Special Wildlife Funds State Pheasant Fund
State Pheasant Fund
CSFA Number: 422-20-1091
STATE AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name
Department Of Natural Resources (422)
Agency Identification
Department of Natural Resources
Agency Contact
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Short Description
Grant funding through this Fund supports activities and programs undertaken to preserve, protect, acquire, manage, and maintain high quality habitat for wild pheasant conservation.
Federal Authorization
Not applicable, these are state funds.
Illinois Statue Authorization
520 ILCS 5/1.31
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER g: GRANTS
PART 3060 SPECIAL WILDLIFE FUNDS GRANT PROGRAM
SECTION 3060.40 STATE PHEASANT FUND GRANT PROGRAM
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/017/017030600000400R.html
Objective
Funds to be used for to preserve, protect, acquire, manage, and maintain high quality habitat for wild pheasant conservation.
UGA Program Terms
Grant funding through this Fund supports activities and programs undertaken to preserve, protect, acquire, manage, and maintain high quality habitat for wild pheasant conservation. Goals include improving habitat quality and connectivity. High quality habitat can be characterized by such parameters as type, native diversity, size, structure, scarcity and location. Connectivity is defined as linkage with neighboring habitat, whether existing or potential. Illinois’ habitat includes all wetlands, bodies of water, woodlands, grasslands and agricultural lands, natural or altered, that support or have the potential to support populations of wild pheasant in any or all phases of their life cycles. See 520 ILCS 5/1.31 for full text of the Pheasant Fund Act.
Eligible Applicants
Nonprofit Organizations;
Applicant Eligibility
1) Eligible recipients are limited to appropriate not-for-profit organizations.
2) Eligible projects are limited to projects with the purpose of wild pheasant conservation. The projects may include land acquisition, pheasant habitat improvement on public or private land, pheasant research or education of the public regarding pheasants and pheasant hunting.
Beneficiary Eligibility
1) Eligible recipients are limited to appropriate not-for-profit organizations.
2) Eligible projects are limited to projects with the purpose of wild pheasant conservation. The projects may include land acquisition, pheasant habitat improvement on public or private land, pheasant research or education of the public regarding pheasants and pheasant hunting.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Subject / Service Area
Quality of Natural, Cultural, and Environmental Resources
Credentials / Documentation
Applicant must be registered in the GATA portal.
Preapplication Coordination
The State Pheasant Committee (520 ILCS 5/1.31) shall review and recommend all allocation of funds from the State Pheasant Fund. Guided by Administrative Rule (17 Ill. Adm. Code, Chapter I, Sec. 3060) Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program.
Application Procedures
Apply Online: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/185f0f44-10ed-4bf6-b342-1912e2860356
Criteria Selecting Proposals
The State Pheasant Fund Advisory Committee shall evaluate each application presented to it according to criteria such as: past grant performance of the applicant, eligibility, feasibility, adverse impacts, quality of the proposed habitat, priority of the Department, the applicant's cost-share match and the applicant's plan for general public access to and/or use of the proposed habitat development or equipment purchase. The Committee shall provide to the Director all eligible applications and a prioritized list of recommended projects deemed to be consistent with the purposes of the State Pheasant Fund.
Award Procedures
This is a reimbursement based grant.
Deadlines
Must apply from July 1 thru August 1 per admin rules.
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
This grant award usually takes three to six months after application until the awarded grantees have a signed grant agreement in hand.
Appeals
Merit-Based Review Appeals Process
In compliance with GATA, applicants have the right to appeal the evaluation process but not the evaluation score. More information is available at:
http://ilga.gov/commission/JCAR/admincode/044/044070000D03500R.html
Renewals
Grant time extensions must be requested 30 days prior to the ending of the grant agreement.
Uses and Restrictions
Projects are limited to those with the purpose of wild pheasant conservation. They can include land acquisition, pheasant habitat improvement on public or private land, pheasant research or education of the public regarding pheasants and pheasant hunting. Kinds of Projects Ineligible for Grants include the purchase or lease of a vehicle such as a truck. UTVs and side by sides will be considered for funding as equipment. Food plots are not funded as standalone projects.
Reports
Grantee required to report on annual use of equipment (with value of $500 or more) purchased with grant funds for 5 years following completion of grant.
Audits
If the grantee has an annual audit it must be uploaded into the GATA portal.
Records
The grantee shall keep adequate records relating to its administration of a project, particularly relating to all incurred costs. All assets acquired through Special Wildlife Funds shall be accounted for. These records shall be available for audit by appropriate personnel of the Department and the State Auditor General. All records shall be retained in accordance with State laws.
Account Identification
Paid from the State Pheasant Fund, a special fund whose revenue source is the sale of Habitat Stamps to outdoors people seeking hunting or fishing permits.
Obligations
All grants are obligated at the Comptroller's Office.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $100,000
Program Accomplishments
https://dnr.illinois.gov/grants/special-wildlife-funds-grant-program.html
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Administrative Rule (17 Ill. Adm. Code, Chapter I, Sec. 3060) Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program.
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/017/017030600000400R.html
Regional or Local Assistance Location
n/a
Headquarters Office
One Natural Resources Way, Springfield Illinois 62702
Program Website
https://dnr.illinois.gov/grants/pheasant-funding.html
Example Projects
FY23 Awards
https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/grants/documents/directors-pheasant-memo-fy23.pdf
FY22 Awards
https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/documents/directors-pheasant-memo-fy22.pdf
FY21 Awards
https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/documents/directors-pheasant-memo-fy21.pdf
FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2015 : $350,343
FY 2019 : $700,000
FY 2020 : $500,000
FY 2021 : $500,000
FY 2023 : $171,000
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
| Agency ID | Award Range | Application Range |
TOP 5 ACTIVE AWARDS
| Agency ID | Grantee Name | Start Date | End Date | Amount |
| Pheasants Forever, Inc. | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2025 | 74,560 |
| 23-001P PF Farm Bill Biologist Program | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2024 | 74,560 |
| 23-003P PF Northern Rx Burn Coordinator | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2024 | 41,662 |
| Pheasants Forever, Inc. | 01/01/2023 | 12/31/2025 | 41,662 |
| P24004 PF Carroll County Chapter Drill Planter | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | 11/15/2023 | 11/14/2025 | 33,000 |