The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is a state government funder that invests in large-scale conservation, restoration, and recovery projects for fish, wildlife, and their habitats across California. It prioritizes ecosystem- and watershed-scale actions — especially salmon and steelhead fisheries recovery, wetland and riparian restoration, oil-spill prevention/response, and remediation of illicit cannabis-related impacts — and typically funds public agencies, tribal governments, and conservation nonprofits. CDFW administers multiple bond- and grant-funded programs (Prop 1, Prop 68, FRGP, etc.) and often partners with federal and philanthropic entities to deliver multi-benefit habitat outcomes.
Offers relatively large grants (typical range reported $739,000–$10,000,000) administered through multiple program solicitations: annual competitive cycles (e.g., Fisheries Restoration Grant Program with January solicitations and April deadlines), bond-funded program rounds (Prop 1, Prop 68) with variable timelines, and rolling solicitations for some restoration funds. Eligible recipients are primarily public agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations; some programs require coordination with partner funders (e.g., NOAA, NFWF).
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Check program-specific solicitations for eligibility and deadlines (FRGP opens in January with April due dates), align proposals with the relevant bond program (Prop 1 or Prop 68) or designated grant stream, demonstrate technical capacity for large, multi-benefit restoration projects, and build partnerships with eligible public/tribal partners and federal partners (NOAA, NFWF) where noted. Many opportunities vary year-to-year and may be rolling or invitation/solicitation-driven, so monitor CDFW funding webpages for announcements and required pre-application steps.
Current and upcoming funding from California Department of Fish and Wildlife that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Eligibility details are provided in the program solicitation and guidance materials.
Deadline: Rolling solicitation.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.