The total amount allotted for this grant program in 2013 is $60,000, with $3,500 being the maximum amount available per proposal request ($1,000 is the minimum amount). The Conserve Wildlife matching grant is a 50:50 cost share grant - therefore, grant funds cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost.

At least 25 percent of the grantee's share of project funding must be in a dollar amount and the remainder may be in-kind support of the project.

Eligible applicants are those nonprofit organizations defined as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). See Successful Grant Recipients for a summary of several projects that were funded.

Application information follows below; Deadline for requests is April 11, 2013 by 4:00 p.m. Applicants must submit an electronic version by the due date to Kim.Korth@dep.state.nj.us. Notification of awards will be made by April 26, 2013.

REQUEST PROCEDURES

Requests for funding should be concise and submitted electronically. Proposals must contain the following information (not to exceed two pages in length not including attachments):

1. Title of the project.

2. Objectives - Describe measurable goals of the project.

3. Deliverables - Products the organization will provide to ENSP at the conclusion of the pro-ject.

4. Area - Describe the geographic area where the project will take place and the priority area the project addresses.

5. Procedures - Explain the methods that will be used to accomplish the project objectives. In-clude past experience if requesting funds for outreach material or SGCN surveys.

6. Wildlife Action Plan Connection - Identify the action this project will address in New Jer-sey's Wildlife Action Plan. Visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/waphome.htm for the most updated version of the Plan. Provide the page number where the action referenced is found.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Budget - Include an itemized budget and a breakdown of costs for the entire project. If the amount requested from this proposal is less than the total project cost, the specific request should be noted and other funding sources named. MATCH must be identified in the budg-et. At least 25 percent of the grantee's share of project funding must be a cash amount and the remainder may be in-kind support of the project.

2. Calendar - Give expected timelines and date of completion. Projects must be completed in one year.

3. A completed state issued W-9 form (pdf, NJ Dept. of Treasury site).

4. An IRS letter of determination stating the organization's nonprofit status.

5. Acknowledgement that the organization is able to sign resolution adopted by the governing body of the nonprofit organization authorizing the organization to enter into the grant agreement and certifying that the matching funds and in-kind support will be provided for the project if the Department approves and funds the project. An example of a resolution can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensphome.htm
NOTE: Successful applicants will be notified of selection and have 30 days from the date of this notification to complete their application by submitting a completed and signed corporate resolution.

6. Examples of past work if the applicant is applying for education or outreach material devel-opment. If proposal includes handling species, you must provide evidence of authority/expertise for that species.

NOTE: Successful applicants are required to provide a resolution adopted by the governing body of the nonprofit organization authorizing the organization to enter into the grant agreement and certifying that the matching funds and in-kind support are available for the project. An example of a resolution is linked below. No funding can be provided until the application is completed by submission of the corporate resolution. Successful applicants will be notified of their selection and have 60 days from the date of this notification to submit a corporate resolution.

Blank Resolution Form (pdf, 13kb)
Sample Completed Resolution (pdf, 16kb) (entries in red).

NOTE: An application may be submitted for funding consideration prior to completion of such a resolution; the application will be considered incomplete but will be considered for funding. No funding can be provided until the application is completed by submission of the corporate resolution. Successful applicants will be notified of selection and have 30 days from the date of this notification to complete their application by submitting a corporate resolution.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Eligible projects will benefit New Jersey's nongame wildlife through education, outreach, research, conservation, species protection or habitat management or a combination of these. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Education/outreach projects, such as classroom wildlife programs, interpretive signage or public outreach programs;

2. Research projects, including animal surveys or censuses, habitat monitoring or public attitude surveys;

3. Management projects, such as habitat development, improvement or restoration;

4. Habitat protection projects, such as establishing and maintaining urban wildlife corridors or stewardship of sensitive wildlife breeding areas.

2013 PRIORTITY PROJECT AREAS

ENSP has selected the following project areas as priorities for this funding cycle. Projects that address one of these priorities are not guaranteed funding, however, the degree to which a proposed project addresses one of these priorities will be among the factors considered in the competitive ranking and selection process.

Projects addressing human-wildlife conflicts and habitat connectivity:

1. Development of public outreach materials, web resources, partnerships with stakeholders, and habitat replacement to address human-wildlife conflicts (e.g. bats, snakes, birds, roads, habitat connectivity and wind turbines).

2. Development of rapid assessment protocol to estimate effects of road mortality on local wildlife populations.

Projects addressing habitat restoration:

1. Implementation of targeted and approved strategies to eradicate invasive species directly impacting non-game species (e.g. Chinese pond mussel, invasive plants).

2. Create or improve habitat in appropriate areas for appropriate species (e.g., basking, nesting/gestating/birthing for rare reptiles, scrub-shrub for birds and/or insects, riparian buffers). Note: These are not intended to be backyard habitat projects.

Projects addressing species vulnerability:

1. Implementation of approved strategies or development of new strategies to eliminate transmission or spread of wildlife diseases and pathogens affecting non-game species (e.g., white-nose syndrome, chytrid fungus, Ranavirus, and West Nile disease).

Project addressing gaps in species range data:

1. Range determination for small mammals anywhere in the state, specifically those with an "Undetermined" status (e.g. least shrew, northern flying squirrel, woodland jumping mouse, marsh rice rat, hairy-tailed mole, Tuckahoe masked shrew (sub-species of masked shrew), long-tailed shrew, smokey shrew, pygmy shrew, water shrew, meadow jumping mouse, and southern bog lemming).

2. Gather, compile and conform existing location/survey data for under-represented rare species for inclusion in ENSP's Biotics database (e.g. corn snake, invertebrates, small mammals).
Note: Applicant will have to demonstrate expertise for the species they are working on. Data submitted must meet ENSP mapping standards, be in approved format and able to be verified by ENSP staff.

Projects addressing outreach and education:

1. Development of "smartphone" applications ("apps") to report sighting information (e.g. rare species, road/wildlife conflict areas)

2. Creation of events honoring the 40th anniversary of NJ ESCA and/or contributing to the comprehensive review and revision of NJ's Wildlife Action Plan.

3. Implementation and/or development of programs for a nature center specifically targeting wildlife species of conservation concern, including installation and promotion of animal cameras.

RANKING OF GRANT APPLICATIONS

All proposals received will be reviewed by an ENSP technical review committee. Applicants can assess their projects using the ranking criteria used by the committee. Download the Ranking Criteria Form (pdf, 12kb) to perform a self-assessment.

GRANT PAYMENT

The entire grant amount will be paid to the grantee in one sum following receipt and acceptance by ENSP of all agreed upon work product of a project, and upon compliance with all terms of the grant agreement.

For information contact:

Kim Korth
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife - ENSP
Mail Code 501-03
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
609-292-9400
Kim.Korth@dep.state.nj.us