Grants & RFPs

A nonprofit crewmember plants a tree in a Baltimore community — The Baltimore Tree Trust is increasing urban tree canopy with support from the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, one of several main funding sources for watershed organizations. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

Open Requests for Proposals

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting proposals through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund (CBSF) to restore water quality and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

NFWF is soliciting proposals under the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants program to accelerate the rate and scale of water quality improvements through the voluntary implementation of best management practices that cost-effectively reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to Chesapeake Bay and contribute directly to improved health and function of tributary rivers and streams. For 2025, this includes both INSR Partnership Grants supporting the coordinated and collaborative efforts of sustainable, local and regional-scale partnerships working to implement proven water quality improvement practices more cost-effectively, as well as an INSR Infrastructure Grants opportunity for projects working to implement critical natural and nature-based watershed restoration infrastructure at scale.

Closing Date: November 5, 2024

View RFP‍

Additional Opportunities

The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is a partnership between the Bay Program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to strategically invest in conservation actions to restore the Bay. Grant opportunities include Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction grants and Small Watershed grants.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training grants support Chesapeake watershed environmental education programs and professional development for teachers on Bay-related environmental topics. NOAA also provides funding to restore habitat for coastal and anadromous fisheries.
The Chesapeake Bay Trust offers individual grant programs to support Chesapeake restoration and protection activities in Maryland.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a variety of grant programs and funding opportunities, as well as regional grants.