Virginia Wildlife Grant Program

Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is sponsored by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV). This program provides funding to organizations with a mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports activities such as wildlife viewing, hunting/recreational shooting, fishing, boating/paddling, and archery.

Virginia Wildlife Grant Program | Virginia DWR Notice Regarding Scheduled Website Maintenance on June 23 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program Virginia Wildlife Grant Program About the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is a joint effort of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV).

It provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing. The grant prioritizes programs that are aligned with DWR’s R3 Plan as well as the Inclusive Excellence Plan .

Through a partnership with the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, funds to support the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program come from: Round-up on purchases at Go Outdoors Virginia The sale of merchandise at Go Outdoors Virginia Direct contributions from corporations and individuals Virginia Wildlife Grant History Nearly 80,000 Participants Over $1 million in Awards Grant submission period: January 1 – February 1, 2026 Review Grant Application Guidance The 2026 grant program gave out approximately $100,000 to organizations connecting people to the outdoors.

Grant applications were divided among two development award areas: Start-up: This award area is for new or emerging programs or organizations (less than 2 years) that are establishing themselves and looking to add new programs or opportunities to get people outdoors.

Growth: This award area is for developed or established programs or organizations (2+ years) that are looking to add new programs or initiatives to support the work they are already doing to connect people to the outdoors.

Amherst County Recreation, Tourism, and Cultural Development Paddle Mill Creek: Amherst County Community Kayak Access Initiative Dinwiddie 4-H - Top Shots Shooting Club Top Shots Shooting Range Improvements Recreational Shooting Growth Reston Wildlife Viewing Expansion 2026 Wildlife Viewing Summer Camps Jamestown 4-H Educational Center Nature Neighbors: Connecting Youth to Virginia Wildlife Wildlife Viewing Start-up Kids Outdoor Zone@ Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, Hebron Campus Outfitting Kids Outdoor Zone Youth for Deer Hunting 2026 Expanding Archery Training and Availability Northern Neck Sail & Power Squadron Waves of Wellness: Boating, Nature and Community Connection The Mayfly Project, Richmond, Virginia Leading Youth in Foster Care to the Outdoors in Richmond, Virginia with Fly Fishing and Mentorship Truly Outdoors / Eritrean Muslim American Network for Youth and Professionals Virginia Beach Adaptive Watersports Adaptive Watersports: Waterskiing, Tubing, Boat Rides Virginia Piedmont Chapter of Quail Forever Youth Introduction to Quail Hunting Virginia Trappers Association Through a multiyear partnership and as an extension of the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program, DWR is funding four organizations that have received grant funding over multiple years.

Through this three-year partnership, the aligned organizations will develop opportunities for storytelling, engaging new audiences, and promoting conservation through outdoor recreation. Mission Statement: For the Next Generation: Backwoods Warriors is dedicated to fostering a community where youth, veterans, and first-time hunters thrive.

Through outreach and mentorship, Backwoods Warriors provides the foundation for the next generation of ethical hunters to build an everlasting connection with the outdoors. Ensuring hunting heritage lives on for generations to come.

Mission Statement: Beyond Boundaries' offers individuals of all ability levels, no matter physical, cognitive, or economic situation, the opportunity to experience outdoor activities with the surrounding community. Mission Statement: James River Women is dedicated to supporting and promoting the inclusion of FTWN-B paddlers within the whitewater community. James River Women belongs to everyone and is for everyone.

It is an open group that supports growth in the whitewater paddling community and is totally free. The goal of this group is to rewrite the narrative of who belongs in this sport — the answer is everyone… Mission Statement: Shenandoah Reel Women’s mission is to gather women of all ages to the river — to learn, share and empower each other. “This grant elevated the program to heights we couldn't have dreamed of last year.

Our program was able to nearly double in size thanks to the equipment we were able to purchase, as this allowed us to accept participants who did not have the means to obtain their own... We have been able to build up a core community around archery on campus, with many people coming into it brand new who have grown to be dedicated to the sport.

” — Club Archery at George Mason, Primary Grant Activity: Archery, Grant Year: 2023 If your organization is interested in applying for 2025 and would like to be notified of the grant application launch, please enter your email address: Interested in Supporting the Grant? For those companies or individuals interested in supporting or partnering with the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program, please contact Kelsey Steenburgh, Kelsey.

Steenburgh@dwr. virginia. gov .