Independent research tool — not a government agency. Official notices govern.Refreshed
OpenOpportunity F26AS00030

F26AS00030 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program

Fish and Wildlife Service · Department of the Interior

At a glance

F26AS00030 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program is an open federal grant opportunity from the Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior). Applications are due November 20, 2026. Individual awards are listed as $10K – $14.2M, with about 15 awards expected and $14.2M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include state governments. Cost sharing or matching is required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 15.615 (Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund).

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

  1. Sep 14, 2026Posted
  2. Nov 20, 2026Application deadlinenext date
  3. Nov 27, 2026Archived
Posted
Sep 14, 2026
Close date
Nov 20, 2026
Archive date
Nov 27, 2026
Award floor
$10,000
Award ceiling
$14,162,000
Est. total funding
$14,162,000
Expected awards
15
Cost sharing
Required
Funding instrument
Grant
Opportunity category
Discretionary

Who can apply

  • State governments

Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)

Only State and Territorial (hereafter, "State") agencies that have entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their cooperative agreement are eligible to apply for funding. While funding may only be awarded to States, groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee. Projects must support at least one listed species" most recent FWS-approved recovery planning document in which habitat loss is identified as a threat and habitat protection is identified as a priority recovery action.The specific parcel(s) of land proposed for acquisition with grant funds, or as non-Federal cost share, must be identified and sufficiently described to facilitate merit review based on the evaluation criteria listed in this Funding Opportunity. Parcels must be individually identified but can be grouped and described for evaluation purposes at the property or transaction level.Applications must include a commitment to funding for, and implementation of, management of the land in perpetuity consistent with the conservation needs of the species.A property may not be submitted for funding consideration under both the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program and the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grant Program in the same fiscal year.Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States. Applications cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent costs.Neither funding awarded through this opportunity, nor the associated non-Federal cost share, may be used to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under Section 7, fulfilling Federal mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring requirements of an HCP permitted under section 10, or any other Federal regulatory mitigation requirement (e.g., mitigation for Clean Water Act permits).State administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or included in the application in accordance with Federal requirements. Applications may not be submitted to cover administrative costs alone.Generally, only expenses incurred and budgeted during the period of performance are reimbursable; the period of performance begins with the effective date established at the time the grant is approved. However, a State may request reimbursement of pre-award costs for certain necessary expenses detailed in the grant application. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the approval of the grant where such costs are necessary to comply with the proposed period of performance. Such costs are allowable only if the grant is awarded, only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award, and only with the written approval of the awarding agency (2 CFR 200.458).

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.

First awarded in fiscal year (FY) 2001, Recovery Land Acquisition grants promote State and Federal cooperation in listed species conservation by leveraging funds to acquire specific parcels of land, through fee simple or conservation easement, in support of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)-approved recovery plans and outlines. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) conveys the importance of recovery plans as a central organizing tool for guiding the recovery process by requiring their development for every listed species.

How to apply

0 of 8 done · progress saved in this browser

Assistance Listing

What is an ALN?

Reported obligations under ALN 15.615

Historical data · not a prediction
FY24$86.9M
FY25—
FY26$40.2M est.
Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listing 15.615. Program-wide totals, not awards from this specific opportunity.

Agency contact (as published)

Fish and Wildlife Service
Kelly_Niland@fws.gov
22041-3803

Quick answers

When is the deadline for this opportunity?

According to the official notice, applications are due November 20, 2026. The notice adds: “Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.This program requires the submission of applications online through GrantSolutions.gov as applicants will receive an ackn” Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: State governments. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.

How much funding is available through this opportunity?

Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $10k – $14.2m, total estimated program funding is $14,162,000 and the agency expects to make about 15 awards.

How do I apply for this opportunity?

Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity F26AS00030), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.

Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.

OpenALN 15.608
Award range
$5K – $150K
Closes
Dec 16, 2026
Who can apply
State governments and Others (see notice)
Source: Grants.govVerified yesterday
OpenALN 15.681

F24AS00298 Cooperative Agriculture

Fish and Wildlife Service
Award range
Amount not specified
Closes
Mar 7, 2029
Who can apply
Individuals and Small businesses
Source: Grants.govVerified yesterday