OPEN for 2027 Piping Plover special recovery track; applications due November 5, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. NFWF gives priority to southern recovery unit sites (DE/MD/VA/NC).
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina — NFWF 2027 Piping Plover Recovery Grants (No Match; November 5)
Special 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative Piping Plover Recovery grants for eligible organizations. NFWF identifies $172,800 available for this priority, which is a track funding pool, not a published per-applicant maximum. No required match. Preference for project sites in the southern recovery unit (DE, MD, VA, NC), particularly Virginia. Full proposal due November 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
FundingNFWF designates $172,800 overall for 2027 Piping Plover recovery special priority; this is a TRACK FUNDING ALLOCATION, not a universal individual applicant award. Individual award minimum or maximum is not separately published. This special track explicitly has NO MATCH REQUIREMENT.
DeadlineFull proposals due Thursday, November 5, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time according to controlling NFWF Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative 2027 RFP.
Last verified2026-11-05
Required next actionCheck official special Piping Plover portion of https://www.nfwf.org/programs/atlantic-flyway-shorebird-initiative/atlantic-flyway-shorebird-initiative-2027-request; verify recovery-unit priority, at least three years of breeding pair and productivity baseline data, measurable improvements in nesting/fledging, species monitoring, adaptive management and project completion before 2030. Build mapped project budget and supporting permits/letters. This special priority has no match requirement. Register at https://easygrants.nfwf.org/ and submit by November 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Broad Eligibility
Applicants eligible under NFWF's 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird RFP: nonprofit 501(c) organizations; US federal/state/local/municipal agencies; Tribal governments and organizations; educational and international organizations. Businesses and unincorporated individuals are not eligible. Piping Plover recovery projects prioritize southern recovery unit Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina (especially Virginia); sites elsewhere in the Atlantic flyway may also qualify. Minimum 3 years baseline breeding productivity data required, no matching funds required, finish by 2030.
Atlas Analysis
Official NFWF 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative RFP verified 2026-11-05 at https://www.nfwf.org/programs/atlantic-flyway-shorebird-initiative/atlantic-flyway-shorebird-initiative-2027-request. Distinct Piping Plover special priority track within same umbrella RFP, separate Atlas identifier from general shorebird program. Funded PIPL recovery site management for breeding productivity, predator and disturbance control; prioritizes DE, MD, VA, NC, especially VA, with outside southern unit within Atlantic flyway also considered. NFWF earmarks $172,800 to award in this special priority but does not expressly state a universal individual applicant maximum; do NOT quote entire track pool as a per-applicant maximum. Unlike general RFP grants, PIPL track has NO matching requirement. Projects complete before 2030, ≥3 years baseline breeding pair and productivity data, metrics of pairs/chicks fledged/productivity, durable activities, robust evaluation, adaptive management, environmental compliance/permits, reimbursable funds, disallowed lobbying/litigation/fundraising and federal drone/telecom restrictions. Full applications due Nov 5 2026 11:59 PM ET through Easygrants. Applicant-specific gated form not accessed, controlling RFP detailed. WordPress title, source, identifier and Piping Plover checked across all post statuses prior to creation; no duplicate found. Tracking identifier is Atlas-created, not purported to be an official grant number.
NFWF Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative 2027 — Piping Plover Recovery Special Funding Track
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting proposals for site-based Atlantic piping plover recovery projects that improve breeding productivity and reduce risks through predator management, recreational disturbance reduction and habitat management. This is a distinct match-free priority within the 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative RFP, not a vendor procurement.
Applicant award funding and match
NFWF states that $172,800 is available to award in support of a piping plover recovery action. This amount is the special track funding allocation, not a published universal individual applicant maximum; NFWF does not separately state a fixed per-applicant award minimum or maximum for this track. No matching funds are required for this Piping Plover priority. The general Atlantic Flyway award range of $75,000–$200,000 and 1:1 non-federal match requirement should not be mechanically imposed on this special exception.
Deadline, eligibility, and geography
Full proposal due Thursday, November 5, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time through NFWF Easygrants. The priority geography is the Atlantic Piping Plover southern recovery unit in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, particularly Virginia; NFWF will also consider proposals from elsewhere within the Atlantic flyway. Eligible entities under the controlling initiative RFP include 501(c) nonprofit organizations, U.S. federal/state/local/municipal agencies, Tribal governments and organizations, educational institutions and international organizations. Businesses and unincorporated individuals are excluded.
Special recovery and monitoring requirements
Projects must be completed before 2030 and should document durable site-level actions and adaptive management that help piping plover chicks survive and increase productivity. Applicants must provide at least three years of baseline data documenting breeding pairs and productivity at the proposed project site (up to ten years preferred). Applicants must report numbers of breeding pairs, chicks fledged and productivity estimates and maintain a robust effectiveness-monitoring plan. Prepare partner support, project maps, detailed budget, quantifiable ecological goals, permits and compliance documentation. Award payment is generally reimbursable. Lobbying, fundraising, litigation and routine compliance with existing legal obligations cannot be charged; additional restrictions apply to certain federal-funded equipment, telecom and drones.
How to apply and controlling guidance
Read the 2027 Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative official RFP, paying particular attention to the special Piping Plover program priority, project metrics, applicant eligibility and Easygrants instructions. Create or use an account at NFWF Easygrants, select this 2027 solicitation and submit a complete full proposal before November 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. For project-specific questions contact the NFWF program officer listed in the RFP.
Official source verified: November 5, 2026. The login-gated applicant-specific Easygrants form was not independently accessed; the official controlling public RFP was reviewed.
Source verificationReferenced source · www.nfwf.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-11-05. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
