The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) focuses on the conservation and restoration of the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. It aims to address critical ecological challenges by fostering partnerships that advance conservation outcomes. NFWF's mission encompasses a commitment to protect and enhance the resilience of natural habitats and communities against environmental threats through strategic conservation efforts.
The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, administered by NFWF in collaboration with the EPA and the CBP partnership, seeks to improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality and habitats through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants program. This initiative encourages the application of effective, voluntary best management practices aimed at significantly reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in the Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. For 2024, the program is divided into INSR Partnership Grants, which support sustainable regional-scale partnerships focused on deploying cost-effective water quality improvement practices, and INSR Infrastructure Grants, which fund projects that establish natural and nature-based watershed restoration infrastructure on a significant scale. Applicants are required to consult with NFWF program staff by January 24, 2024, to discuss project eligibility, competitiveness, and alignment with program priorities.