The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, competitively funds partner projects for long-term habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement within the Great Lakes watershed. The initiative targets the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by supporting projects that conserve habitats for native fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds.

Overview

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) operates through two bird habitat joint ventures in the Great Lakes watershed: the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. These joint ventures work with the Office of Conservation Investment program in the Midwest and Northeast Regions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund projects that conserve habitats supporting native Great Lakes fish and wildlife. Proposed activities must align with the operating principles of GLRI Action Plan IV and meet the objectives of GLRI Action Plan IV Focus Area 4.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include any organization except for-profit entities or businesses. Eligible applicant categories include:

• Education: Independent school districts, public and state institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit: Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3), nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3), other Native American tribal organizations
• Government: Public and Indian housing authorities, state governments, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, city or township governments, special district governments

Applicants who are not conservation-based organizations must demonstrate how their organizational priorities can satisfy the objectives of the GLRI and the priorities of the Joint Ventures, and how GLRI investments in the proposed project will be maintained and ensured into the future.

Research Areas and Activities

Proposed projects must address declining or at-risk habitat types including wetlands, grasslands, and forests. Projects must fall within the Great Lakes coastal zone as defined by NOAA. Projects that lie adjacent to or within 15 miles of Great Lakes coastal waters will be viewed favorably.

Proposed actions should address the habitat goals of the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture Implementation Plan or the Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain (BCR 13) Bird Conservation Region Plan, and/or other relevant bird conservation plans including tribal plans and State Wildlife Action Plans. Applicants should clearly describe how proposed activities will benefit bird species identified in these plans.

Proposed projects should describe how activities or outcomes will use existing science and decision support tools to inform proposed activities and how proposed activities will benefit habitats and identified species in the future.

Award Information

• Program Funding: $800,000
• Expected Awards: 3
• Award Minimum: $25,000
• Award Maximum: $300,000
• Funding Instrument Type: Grant
• Opportunity Category: Discretionary
• Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
• Category of Funding Activity: Natural resources
• Funding Opportunity Number: F26AS00094

Deadline and Timeline

Closing: July 6, 2026. Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM ET on July 6, 2026.

• Posted Date: May 6, 2026
• Archive Date: October 1, 2027
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Contact Information

Grantor Contact: Alex Coley
Email: Alex_Coley@fws.gov

Application Process

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants should visit www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.