WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Wildlife Federation has launched a new microsite, FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org, that aims to easily connect community planners and other stakeholders with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements. 

“Nature-based solutions are often the most cost-effective way to create the best outcomes for people and wildlife,” said Jessie Ritter, the National Wildlife Federation’s director of water resources and coastal policy. “Our goal is to make it simple to find all the different funding sources now available, particularly those that may be new or less familiar.” 

The site allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based restoration solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required. It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program. 

Recent legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the Inflation Reduction Act, created several new funding streams for nature-based projects and augmented existing programs’ funding for broad purposes such as flood protection, water quality improvement, disaster recovery and transportation resilience. The website will be updated regularly as the funding sources available evolve.

“We all know that federal funding can be complex and jargon-filled. We researched and categorized dozens of different programs so users can more easily find the funding sources that meet their needs,” said Ritter.