CONSERVE WILDLIFE MATCHING GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE TO NON-PROFIT GROUPS
LICENSE PLATE FUNDS GO TO WILDLIFE DIVERSITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

(14/P144) TRENTON – The Division of Fish and Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program is offering matching grants to nonprofit groups and agencies for projects directly related to wildlife diversity and education, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The matching grants are generated by the Conserve Wildlife License Plate renewal fund, with approved projects funded on a single-year basis.

The total amount allotted for this program in 2015 is $60,000, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,500. The Conserve Wildlife matching grant is a 50-50 cost share grant. At least 25 percent of the grantee's share of project funding must be monetary, and the remainder may be from in-kind support.

Since the grant program launched in 2008, 46 grants totaling $138,000 have been awarded, all in support of a broad range of nongame wildlife research, management, and education projects.

Only nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations are eligible to apply.
The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. on February 2, 2015.  Requests must be submitted electronically to John.Heilferty@dep.nj.gov.  Award notifications are expected to be made by March 13. 

For more details and proposal guidelines, please visit the Conserve Wildlife Matching Grant Program at http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/cwgrants.htm or contact the Endangered and Nongame Species Program at (609) 292-9400.

Wildlife license plates can be purchased during the motor vehicle registration cycle at a Motor Vehicle Commission agency, at any New Jersey automobile dealer when buying or leasing a new car, or by calling 888-486-3339 on weekdays for an application to purchase a plate through the mail.

For more information on the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Drive Conservation Home License Plate program, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/plates.htm