical for wildlife recovery.
The Wildlife Diversity Grant program is one piece of a larger investment the Washington legislature made in biodiversity restoration. Habitat protection and restoration is the focus of other major pieces of that larger investment. The component of the larger investment that includes the Wildlife Diversity Grant program is focused on the wildlife species themselves.
There are other available funding sources and grant programs that focus specifically on habitat restoration. The Wildlife Diversity Grant program is intended to meet a specific need to support wildlife recovery actions and species information gathering projects.
Some examples of habitat restoration that could be eligible and is not considered the primary purpose of a project include:
Mowing a small area to install survey equipment such as a camera, or artificial habitat components such as a bat box.
Surveying species response to habitat restoration treatments that are funded with another source.
Habitat assessments to inform future recovery or habitat restoration actions are eligible.
Could you please give examples of recovery and conservation actions that are eligible?
Projects that focus on abating direct threats, such as bullfrog control to benefit Oregon spotted frog, Northwestern pond turtle, or Northern leopard frog.
Projects that take steps toward implementing a recovery action such as development of a conservation translocation feasibility assessment.
Headstarting or captive rearing as part of a coordinated conservation translocation action, such as for northwestern pond turtle or island marble butterfly.