Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment | F22AS00090

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment funding opportunity?

The Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F22AS00090) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). It supports hands-on projects that connect young people (and in many cases veterans) to wildlife conservation and public lands work, while also building conservation skills and career interest.

Which federal agency administers this grant?

The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the federal agency primarily responsible for conserving fish, wildlife, plants, and the habitats they depend on.

What is the main goal of this program?

The program aims to expand practical pathways for youth to learn conservation skills, gain paid or structured work experience, and build longer-term interest in natural resource careers, while completing tangible on-the-ground conservation and land management work connected to FWS and the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS).

Is this funding competitive or automatic?

This opportunity is described as a discretionary funding program, which indicates it is a competitive federal assistance opportunity rather than an automatic formula distribution.

What type of award is used for this opportunity?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This typically means FWS expects to be actively involved with the recipient during project planning and implementation, rather than serving only as a pass-through funder.

What is the activity category or CFDA assistance listing?

The activity category is Natural Resources, and it is identified as CFDA 15.676.

What legal authority supports projects funded under this opportunity?

Projects are carried out under the authority of the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), using the FWS Youth Corps model.

What kinds of projects are a good fit for this funding?

The opportunity focuses on conservation and public land management projects that can include habitat restoration, refuge maintenance, resource monitoring, visitor services support, environmental education, and related field-based work that strengthens stewardship outcomes on lands managed or supported by FWS and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Where are projects expected to take place or have impact?

Projects are intended to produce on-the-ground conservation and land management outcomes tied to lands managed or supported by FWS and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Who is the program intended to serve?

The program is designed to connect young people to conservation work, and it also often includes veterans. It emphasizes meaningful, supervised work experiences linked to wildlife and habitat conservation priorities.

Does the opportunity emphasize equity or reaching underserved communities?

Yes. A key feature highlighted in the description is engaging diverse youth and reaching communities that may be underserved or underrepresented in conservation careers.

Does an applicant have to be a traditional youth corps nonprofit to be eligible?

No. The description indicates eligibility can include traditional youth corps-style organizations as well as other PLC-eligible organizations that can credibly support youth or veteran engagement, including certain 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(5) organizations (such as labor unions or neighborhood associations), alongside other eligible entities that reach underserved communities.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included in the eligible applicant types.

Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status, with a note excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is up to $2,000,000.

What was the original closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed for this opportunity was September 15, 2022.

How does the FWS Youth Corps model relate to this opportunity?

The opportunity is structured around the FWS Youth Corps model under the Public Lands Corps Act, with a focus on partnering with eligible Youth Corps organizations to place crews or participants into conservation and public land management projects.

Where can applicants find information on Youth Corps eligibility and partner recognition?

Applicants and partners are directed to FWS Youth Corps resources on the FWS website for current member lists, eligibility requirements, and instructions for organizations seeking to become recognized as eligible Youth Corps partners under the Public Lands Corps Act.

What outcomes does FWS expect funded partnerships to deliver?

The program is structured to fund partnerships that simultaneously deliver conservation results and workforce development outcomes by providing participants with meaningful, supervised work experience tied directly to wildlife and habitat conservation priorities.