California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Program (Traditional Section 6)

Deadline: Monday, April 6, 2026

Funding Amount: Awards typically range from $40,000 to $400,000.

ABOUT: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking high quality proposals for projects that will further the conservation and recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered wildlife (including terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates), plant, and freshwater fish species in the state. While these grants are awarded to CDFW and project leads must be CDFW staff, CDFW welcomes collaboration with external partners who may be supported through contracts and payable grants. Projects proposed for funding may involve management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities or any combination thereof. 

Additionally, applicants may apply for funding to monitor populations of candidate species, recently de-listed species, and certain Eligible Unlisted Species. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Enhancement or restoration of federally listed species’ habitat

• Surveys and inventories of federally listed species and/or their habitats

• Introduction of federally listed species into suitable habitats within their historic range

• Propagation of federally listed animals and plants

• Research on the population health and status, genetics, and/or ecology of federally listed species

• Monitoring populations of federally listed and Eligible Unlisted Species (note: for Candidate, recently de-listed and Eligible Unlisted Species only monitoring projects are eligible)

• Public education and outreach activities such as coordination workshops with local landowners, when those activities address a specific threat to an ESA-listed species

Priority will be given to projects designed to have a direct impact on the recovery of federally listed species, prevent extinction of a federally listed species, or prevent the need to list a candidate species.

A minimum non-federal match of 25% of the total project cost is required and must be provided by applicants.

APPLY: For a detailed program description, please follow the link to the CDFW’s Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program page.

NOTE: If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please contact our Pre-Award Specialists Pia Gabriel at pg12@humboldt.edu, Kaz Wegmuller at kaz.wegmuller@humboldt.edu, or Jocelyne Takatsuno at jt366@humboldt.edu  ASAP.