F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round
About This Grant
The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant
Grant Summary
F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round is a Fish and Wildlife Service grant providing $25K to $2.3M for municipality. Applications are due 2026-10-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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Focus Areas
Eligibility
- Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies) as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State may be the applicant for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If the Governor assigns multiple Lead Agencies, those Agencies must coordinate on funding requests prior to submission and ensure no more than the maximum allowable amount is requested through this funding opportunity. All or part of the funds received by the Lead State Agency may be subawarded to a County or Municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another State Conservation Agency.The current Lead State Agencies are:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Contact Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.govNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.govNew Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.govPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.govIn FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Each State may request up to $2,293,362 in Base funding. The earliest anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. Project periods will be no longer than 4 years from the date the grantee is notified of an award. Period of performance extensions may be considered under extenuating circumstances. If the funds are unspent when a grant closes and the HCA grant program is still actively funded, unspent funds will be returned to the program to be redistributed through the next Competitive Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity. If each of the four eligible States does not request the full $2,293,362 available, remaining funds will be distributed through either the concurrent or the next Competitive Grant Round Notice of Funding Opportunity.
How to Apply
$25K–$2.3M
2026-10-31
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round from Fish and Wildlife Service, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to Fish and Wildlife Service before the deadline.
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F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round?
F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round is offered by Fish and Wildlife Service and is generally open to municipality. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round provide?
F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round provides between $25K and $2.3M per award from Fish and Wildlife Service. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round deadline?
Applications for F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round are due 2026-10-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, Fish and Wildlife Service, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round?
To apply for F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from Fish and Wildlife Service.