The Colorado Division of Wildlife has several programs to help fund wildlife projects developed or led by outside (non-Division of Wildlife) personnel or groups. Programs are available to assist landowners with habitat conditions, to help town and cities improve fishing opportunities, to work with ranchers to reduce conflicts with big game, and much more. Focus areas, eligibility requirements, matching fund requirements and other aspects vary for each program. The following links will connect you with more details regarding these funding opportunities. We hope we can help make your wildlife project a reality.
Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation
The mission of the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation is to ensure a wildlife legacy for Colorado today and tomorrow by securing and managing funds for wildlife projects. It is an enhanced foundation that actively searches for funding sources that benefit the wildlife projects submitted to them by their partners and online applicants. To get started, visit the CWHF application page.
Fishing is Fun Program
This unique program involves local communities in a three-way partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Federal Sportfish Restoration Act monies. Eligible applicants can apply and compete for financial assistance for specific projects. Applicants must match their Fishing is Fun award with non-federal cash or in-kind services.
Habitat Partnership Program
The Habitat Partnership Program is designed to help alleviate crop, rangeland forage, and fence conflicts between big game animals and livestock on private and public lands. The program seeks to develop partnerships between landowners, land managers, sportsmen, the public and the Division of Wildlife to resolve those conflicts.
Motorboat Colorado!
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is offering an opportunity for communities across the state to apply for federal funds to complete projects at motorboat reservoirs, as well as lakes and rivers that are accessed by motorboats to provide improved motorboat access and amenities at your motorboat reservoir.
Ranching for Wildlife
Ranching for Wildlife is a program initiated in 1985 by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. It provides incentives to large landowners to encourage them to manage their lands for wildlife benefits. This program has opened up over a million acres of prime private wildlife habitat to limited public hunting. Land owners must have 12,000 contiguous acres that contains significant number of the species that they wish to hunt.
Schoolyard Habitat Grants Program
Any Colorado educator trained in projects WILD, WET, or PLT is eligible to apply for up to $1000 for a schoolyard habitat project. Projects must be student-led and student-oriented. Past projects include butterfly gardens, wild bird habitat projects, wildlife studies, wetland creations, xeriscape projects, windbreaks, building nature trails, and urban wildlife habitat projects.
Wetlands Partnership
The Colorado Wetlands Partnership is an endeavor to protect wetlands and wetland-dependent wildlife through the use of voluntary, incentive-based mechanisms. Furthermore, the Wetlands Initiative embraces cooperation with private landowners, municipalities, other state and federal agencies, and other non-governmental organizations in the pursuit of voluntary wetlands protection.