Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program

2009 Request for Proposals

 Grant Program Information

Program Purpose: 

-          The Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program has been established to provide funding for the purpose of educating children in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and safety.

-          Further, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) encourages applicants to focus on the education, recruitment, or retention of youth in the areas listed above or in any safety issues arising from the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation. 

-          Preference will be given to those projects demonstrating focus on new ideas, new programs, or programs directed at involving youth that have little or no prior experience in the fields of hunting, fishing, or conservation. 

Who may apply?:

-          Only project proposals submitted by and in the name of state agencies, education institutions, or non-profit organizations shall be eligible for funding under this Grant Program. 

Grant Funding Criteria:

-          All grant applications must identify the matching monetary or in-kind contributions that will be used to support the proposed project.

-          Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide matching funds or in-kind contributions and preference may be given to proposals with higher match percentages. 

 
How to apply:

-          Complete the “Proposal Application Cover Sheet” and submit the additional information requested.  Click here for Application.

Grant Application Submission Deadline:

-          Grant applications must be received by MDWFP no later than 5pm on September 18^th, 2009.

-          If additional funding is available after September 18^th, 2009, opportunities to apply for additional grants may be available at a later date. 

-          Eligible projects must address one or more of the following:

o   Recruitment of youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation

o   Retention of youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation

o   Education of youth in the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation

o   Increasing youth opportunities in the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation

o   Education of youth in any safety issues arising from the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation.

Reporting Requirements:

-          All grant recipients shall be required to submit a final report to the MDWFP due within 30 days of the project completion date. 

 Review & Selection:

-          The MDWFP shall evaluate Grant applications for eligibility.  Grants shall only be made to applicants with proposals that comply with all application requirements and guidelines, and who, in the sole judgment of the MDWFP, propose activities that best promote the advancement of the Youth Participation Initiative’s goals and objectives as stated previously.

All decisions of MDWFP are final and non-reviewable.

-          Grant recipients shall be required to sign a written Grant Conditions Acknowledgement Agreement with the MDWFP immediately following notification of acceptance.  Grant awards are not final and shall be non-binding on MDWFP until agreements are signed by grant recipients and returned to the MDWFP.  All grant recipients shall be required to submit a final report to the MDWFP due within 30 days of the project completion date.

-          The MDWFP reserves the right, at any time, to terminate, suspend or amend the Youth Participation Initiative Grant Program, to adjust the total amount of funding available under the program, to correct any errors made in awarding grant funds, or to take any other action deemed necessary and appropriate, in MDWFP’s sole discretion.  MDWFP shall also be authorized to terminate, suspend or amend the Grant application process, reject any or all grant applications, in whole or in part, waive minor irregularities in applications, or to allow applicants to correct minor irregularities, if the best interests of the Grant Program will be served by doing so.

            -     For more information on the Youth Participation Initiative, feel free to contact:

                  Justin Wilder Thayer

                  Youth Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator

                  Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

                  Jackson, Mississippi 39211-6374       

                  Justin.Thayer@mdwfp.state.ms.us

        Office: (601) 432-2014

        Fax:        (601) 432-2203