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You can use the search bar to search for key terms of interest. For example, a search for “Justice40” will turn up all federal programs that fall under the Justice40 Initiative.

Do you see an omission or error in one of our program entries? Please submit any feedback on errors or general input to Mahtaab Bagherzadeh (bagherzadehm@nwf.org).

Filter Terms

Project Purpose
Business/Community DevelopmentProjects that support or stimulate new or existing businesses and/or promote community development and welfare, such as improved housing and public amenities (e.g., parks).
Climate Resilience/AdaptationProjects that promote the ability to recover quickly and adjust to changing conditions in the face of weather- and climate-related hazards through support for climate adaptation projects and climate resilient solutions.
Disaster RecoveryThe capabilities necessary to assist communities affected by an incident to recover long-term, including rebuilding infrastructure, providing housing, restoring health, social and community services, promoting economic development, and restoring natural and cultural resources.
Drought ResilienceProjects that use mitigation methods to prepare communities for future drought events and provide the strategies to endure and recover from these events.
Erosion ControlProjects that seek to improve soil retention and prevent soil movement caused by natural or manmade causes.
Flood/Storm Risk ReductionProjects that use mitigation methods to decrease loss of life, property, and other harmful impacts caused by flooding and storm events.
Habitat/Ecosystem RestorationProjects that restore natural function(s) to a habitat or ecosystem, such as floodplain restoration projects restoring an ecosystem’s ability to store excess flood waters or planting vegetation next to a stream to prevent erosion and provide habitat for native fauna.
Habitat/Ecosystem ProtectionProjects that proactively protect a habitat or ecosystem, such as conservation easements, protected areas, or headwater protections.
InnovationProjects that have a defined goal but no defined method for achieving that goal; the methods in these projects tend to be new or generally untested ideas with great promise.
Natural Hazard MitigationProjects that reduce the loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of weather- and climate-related hazards like hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires.
Pollution RemediationProjects that support the removal of long-term contaminants and toxins from water and soil.
Soil HealthProjects that aim to improve the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.
Water Quality ImprovementsProjects aimed at improving water quality by reducing pollutants, including nutrient pollution from runoff.
Water Quantity ImprovementsProjects that mitigate drought or flooding, or enhance water availability (e.g., soil moisture retention, groundwater recharge).
Wildfire Risk ReductionProjects that use mitigation methods to decrease the loss of life, property and other harmful impacts caused by wildfire events.
Support Type
Project Funding (Grant/Other)A financial award given by a funder to an eligible recipient. Grant programs may be competitive or non-competitive and may require cost-share from the recipient. This bucket also includes projects or programs developed by non-federal entities with input from the Army Corps of Engineers and typically have non-federal cost share requirements.
Project Funding (Loan)A financial award is given to a party in exchange for repayment of the loan principal amount plus any interest.
Technical Assistance/Capacity BuildingA non-financial award in the form of technical assistance, including, but not limited to, consultations, training, meeting facilitation, or planning and project design assistance. This bucket may also include agricultural outreach/extension services, whereby new knowledge of agricultural practices is applied through farmer education.
Cost-share Type
Not RequiredThe funding is 100% covered by the federal government, with no cost share or matching funds required from the funding recipient.
RequiredThe funding recipient must cover a portion of project or program costs that are not paid for by the federal funding agency. This “non-federal cost share” or “match” is often expressed as a percentage of the total cost of the project.
Varies/Need-basedThere may be flexibility in the requirements for a funding recipient to cover a portion of project or program costs. For example, there may be a waiver or reduction in cost-share or match requirements for communities meeting certain criteria, such as income thresholds.
Eligible Recipients
Tribal GovernmentTribal governments are sovereign entities that operate separately from state or federal governments. Tribal governments may include federally recognized and state-recognized Tribal Nations, as well as Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples that may not be federally- or state-recognized. This guide recognizes that each agency program may have a different technical definition as it pertains to Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples as eligible program recipients.

Technical Terms

Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is a systematic process for identifying, quantifying, and comparing expected benefits and costs of a project.  This process is used by some federal agencies in decision-making to determine a project’s cost effectiveness or to choose among project alternatives.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is a $1.2 trillion investment in U.S. infrastructure enacted in 2021 that has both supplemented existing programs and created new programs to tackle issues like clean water, transportation, and resiliency.
Cost-share/MatchCost-share and match (also called matching funds) requirements are the portion of the approved project funding that the recipient is responsible for paying. Cost-share and match are typically written as a percentage of total approved project funding.
Feasibility studyA phase in project development during which a specific issue or proposed project is analyzed and alternative solutions and their impacts are identified and compared. This typically includes opportunities for public review and input and may also require an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. The feasibility study leads to a recommendation for one of the identified alternative solutions.
FYFiscal Year; in the case of federal funding, the federal fiscal year is October 1 through September 30
Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP)Hazard Mitigation Plans are federally-mandated plans designed to mitigate the impact of natural hazards, like flooding, to human life and property. Hazard Mitigation Plans must be updated every 5 years and must be FEMA approved.
In-Kind Contributions AcceptedThe recipient may make in-kind contributions toward covering their portion of the program costs. In-kind contributions are non-monetary contributions that may include various types of work/services (e.g., volunteer hours) or materials/goods.
IRAThe Inflation Reduction Act, a federal law signed into effect in August of 2022. The IRA makes significant investments in climate and clean energy solutions, including substantial resources for  nature-based solutions.
Justice40A White House initiative with the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. President Biden made this commitment when he signed Executive Order 14008 within days of taking office.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)NFWF is a grant-making foundation created by Congress in 1984 to work with both the public and private sectors to protect and restore the U.S.’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats.
Nature-based SolutionsNature-based solutions include conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, such as healthy wetlands, floodplains, and forests, as well as employing engineered systems designed to mimic natural system functions. Terms such as ‘natural infrastructure’ or ‘green infrastructure’ are types of nature-based solutions often used interchangeably by different federal agencies or in different contexts. Properly implemented, nature-based solutions can play an important role in community climate adaptation and resilience, while also providing economic, social, and environmental benefits and enhancing quality of life for community residents.
NOFONotice of Funding Opportunity
NRCSThe Natural Resource Conservation Service, housed in the United States Department of Agriculture, is an agency which provides America’s farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground, supporting many natural infrastructure practices and programs.
RFPRequest for Proposals (similar to an RFA, a Request for Applications)