Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant

Grants ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 to USA nonprofit organizations, government agencies, tribes, and educational institutions to build community capacity to protect natural resources. Funding is intended to support a range of local partnerships working to enhance water quality, watersheds, and the species and habitats they support. This program expects that applicants will represent a mixture of urban and rural communities. Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship.

Ecological improvements may include one or more of the following: wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, water quality monitoring and stormwater management. Projects should also increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities, particularly underserved communities, in project planning, outreach and implementation.

Priorities:

• On-the-Ground Restoration: Must restore and/or create wetlands, coastal, or riparian areas.
• Environmental Outreach, Education and Training: Must integrate meaningful outreach, education and/or training into the proposed on-the-ground activities that advance local watershed and conservation goals.
• Community Partnerships: Must involve five or more partners (public and private entities) including the applicant.
• Measurable Results: Must result in specific, measurable ecological, educational and community benefits.
• Sustainability: Must include a plan for maintenance and care of the project beyond the grant period

For additional information about program priorities, see: https://www.nfwf.org/fivestar/Documents/2020rfp.pdf#page=2

There is one application submitted to NFWF for all sources of funding. Funders include:

• U.S. EPA Five Star Restoration Training Program: Approximately $215,000 is available nationwide from EPA to fund projects. These funds are available nationwide, in any size community. 
• Urban Waters Federal Partnership, U.S. EPA and USDA Forest Service: Approximately $335,000 is available from U.S. Forest Service and EPA, through the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, to improve urban water quality, restore riparian habitat and urban forests, increase public access to urban waterways and make linkages to municipal stormwater programs in developed watersheds throughout the United States. Funds are available nationwide for urban areas. 
• U.S. FWS Urban Programs: Approximately $315,000 is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund projects that engage urban neighbors and foster a sense of stewardship where there are Service lands or offices nearby (within approximately 25+/- miles). 
• Southern Company Five Star Restoration Program: Approximately $250,000 is available from Southern Company and its affiliates to support on-the-ground wetland, riparian, in-stream or coastal habitat conservation and restoration projects in key areas served by its subsidiaries. 
• FedEx: Approximately $300,000 is available from FedEx to support projects in metropolitan areas.
• BNSF Railway: Approximately $40,000 is available to support projects in eligible cities. 
• Additional Private Foundation Support: Approximately $100,000 is available to support projects in the Newark Bay area of New Jersey.

For more detailed information about available funding and requirements, see: https://www.nfwf.org/fivestar/Documents/2020rfp.pdf#page=6