Gates, GOCO, Others Partner to Fund Large-Scale Habitat Restoration and Stewardship - Gates Family Foundation
Here is an important announcement. Click here to learn more.

Gates Family Foundation helps fund the restoration of Colorado’s rivers, streams, wetlands, and critical habitat through the ReStORE Colorado Program (Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and the Environment).

ReStORE is a new strategic partnership among the Gates Family Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board, established to fund large-scale habitat restoration and stewardship projects across several habitat priorities.

Colorado is a national leader in private land conservation and has some of the most impressive publicly owned and managed lands in the country. The ReStORE funding partners developed the program to add to the conservation tools in Colorado. Specifically, the program will support wildlife habitat restoration, expansion, and improvement at-scale and provide opportunities for the proactive management of Colorado public and private conservation lands for the greatest benefit to wildlife and local communities. We will pilot the program in 2020 and the partners expect to continue and expand ReStORE in future years.

ReStORE is also envisioned as a way for the funders to work together and support larger, more impactful projects. For those completing projects on the ground, ReStORE will serve as a single application and will alleviate the need to apply to each of our entities separately for project funding.

Together, the partners have identified several habitat types and conservation themes of statewide significance. These priority landscapes include:

  • River corridors, riparian areas and wetlands
  • Eastern Colorado grasslands
  • Sagebrush
  • Big game winter range and migration routes
  • Forestland projects in specific geographies

The grant application process and the administration of awarded grants will be run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. All of the partners will be involved in project selection.  Partners anticipate up to $2.5 million in available funding with a minimum request of $100,000 and expect to award 6-12 projects statewide. ReStORE funding will be a combination of state, federal, and private, which will allow for maximum flexibility for applicants to accomplish habitat projects. Due to the unique funding partnership, applicants are not expected but are encouraged to provide matching funds and demonstrate project leverage and community support.​

WHO CAN APPLY

  • Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, U.S. Federal government agencies, state government agencies and other political subdivisions of the state, local and municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions.
  • Ineligible applicants include businesses and unincorporated individuals.

WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY

Applications are due February 27, 2020. Additional details — including the complete RFP, a tip sheet, and a recording of an informational webinar — are available on the application webpage hosted by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Russ Schnitzer, Senior Program Officer, Natural Resources, at rschnitzer@gatesfamilyfoundation.org; 303-316-3009