OpportunityTitle: Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
CategoryExplanation: Notice of Intent (NOI) to Award to a Single Source without Competition to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation:  Community-based partnerships between refuge Friends organizations and refuges have and increasingly play a vital role in building visibility and support for the Refuge System.  Friends organizations provide important and needed services to the Refuge System including community outreach, education program, habitat restoration, special event support, volunteer staff, and fundraising.  Friends organizations provide measurable benefits to the Refuge System and the more than 40 million visitors that enjoy refuges annually.  This grant program has stimulated significant interest among the public to support refuges and the greater refuge system.  The Foundation has vast experience in developing and administering grant programs and shares a key interest in building visibility and support for the refuge system.
Description: Funding is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service&apos;s Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership initiative, in addition to support from corporate and federal partners to fund projects meeting the Urban Wildlife Refuge program elements. For more information, please visit: http://americaswildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Urban-Initiative-Fact-Sheet.pdf Project Elements: Competitive criteria for this funding include: -Partnerships: Projects proposals should include partner organizations (public and private) with the demonstrated ability or articulated strategy to work with specifically identified urban cultures and communities[MP1] . Proposals will describe how the partnership with Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) staff can help achieve common goals of fish and wildlife conservation and healthy communities. Partnerships with any Service Program staff[MP2] would be eligible for these grants. - Measurable Benefits: Projects should result in measurable outcomes that document greater participation in fish and wildlife related activities among diverse urban audiences and a better understanding of how fish and wildlife conservation contributes to community well-being. The proposal should demonstrate how the project will help meet at least one of the Standards of Excellence for Urban Wildlife [MP3] Refuges and Partnerships. - Sustainable: Projects should reflect a commitment to neighborhood and community strength, and long term capacity to remain engaged as a Service partner beyond the life of the grant. - Community Assets: Projects will articulate tangible ways the Service can become an asset to the urban community. Examples of asset building would include, providing technical assistance in fish and wildlife issues, providing pathways for youth employment, or community education and recreational enjoyment. (again, could reference Standards).
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Office
GrantorContactText: Marcia Pradines &lt;br/&gt;Phone 703-358-2172