How do I prepare a 2009 proposal?

Deadlines: March 6, and July 31, 2009.

Please read this first!

As you may know by now, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act) Grants Program application process is rigorous. Grant applications take a great deal of time and effort to prepare, but we hope you won’t be discouraged. If your proposal is funded, your wetlands conservation accomplishments will add to the remarkable achievements of thousands of partners in thousands of Act-supported projects across the continent.

Advanced Planning. As you write your proposal, think carefully about how you will implement your project if it is approved for funding. Keep the following basic principles in mind as you plan your project and complete your application:

• Partners must match their grants request at no less than a 1-to-1 ratio. For example, partners requesting a $1 million grant would need to also contribute at least $1 million in partner funds (from nonfederal sources) towards the project.
• There is no difference in grant and match for grant administration purposes. Generally, laws and requirements that apply to activities funded with NAWCA dollars also apply to items funded with match dollars or provided as in-kind match (i.e., real property interests)
• Each grant and match dollar, except for indirect costs, must be linked to an acre acquired, restored, enhanced, and/or established.
• Grantees are held accountable for both match dollars and acres, as defined in the proposal and grant agreement. Without prior approval and agreement modification, accomplishing less than 100 percent of match dollars and acres will result in a reduction of the award amount.

Each of these basic principles, and other equally important information, is explained more thoroughly in the documents provided below. Read and understand the Proposal Instructions, the Eligibility Criteria and Processes, and the U.S. Grant Administration Standards to help make your proposal more competitive and your project easier to manage. If your proposal is funded, it will become the basis of your Assistance Award.

Getting Started

We strongly recommend that you contact the coordinator of the joint venture region in which your project is located early in the process for guidance on developing your project and proposal. Joint venture coordinators’ prioritization of NAWCA proposals from their geographic region is a key element in the selection process.

A map of joint ventures can be found here, and a contact list of joint venture coordinators is located here.

Preparing a Proposal

Below are files for you to use in preparing your proposal:

Proposal Instructions: Describes changes from the 2008 instructions, gives required information for a proposal, and provides examples. These instructions are applicable to proposals submitted through July 31, 2009.

Deadlines: March 6, and July 31, 2009.

Word Proposal Outline: Provides “fill-in-the-blank” proposal outlines, including Technical Assessment Questions species lists.

Excel Budget Table: Provides an alternative to the Word and Word Perfect budget tables.

Eligibility Criteria and Processes: Describes eligible activities and costs for NAWCA projects and gives links to cost principles that apply to all Federal grants programs. All NAWCA proposals must comply with these cost principles. Steps in the proposal funding process are also described.

U.S. Grant Administration Standards: Describes policies applicable to all U.S. NAWCA grants.