About

For over two decades, the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) has been firmly dedicated to preserving our nation’s fish and wildlife populations and conserving natural resources and crucial habitats. The MSCGP was established through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Improvement Act), which amended the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act.

Each year, the MSCGP directs up to $6 million—$3 million from Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) and $3 million from Wildlife Restoration (WR) funds—to support projects directly benefiting fish and wildlife conservation and state fish and wildlife agencies as well as projects that provide a foundation for future management and conservation. Grants focus on research; education; management leadership; industry relations; and on-the-ground management of fish and wildlife and their habitats.

On December 20, 2019, Modernizing the Pittman Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act was signed into law which further amended the Wildlife Restoration Act to create a new Hunter Recruitment and Recreational Shooter Recruitment (R3) Multistate Conservation Grant Program.  It authorized the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $5 million available annually, specifically for R3 grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sports recruitment program, including related communications and outreach activities.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) co-administered the program. The Association solicits grant proposals from state agencies, regional associations, and non-governmental agencies and selects its “priority list” of recommendations at AFWA’s Annual Meeting. Those priorities are forwarded to the USFWS, which reviews, processes, and approves grant awards.