About
The Species Recovery Grants to States Program is authorized under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. Species Recovery Grants to States support management, research, monitoring, and/or outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits for listed species under the ESA within that state. Recently delisted species, proposed, and candidate species are also eligible.
Projects focusing on Pacific salmon and steelhead are not considered under this grant program, but may be supported through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. Additionally, projects focusing on marine mammal stranding responses are also not considered under this grant program, but may be supported through John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program.
Awards
View funded Species Recovery Grants to States proposals from previous years:
More Information
For Applicants
For Grants Recipients
Application Process
Who Can Apply?
State agencies that have entered, or that enter within 30 days of the grant proposal deadline, into an agreement with NOAA Fisheries under section 6(c) of the ESA. (The terms "state" and "state agency" are used as defined in section 3 of the ESA.)
How to Apply
Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, the online portal to all federal grant opportunities. Please note that you must be registered with Grants.gov in order to apply for funding online, and the registration process can take several days. For more information about Grants.gov and NOAA grants, visit the NOAA Grants Management Division website.
Detailed guidance on how to prepare proposals is provided in the federal funding opportunity. This document should be read carefully to ensure that proposals meet eligibility requirements and are complete upon submission. Download application forms and submit your application on Grants.gov.
We have also created an optional checklist that applicants may use to help with the preparation of proposal submissions.
When to Apply
Applications must be electronically submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2026. The grant schedule below provides additional information about the general timing of the grant cycle stages.
Target Schedule
2026
April 21: Announcement of federal funding opportunity posted on Grants.gov.
April 21 – June 20: Submission period. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2026.
Early Summer: Proposals screened for eligibility and required elements; proposals undergo panel review.
Mid-Summer: Program Review Panel meeting convened; funding recommendations made.
Late Summer: Assistant Administrator for Fisheries reviews recommended proposals and makes final selections. Pre-award negotiations with recommended applicants.
Late Summer/Early Fall: Completion of required environmental and legal reviews; submission of award files to NOAA Grants Management Division.
Early Fall: NOAA Grants Officer finalizes Fiscal Year 2026 awards.
Beginning Fall 2026: Notifications to applicants will be issued as soon as funding decisions and required approvals are finalized.
Need Help?
Heather Austin
Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 04/22/2026