The Oregon Wildlife Foundation offer small grant awards to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), tax-exempt organizations, volunteer groups with a fiscal sponsor, and qualified individuals for projects that fall within the following areas:

1. fish and/or wildlife habitat restoration

2. public access preservation, restoration, or improvement

3. natural resource or outdoor education

4. invasive species removal or control

5. studies that support improved fish/wildlife management

Your proposed project may be a stand-alone project or part of a larger or ongoing project. 

 

Application Instruction

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The Foundation’s Project Committee reviews and approves funding applications on a quarterly basis. The deadlines for applications in 2023 are 2/6, 5/8, 8/14, and 10/30 Please submit your application and all related materials no later than 5pm on the dates shown above.

 

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by staff for completeness and then forwarded to our Project Committee for evaluation and determination of a final award. A decision on your application will be made approximately 30 days after each submission deadline passes.

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Your proposed project will be evaluated based on the following:

1. fit with the Foundation’s areas of interest

2. likelihood of success

3. significance at local or state level

4. the presence of a contributing private or nonprofit partner

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Projects that conserve or restore an Oregon Conservation Strategy habitat or Strategy species will be given priority. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects that conserve, restore, or improve oak savannah or wetland habitats.

 

Application Guidelines

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1. We make cost reimbursement grants only.

2. Foundation funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar, in cash or in-kind from other sources. It’s appealing to the Foundation if the applicant's organization is also contributing cash, even a small amount, to the project. We do not typically make multi-year grant awards.

3. Grant funds must be expended in the way outlined in your original application. If you need to reallocate expenditures, for any reason, our office must be contacted first.

4. As requested in our application, a statement of support from a local, state, or federal biologist is required for fish, wildlife, or habitat-related projects. The same may be required for access projects if the need isn’t clearly demonstrated.

5. Overhead or administrative costs will not be reimbursed.

6. Salaries, except for project-related contract personnel, will not be reimbursed.

7. Other disallowable uses of Foundation funds include fundraising or advocacy activities, ongoing operating expenses, and pass-through grants.

8. A typical funding award is $5,000 or less. If your need for funding is greater than that, please contact Tim at the Foundation office.

9. Projects taking place outside the state of Oregon will not be considered.

10. Only one applicant may apply for funding if the proposed project is being undertaken by a consortium.

11. Public recognition of the Foundation’s support by the grantee is expected. That can be in your own organization’s publications (including social media posts), the local newspaper, or a combination of these.

 

The following are additional project types/activities that are not eligible for grant funding from the Oregon Wildlife Foundation:

1. Capital or endowment campaigns.

2. Scholarships or fellowships unless they are directly supporting a project in which the Foundation is a partner.

3. Improvement of natural resources for private gain.

4. Acquisition of land.

5. Required mitigation or toxic cleanups.

6. Wildlife rehabilitation or captive breeding programs.

7. Predator control activities.

 

You will be notified by email and post mail with the Project Committee’s decision regarding your funding request.

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Please note that if your funding request is approved, you are not eligible to apply for additional funding from the Foundation until we’ve received your final report, including all required documentary evidence.

 

Grant Reporting

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A final report, including before/after high-resolution photos or a brief video, is a requirement of our funding support. Evidence of public recognition is also required.

 

Your report should answer the following questions:

1.  Progress and Results – describe the progress made toward the project goals and objectives outlined in your grant application.

2. Successes and Challenges – describe the successes and challenges experienced during implementation and at project completion.

3. Lessons Learned – describe what you learned based on the results, successes, and challenges reported above. What will you do differently, if anything, based on your experience with this project?

4. Additional Information – what else happened, if anything, that impacted you or your organization’s ability to implement the project as outlined in your grant application?

 

Image/ Video Guidelines 

 

In order to promote your project to supporters and create materials, including project pages for our website, we request with your application you provide images based on the following criteria (for additional guidance please contact us or review the materials we currently have posted on our website or social media channels for the best examples):

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1. At least two images (no more than 15) that visually identify your project (if applicable).

2. Images must be good quality or high resolution (most newer cell phones will take an acceptable image).

   • Examples, images that show work being done on your project’s site, close up or distant of your site or project, images reflecting your project’s process.

3. No logos or other identifiable copyright infringements can be visible in submitted video or images (or must be cropped or edited out).

   • For example, Starbucks coffee cup in hand.

4. Upon Grant approval, you must begin collecting before and after images (only two necessary). Before image must be taken prior to project process initiation, and After image must be taken in the exact same location as Before image (to be submitted after project is complete).

5. Video content is always welcome. We request that submitted video play time not exceed five minutes. We also welcome shorter (20 sec. +) videos at the beginning of project acceptance to use as marketing materials for ongoing awareness and updates for your project.

   • Example, “teaser trailer” style video that entices a potential donor to take action.

6. Please submit officIal name(s)/title for photo or video credits.

7. We may ask for a signed release form for people pictured.

8. For further information or any clarifications about the information listed here, please contact tim@myowf.org.