The purpose of this proposal is to provide $100,000 in U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funds to the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program, managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

This funding will be used to support National Wildlife Refuge Friends organizations through

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a competitive grant process.

These grants provide funding for Refuge Friends organizations to implement on-the-ground projects and to increase their organizations capacity.

Need:
Community-based partnerships between Refuge Friends organizations and National Wildlife Refuge Systems have played an increasingly vital role in building visibility and support for Refuges nationwide.

Refuge Friends organizations provide many important and needed services to the Refuge System including community outreach, education program, habitat restoration, special event support, volunteer staff, and fundraising.

Specifically, grants may focus on one of the following three areas:
1. Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants â¿¿ Funds will be provided to assist both starting and established refuge Friends organizations to build their capacity.

Funds for newly forming organizations may include formative and/or initial operational support.

For example, funds may be requested for such things as membership drives, tuition for training, brochure and newsletter development, logo design, or consultant fees for website development.

Funds for established refuge Friends organizations may include activities that strengthen an organizationâ¿¿s ability to fully achieve its mission and sustain itself over time.

For example, funds may be requested for a communications strategy for an existing event, strategic plan, volunteer recruitment planning, membership development, new software, or contributing to the building of a new community partnership.

2. Project Specific Grants â¿¿ Funds will be provided to refuge Friends organizations seeking support for projects initiated and managed by the Friends.

For these grants, Friends must clearly demonstrate their involvement in all elements of the project in their narrative, including how the project will benefit the Friends and foster increased engagement of the public, community, volunteers and/or members.

For example, funds may be requested for a Friends organization which proposes to develop and deliver environmental education programs for local schools, manage a habitat restoration project from start to finish, manage the construction of an observation tower and how the Friends intend to use the facility to increase engagement with the Friends organization, or develop interpretive materials and programs that will be used by or delivered by the Friends organization.

3. Peer-to-Peer Coaching (P2P) â¿¿ Funds will be provided to refuge Friends organizations who propose to coordinate and execute a Friends training workshop for a minimum of four other refuge Friends organizations.

Timeline:
NFWF anticipates releasing the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program RFP during the third quarter of fiscal year 201 7. Subawards will likely be awarded during the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 with disbursements to grantees taking place over the next two years.

The pace of NFWF invoicing will be based on the cash needs of the subrecipients.

NFWF will invoice -FWS on a reimbursable basis for the funding.

Outcomes:
NFWF will continue to work with FWS to administer the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program.

This program is designed to increase the effectiveness of Refuge Friends through supporting on-the-ground and capacity building projects.

Evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to the following elements:
â¿¢ Program Goals and Priorities â¿¿ If applicable, Project contributes to the Programâ¿¿s overall habitat and species conservation goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success.

Project addresses one or more of the program priorities outlined in the Request for Proposal.

â¿¢ Technical Merit â¿¿ Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear, logical and achievable work plan and timeline.

When appropriate, Project engages appropriate technical experts throughout project planning, design and implementation to ensure activities are technically-sound and feasible.

â¿¢ Budget â¿¿ Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWFâ¿¿s Budget Instructions cost categories.

Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance as applicable (OMB Uniform Guidance).

Authorizing statues include Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C.

2901-2911); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.

742(a)-754); Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C.

460k-460k(4)); National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.

668dd); Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.

1701-1706); Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C.

470aa-47011); The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57); National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-327); Federal Aid for Highways, HR 4348 (23 U.S.C.

201-204 and 206, Public Law 112-141).