*** Application Period for 2021 Begins January 22, 2021 ***

Deadline for 2021 Applications:  April 9th, 2021  ** Note Extended Deadline  **

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance is proud of the partnership with the Forest Service to bring our partner members the Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP) activity grants.  Funding has been offered during 8 cycles beginning in Summer 2016.  2021 will be the 9th cycle of WSP funding provided for wilderness stewardship organizations.

What is the WSP Funding Program

Wilderness Stewardship Performance is the suite of activities which the Forest Service uses to measure their wilderness stewardship accomplishment. This funding program is for wilderness stewardship volunteer organizations to support wilderness stewardship activities that contribute to overall improvement in wilderness stewardship performance scores for individual wilderness areas.

NWSA and the Forest Service are pleased to offer this opportunity for wilderness stewardship groups to assist the Forest Service in meeting their wilderness stewardship performance goals.  We are hoping that the success of this funding program will lead to its further expansion in the future.

Depending on funding NWSA will accept applications for both Summer and Fall Programs.

WSP Reference Resources

As a refresher on the WSP Funding Program two Powerpoints from the Summer/Fall 2016 session are available for review.  

Powerpoint #1 explains the WSP Program as described by Steve Boutcher, Forest Service Wilderness Information Manager.

Powerpoint #2 describes the NWSA Funding Program as delivered by Randy Welsh, Executive Director of NWSA.

And Check out our Recent Webinar - "NWSA Funding Programs"  on the webinar page for more information.

Or see the Forest Service Wilderness Stewardship Performance Guidebook for more detailed information about the activities that qualify. 

Ten Strategies for a Successful Grant Application

Summer/Fall 2021 WSP Funding Application Period Begins January 22, 2021

DEADLINE for Submissions:  April 9th, 2021.

It is time to consider applying for 2021 WSP Funding.

NEW in 2021:  Organizations submitting funding applications must be NWSA members to be considered.  Membership information can be found HERE.

Applicants must be members in good standing of NWSA.  Join or Renew your Membership Here.

Summer/Fall  2021 WSP Fact Sheet

Summer/Fall  2021 WSP News Release Email

Each Application requires an:

• Application Form (available in .docx WORD format)  
• A Budget Worksheet (in Excel format)
• A Letter of Support from District Ranger or Forest Supervisor
• A letter of non-profit status from the IRS, unless already on file with NWSA
• All Projects this year will use Direct Deposit for reimbursements (Direct Deposit form to be submitted if selected, if not already on file with NWSA)
  • Guide to Invoices
  • Direct Deposit Form (for selected applicants)

Questions about the National Forest Wilderness Stewardship Performance Partnership Funding may be addressed to Randy Welsh, Executive Director, NWSA at either 801-808-2167 or [email protected]

Organizations awarded funding in 2020 include:

Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation
Arizona Wild
BCHA - Motherlode Chapter - Lois Lake
Bob Marshall Foundation
Colorado Mountain Club
Del Norte Trails - Redwood Parks Conservancy
Friends of Mt Evans
Friends of the Inyo
Great Old Broads
Indian Peaks
New Mexico Wild
Poudre Wilderness Volunteers
Save Our Canyons
Selway-Bitterroot Foundation - Salmon
Sitka Conservation Society
Sky Island Alliance
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
Western Slope Conservation Center
Wilderness Institute
Wilderness Workshop
Wyoming Wilderness Association

Summer 2019 Funding Awarded

Organizations awarded WSP funding in 2019.

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation
Arizona Wilderness Coalition
Common Outdoor Ground
Friends of Mt Evans - Lost Creek
Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness
Great Broads - Cascade-Volcano Chapter
Heart of the Gila
Idaho Trail Association
Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
Redwoods Conservancy - Del Norte Trails
Rocky Mountain Field Institute
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
Selway Bitterroot - Frank Church Foundation - Frank Church
Ventana Wilderness Alliance
Western Slope Conservation Center
Wilderness Workshop
Wyoming Wilderness Association

Winter 2018-19 WSP Funding Awarded.

Congratulations to the awardees:

Absaroka-Beartooth Foundation

Poudre Wilderness Volunteers

Save Our Canyons

Selway-Bitterroot / Frank Church Foundation

Sikiyou Mountain Club

Ventana Wilderness Alliance

For Information about the Winter 2018-2019 WSP Program read the Winter 2018-2019 WSP Fact Sheet.

Previous WSP Grant Awards

Summer 2018 WSP Grant Cycle

Awardees for the Summer 2018 WSP Grant cycle include:

• AIM for Wilderness Stewardship
  Ascend Wilderness Experience
  BCHA - Motherlode
  Friends of Mt Evans - Lost Creek
  Friends of the Inyo
  Great Basin Institute
  Great Broads - Cascade-Volcano
  Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
  Phoenix School
  Poudre Wilderness Volunteers
  Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
  Selway Bitterroot - Frank Church Foundation - Frank Church
  Selway Bitterroot - Frank Church Foundation -Bitterroot
  Student Conservation Association - Frank Church
  Sitka Conservation Society
  Sky Island Alliance
  Upper Gila Watershed
  Ventana Wilderness Alliance
  Western Slope Conservation Center
  Wilderness Institute
  

Winter 2018 WSP Grant Cycle

Awardees for the Winter 2017 WSP Grant Cycle incude:

• Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation
• AIM for Wilderness Stewardship
• Backcountry Horsemen of Los Padres
• Friends of Nevada Wilderness
• Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
• New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
• Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
• Siskiyou Mountain Club
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance

Summer 2017 WSP Grant Cycle

Awardees for the summer 2017 WSP Grant Cycle include:

• AIM for Wilderness Stewardship
• Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation
• Discovery Southeast
• Friends of the Eagle Nest Wilderness
• Friends of Kings Peak
• Friends of Wilderness
• Idaho Trails Association
• Idaho Youth Employment Program
• Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
• New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
• Northwoods Volunteer Connection
• Partners of Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock
• Rocky Mountain Field Institute
• Selway Bitterroot-Frank Church Foundation
• Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
• Student Conservation Association
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance
• Wilderness Institute, University of Montana

Winter 2017 WSP Grant Cycle

Awardees for the Winter 2017 WSP Grants include:

• Arizona Wilderness Coalition
• Friends of Nevada Wilderness
• High Desert Trail Riders, BCHA
• Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
• Phoenix School, Roseburg Oregon
• New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
• Trout Unlimited
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance
• Wilderness Workshop

Summer/Fall 2016 WSP Grant Awardees

• Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation
• Wilderness Institute - UM
• Sitka Conservation Society
• Ventana Wilderness Alliance
• Arizona Wilderness Coalition
• Discovery Southeast
• Absaroka Beartooth Foundation
• Poudre Wilderness Volunteers
• Upper Gila Watershed Alliance
• Mother Lode - Backcountry Horsemen
• Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
• Friends of Nevada Wilderness - Wovoka
• Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
• Youth Employment Salmon
• Friends of Kings Peak
• SCA - Sheep Creek Knapweed Monitoring
• Friends of Nevada Wilderness - Mt. Rose