2026 Five Star Grant Program

Overview

• Type

  Grant

• Title

  2026 Five Star Grant Program

• Source

  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

• Federal or State

  Federal

• Award Range

  $30,000 - $150,000

• Cost Share

  Yes

Topics

Climate

Environmental Justice

Resilience

Eligibility

• Audience

  Education, Local Government, Nonprofits, State Agencies, Tribes

• Sector

  Climate, Environmental Justice, Resilience

• Activity

  Education & Outreach, Planning, Program Management

• Eligibility

  Eligible Entities

  • Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations and educational institutions.
  • Ineligible applicants include unincorporated individuals, businesses, international organizations and U.S. Federal government agencies.

  Eligible Activities

  Projects should increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities in project planning, outreach and implementation. Projects are expected to engage a range of community partners who are involved in implementing the project and sustaining the project outcomes. All proposals should address each of the three program priorities:

  1. On-the-Ground Restoration
  2. Environmental Outreach, Education, and Training
  3. Community Partnerships

• Location

  National

Application Process

• Application Link

  Apply Now

• Pre-Application?

  No

• Requirements

  Projects are required to meet or exceed a 1:0.75 match ratio to be competitive (e.g., a $60,000 grant request should be matched by contributions totaling $45,000). Matching contributions must be non-federal and may include in-kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, cash or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes.

  Metrics are key; the Five Star program has a list of metrics in Easygrants for full proposal applicants to choose from for future reporting. Metrics are required for every proposal.

  All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system.

• Disbursement Method

  Unspecified

Important Dates

• Application Close Date

  May 14, 2026

Resources & Contacts

• Contact

  For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact:
  Zoey Apelt
  Coordinator, Regional Programs
  (202) 915-0971
  Zoey.Apelt@nfwf.org

  Ericka Popovich
  Program Manager, National Programs
  (202) 595-2451
  Ericka.Popovich@nfwf.org

  Sydney Godbey
  Program Director, National Programs
  (202) 595-2612
  Sydney.Godbey@nfwf.org

• Technical Assistance Contact

  For one-on-one guidance, sign up for a virtual proposal lab:
  NFWF staff will be holding 20-minute virtual proposal labs for the 2026 RFP on Tuesday through Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m eastern time. You can make an appointment through our Bookings page.

  For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact:
  Easygrants Helpdesk
  Email: Easygrants@nfwf.org
  Voicemail: 202-595-2497
  Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday.
  Include: Your name, proposal ID #, e-mail address, phone number, program you are applying to,
  and a description of the issue

• Resources

  Implementation Grant Application Tip Sheet 2013
  Five Star Grant Program 2026 Request for Proposals | NFWF