RFP

Promoting Tribal Co-Stewardship for Grasslands Health

Application Deadline:

September 16, 2024, at 5 pm MT

General Info
Eligibility
Application
Selection Criteria
Grant Requirements
Help

General Information

Grant Overview

The federal government has embarked upon an era of co-stewardship of public lands as directed by Joint Secretarial Order 3403 and other authorities. States have also launched new policies consistent with this approach. These efforts to restore tribal stewardship can help to advance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and adaptation to climate change. Central to this work is restoring buffalo and fire to grasslands.

This grant will provide Tribes with resources to build necessary capacity to negotiate, implement, and monitor co-stewardship agreements with the U.S. Forest Service in the Great Plains Region. This includes technical assistance, trainings, and networking opportunities all centered in the space of co-stewardship. The ultimate goal is to strengthen and increase tribal co-stewardship on National Grasslands in the Great Plains region, allowing Tribes to serve as anchors in promoting greater ecological connectivity to grassland protection and health.

First Nations is now accepting applications under our Stewarding Native Lands program to support the development of tribal co-stewardship agreements and related capacity building. First Nations expects to award six grants up to $125,000 each to eligible Tribes.

Grant support is made possible through funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Grant Period

The grant period for this funding opportunity is October 15, 2024, to November 30, 2026.

Grant Award Ceiling

Total requested funds in project budgets under this funding opportunity should not exceed $125,000.

Grant Submission Deadline

Applications are due MONDAY, September 16, 2024 no later than 5 pm Mountain Time.

First Nations recognizes that some of our most rural and remote applicants may have limited access to high-speed internet. Any exceptions to use of the online system must be made at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline by submitting a request to grantmaking@firstnations.org. Please include your name, organization, contact information and the name of the RFP for which you are applying. If you do not have access to email you can call our office at (303) 774-7836 and ask to speak with a member of the Grantmaking Department.

Unfortunately, First Nations cannot make any emergency exceptions to application deadlines. Partial applications, incomplete applications due to user error, or faxed/emailed/mailed applications will not be considered unless they have received prior approval.

Download instructions for First Nations’ Online Application System here. Access First Nations’ Online Application system here.

Download a PDF of this RFP

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Eligibility

Type of Eligible Entities

Tribes that border or are in proximity of National Grasslands and are interested in establishing a co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Forest Service on the National Grasslands in the Northern Great Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).

Types of eligible applicants include:

Federal- and State-Recognized tribal Governments and Departments

Allowable Grant Activities

Selected grantees under this opportunity must use funding for capacity building and program planning efforts related to developing co-stewardship agreements and enhancing the health and biodiversity of grassland ecosystems and climate efforts through landscape-scale approaches.

Examples of allowable activities under this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:

Tribal capacity building
Related departmental and programmatic development and advancement
Co-stewardship planning and development
Development of data collection methods and tools

Examples of unallowable activities under this funding opportunity include:

Purchase of Real Estate
Lobbying
Litigation
Entertainment
Capital construction projects (including the construction, purchase, renovation, and/or furnishing of facilities)
Funding of individuals
Development campaigns head
Endowments
Scholarships or tuition assistance

Application

All applicants must complete the First Nations’ ONLINE grant application, including submission of necessary attachments by MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2024, no later than 5 pm Mountain Time.

Application Requirements:

A concise description of the proposed project including tribal interests and needs. Include information about your co-stewardship objectives and goals, the management practices that will be implemented, and current or previous collaboration that the Tribe has had with local U.S. Forest Service officials.
An overview of the activities that will be executed during the project, how they will be implemented, and how they will advance tribal priorities.
A plan of how to plan to track and measure the project impact.
At least two specific objectives to be accomplished with the funding.

The following attachments must be uploaded during the online submission process:

(Sample Budget Form) A budget for the proposed project with a detailed cost breakdown that is reasonable and directly related to proposed grant activities. This document must be uploaded as a PDF or Excel file.

If you require a PDF writer, there are many free options available including Cute PDF Writer and BullZip. Or you may do a web search to find a writer that fits your needs.

Important Note:

Please allow yourself enough time to submit a complete application before the deadline, as the system will shut down automatically at 5 pm Mountain Time on Monday, September 16, 2024, and no data may be entered thereafter. Partial, faxed, emailed or mailed applications that are not received on time due to user error will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria

First Nations seeks projects that:

Advance co-stewardship agreements in a way that aligns with tribal values and interests.
Build capacity for co-stewardship efforts on National Grasslands.
Incorporate methods to track, measure, and share impacts.

First Nations will make final selections and notify all participants regarding the status of their application on or before October 1, 2024. Notifications will be emailed to the contact listed on the application.

Grant Requirements

Evaluation and Reporting

Grantees will be required to complete three reports (two progress and one final) that include two main items: (1) a narrative section updating on project objectives, successes and challenges and (2) a financial expenditure report. These reports will enable First Nations to: (1) gain a greater understanding of tribal co-stewardship; (2) tell grantee stories, including accomplishments, challenges, impact, and programming practices; and (3) measure the impact of funding support on grantee programs.

Technical Assistance

Grantees will receive technical assistance as requested. First Nations staff and subject matter experts will work with each grantee to create technical assistance plans that develop, implement, and/or strengthen their respective co-stewardship agreement and tribal capacity.

Help

Grantseeker Resources

First Nations has compiled a number of free resources related to the grant writing process. Whether you are a small organization new to grants or an organization with extensive experience, these resources will help with development of your application to First Nations.

Please click here to access First Nations’ free grantseeker resources.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

Brett Treadway, Program Officer, Stewarding Native Lands, at (303) 867-8015 or btreadway@firstnations.org