Grant-In-Aid Application - Directions and Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
Formally established in 1977, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt conservation organization with over 10,000 members around the globe operating under a July 1-June 30 fiscal year. WSF is dedicated to promoting and enhancing populations of wild sheep and their habitats. Since inception, WSF has raised and invested more than $145 million for conservation and management of wild sheep. WSF’s Purpose and Mission are to:
- Enhance wild sheep populations and their habitats
- Promote scientific wildlife management
- Educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting
- Promote the interests of the hunter
WSF GIA funding will be guided by our Conservation Vision 2025. GIA applicants are directed to closely review that document to ensure project proposals address one or more of the listed priority goals. WSF rarely acts as the sole funding source for projects. WSF prefers to receive proposals that reflect cooperator and partner matching funds, especially in jurisdictions where WSF helps raise funds via auction tags.
Grant Review Timeline
GIA applications must be submitted electronically (between July 1-31 each year) via a write-protected application form (editable until final submission) on our WSF website. Following review and recommendations by WSF Conservation Staff, the WSF Board typically makes funding decisions in September. Successful GIA applicants are typically notified by late September. Following notification, a Grant Funding and Operating Agreement (hereinafter called the WSF Grant Agreement) will be sent to grant recipients (“Grantees”).
WSF GIA Policies and Requirements
For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, WSF will evaluate and favor GIA funding requests submitted by or through (in coordination with) WSF Chapters & Affiliates (C&As). Non-C&A applicants (e.g., agencies, universities, consultants, individuals, organizations, etc.) should coordinate closely with their local C&As, if applicable. Letters or other written evidence documenting said collaboration are required, where applicable.
Grantees receiving funds from WSF must comply with the requirements listed below. Failure to do so will result in revocation of any WSF funds not expended, and the applicant will be considered ineligible for future WSF grants. Proposals will be found ineligible if the applicant has not met past requirements or failed to comply with terms of a previous WSF Grant Agreement. WSF reserves the right to withhold up to 25% of the grant funding awarded, until reporting requirements are satisfied.
1. All GIA applications must be submitted in US dollars.
2. WSF does not typically fund salaries or fringe benefits to agency project personnel.
3. WSF does not typically act as sole purchaser of fee-title lands.
4. WSF grant funds cannot be used for general administrative overhead or indirect costs. Matching dollars or in-kind labor are not required, but are considered favorably during proposal review and evaluation.
5. To maximize effectiveness of WSF funds, where applicable, proposals eligible for Pittman-Robertson 3:1 match must explain how P-R funds will be pursued or have been obtained.
6. WSF pays upon receipt of vendor invoice(s) forwarded directly from vendors or indirectly via the Grantee.
7. Approved grant funds will be made available upon completion and execution of a WSF Grant Agreement. The Grant Agreement will specify the defined scope of work, WSF funding commitment, schedule for payment of WSF funds, deadlines for progress and completion reports, and other deliverables [see #9 below] to be provided to WSF. If progress/completion reports and required items are not received within 60 days of identified deadlines, the balance of awarded WSF funds may be forfeited by Grantee at the discretion of WSF. WSF reserves the right to perform evaluations or inspections prior to release of final payment.
8. WSF grant monies must be used within 12 months of completion and execution of the WSF Grant Agreement. If approved funds are not expended within that 12-month period, an extension request must be submitted to, and approved by, WSF. If an extension request is not received, that project may be considered cancelled, at the discretion of WSF, and no additional WSF funds will be issued. Multi-year funding requests may be submitted, but funding in successive years is subject to submission and approval of a new grant application, and is subject to available WSF budget resources. Multi-year, "legacy"-type project requests will receive special consideration, and MAY be approved for more than a 12-month window, depending on project complexity and scale.
9. The following shall be sent to WSF as part of the Grantee's deliverables:
- an electronic progress or completion report (≤ 4 pages in length) using a template to be provided by WSF when a Grant Agreement is disseminated
- an itemized list of expenses that account for total WSF funding
- 6 high-quality, high-resolution (> 3MB) digital photos showing project highlights, including a brief caption or narrative for each picture
- WSF specifically requests high-quality video footage that captures and helps tell the story of field projects (e.g., prescribed burns, wild sheep transplants, waterhole developments, etc.)
For further information on the WSF Grant-In-Aid program, please contact:
Kevin Hurley, Vice President for Conservation
Grant-In-Aid Coordinator
Wild Sheep Foundation
412 Pronghorn Trail
Bozeman, MT 59718
406-404-8753
khurley@wildsheepfoundation.org
