Opportunity Information: Apply for F26AS00003
F26AS00003, the NAWCA 2026 Mexico Grants opportunity, is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, to support wetland conservation partnerships in Mexico that benefit migratory birds and other wildlife across North America. The program is built around the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and is designed to bring together public agencies, conservation groups, and other partners to protect, restore, enhance, and manage wetland ecosystems and related habitats used by wetlands-associated migratory birds, while also supporting broader fish and wildlife conservation outcomes tied to those wetlands.
At the heart of the opportunity is a set of long-term biological goals: maintaining and improving the distribution of wetlands-associated migratory bird populations, and sustaining abundant populations of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other migratory birds that depend on wetlands. The grant priorities are explicitly aligned with major continental and hemispheric bird conservation frameworks, including the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, the Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and the Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan, as well as international obligations reflected in migratory bird treaties and agreements involving the United States, Mexico, Canada, and other countries. In practice, that means proposals should clearly connect on-the-ground wetland outcomes in Mexico to broader migratory bird conservation needs across flyways.
A core program requirement is cost sharing: applicants must provide a 1:1 non-federal match, meaning every federal dollar requested must be matched by at least one dollar from non-federal sources. Proposals are expected to show how partner contributions, roles, and commitments will produce durable conservation results and encourage sustainable, effective wetland conservation programs over the long term, not just short-term project deliverables.
NAWCA defines eligible "wetlands conservation projects" in several categories. First, funding can support acquisition of property that contains wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, including the acquisition of water rights, as long as the acquired lands will be administered for long-term conservation and managed for the benefit of migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife. Second, funding can support the restoration, management, or enhancement of wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, again with the expectation that the lands and waters involved will be administered for long-term conservation and managed to benefit dependent wildlife. Third, and specifically for projects carried out in Mexico, the program also allows certain capacity-building activities that help build or strengthen wetland conservation and management capabilities, including technical training, education, sustainable-use studies, and organizational infrastructure-building. This Mexico-specific eligibility recognizes that long-term conservation outcomes often require building local expertise, governance capacity, and practical management systems alongside habitat work.
The program is supported in Mexico through the participation of Mexico's Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), specifically its General Direction of Wildlife (SEMARNAT-DGVS), which participates in the review and assessment of proposals. Applicants are directed to consult the Mexico Instructions (including scoring criteria referenced as being on page 7), Grant Administration Standards, and Eligibility Criteria contained in the attachments to the notice of funding opportunity, with the same materials also available on the USFWS NAWCA Mexico Grants webpage.
Key opportunity details from the notice include an award ceiling of $1,000,000, an estimated 15 awards, and an application closing date of May 28, 2026. The assistance listing is CFDA 15.623, and the funding activity category is Natural Resources. Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; and small businesses. More program information and related materials are provided through USFWS at https://www.fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-mexico-grants and the NAWCA Mexico program page at https://www.fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-grants-mexico-program.Apply for F26AS00003
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F26AS00003 - NAWCA 2026 Mexico Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.623.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Small businesses.
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NAWCA 2026 Mexico Grants (F26AS00003) - FAQs
What is the NAWCA 2026 Mexico Grants opportunity (F26AS00003)?
F26AS00003 is a discretionary grant opportunity under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, to support wetland conservation partnerships in Mexico that benefit migratory birds and other wildlife across North America.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program supports partnerships that protect, restore, enhance, and manage wetland ecosystems and related habitats used by wetlands-associated migratory birds. It is also intended to support broader fish and wildlife conservation outcomes tied to those wetlands.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects are intended to support wetland conservation partnerships in Mexico. Proposals should show how work in Mexico contributes to migratory bird and wetland conservation outcomes that matter across North America.
Which agency runs this program?
The program is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Division of Bird Habitat Conservation.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant?
This is a discretionary grant program.
What are the long-term biological goals of NAWCA Mexico Grants?
The long-term biological goals include maintaining and improving the distribution of wetlands-associated migratory bird populations and sustaining abundant populations of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other migratory birds that depend on wetlands.
How should proposals connect to migratory bird conservation beyond the project site?
Proposals are expected to clearly connect on-the-ground wetland outcomes in Mexico to broader migratory bird conservation needs across flyways, reflecting the program's alignment with major bird conservation frameworks and international migratory bird obligations.
Which conservation plans and frameworks are priorities for alignment?
Grant priorities are aligned with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, the Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and the Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan, as well as international obligations reflected in migratory bird treaties and agreements involving the United States, Mexico, Canada, and other countries.
What is the cost-share requirement?
A 1:1 non-federal match is required. For every federal dollar requested, the applicant must provide at least one dollar from non-federal sources.
What does "1:1 non-federal match" mean in practice?
It means the proposal budget should show that partner contributions from non-federal sources meet or exceed the federal amount requested, so the project has at least equal non-federal support compared to the federal share.
Why does the program emphasize partnerships and partner commitments?
Proposals are expected to demonstrate how partner contributions, roles, and commitments will produce durable conservation results and encourage sustainable, effective wetland conservation programs over the long term, not only short-term deliverables.
What types of projects are considered eligible "wetlands conservation projects" under NAWCA?
NAWCA defines eligible wetlands conservation projects in multiple categories, including (1) acquisition of property containing wetlands and associated habitats (including water rights), (2) restoration, management, or enhancement of wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, and (3) for Mexico projects specifically, certain capacity-building activities that strengthen wetland conservation and management capabilities.
Does the program fund land acquisition?
Yes. Funding may support acquisition of property that contains wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, including acquisition of water rights, as long as the acquired lands will be administered for long-term conservation and managed for the benefit of migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Does the program fund water rights acquisition?
Yes. The acquisition category explicitly includes acquisition of water rights, provided the long-term conservation and wildlife-benefit administration requirements are met.
Does the program fund restoration, management, or enhancement work?
Yes. Funding may support restoration, management, or enhancement of wetland ecosystems and associated habitats, with the expectation that lands and waters involved will be administered for long-term conservation and managed to benefit dependent wildlife.
Are capacity-building activities eligible for Mexico projects?
Yes. For projects carried out in Mexico, the program allows certain capacity-building activities to build or strengthen wetland conservation and management capabilities.
What kinds of capacity-building activities are mentioned as eligible in Mexico?
Examples include technical training, education, sustainable-use studies, and organizational infrastructure-building.
Why does the Mexico program include capacity-building as eligible work?
The notice indicates this Mexico-specific eligibility recognizes that long-term conservation outcomes often require building local expertise, governance capacity, and practical management systems alongside habitat work.
What is expected regarding long-term conservation management of supported lands and waters?
For acquisition and restoration/management/enhancement categories, the notice emphasizes that lands and waters involved are expected to be administered for long-term conservation and managed for the benefit of migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Who participates in the review and assessment of proposals in Mexico?
Mexico's Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), specifically its General Direction of Wildlife (SEMARNAT-DGVS), participates in the review and assessment of proposals.
What attachments or instructions should applicants consult?
Applicants are directed to consult the Mexico Instructions (including scoring criteria referenced as being on page 7), Grant Administration Standards, and Eligibility Criteria contained in the attachments to the notice of funding opportunity.
Where can applicants find the Mexico Instructions and other materials?
The materials are referenced as being in the notice attachments and are also available through USFWS on the NAWCA Mexico Grants webpage.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is May 28, 2026.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice provides an estimate of 15 awards.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing is 15.623.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; and small businesses.
Can nonprofits apply even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Can individuals apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the eligibility list.
Can small businesses apply?
Yes. Small businesses are included in the eligibility list.
Where can I find official program pages for more information?
USFWS provides information at https://www.fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-mexico-grants and the NAWCA Mexico program page at https://www.fws.gov/service/north-american-wetlands-conservation-act-nawca-grants-mexico-program.
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