Time Limited Grant Opportunities

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has established a competitive grant program to support and advance the recovery and rehabilitation of injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife, and conservation education. Funding for this grant program is provided from the Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund established pursuant to Section 18749.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Description:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for grant funding from the competitive grant program established pursuant to Section 1773.1, an applicant shall meet all the following criteria:

1. Operate a nonprofit organization conducting wildlife rehabilitation activities.
2. Compliance with CDFW Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit and Memorandum of Understanding.
3. Maintain active participation in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Medical Database.

GRANT FUNDING

Grant term will be March 1, 2024 (or when agreement is executed, whichever is later) to November 15, 2024. Funds are distributed using grant tiers based on 2022 wild animal intake:

2022 intake                                                    Grant amount

10 – 500                                                                     $3,000
501 – 1,500                                                                 $9,000
1,501 – 4,000                                                             $14,000
4,001 & over                                                              $19,000

ALLOWABLE COSTS

Funds may be used to support facility and home-based operations, improvements and/or innovation in wildlife rehabilitation techniques (e.g., animal care, enclosure design, behavioral enrichment; post-release monitoring), and conservation education.

Funds may not be used for incentives (e.g., raffles, donations), fundraising (e.g., financial campaigns, gift solicitation), or hospitality (e.g., accommodations, alcohol, entertainment).

HOW TO APPLY

Eligible applicants may electronically submit a DFW 481 Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Application form by October 15, 2023 (5:00 p.m. PST) to RehabWildlife@wildlife.ca.gov

The Native Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program application form is available on the CDFW Grant Opportunities webpage at wildlife.ca.gov/Grants/Wildlife-Rehab-Grants

If more applications are submitted than available funds, awards will be granted in order of applications received by CDFW. Incomplete applications will not be considered.