Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection
This grant funds nonprofit-led projects to restore, protect, or enhance Great Lakes coastal habitats—especially for migratory birds—using science-based plans to address at-risk wetlands, grasslands, and forests.
Funder: Fish and Wildlife Service
Due Dates: July 6, 2026
Funding Amounts: $25,000–$300,000 per award | ~3 awards | Total funding: $800,000 | 24-month project period
Summary: Supports projects for long-term habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement in the Great Lakes coastal zone to benefit native fish and wildlife, especially migratory birds.
Key Information: 25% non-federal cost share required; for-profit entities are not eligible.
Description
This opportunity funds projects that protect, restore, or enhance habitats within the Great Lakes coastal zone, prioritizing benefits to migratory birds and other native fish and wildlife. The program is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast Joint Ventures. Projects must align with GLRI Action Plan IV Focus Area 4 and relevant bird conservation plans, and must address declining or at-risk habitat types such as wetlands, grasslands, and forests. Preference is given to projects adjacent to or within 15 miles of Great Lakes coastal waters. Research and monitoring-only projects are not eligible; all activities must result in direct habitat outcomes.
