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OpenState programOpen to for-profit businesses

Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery

Department of Fish and WildlifeCloses Dec 3, 2026(41 days left)

Does this fit your business?

This is a California state grant for on-the-ground Mojave Desert tortoise recovery work: fencing, wildlife crossings, habitat restoration, monitoring, and population augmentation projects in the tortoise's California range. It fits conservation contractors, environmental nonprofits, land trusts, agencies, and tribes doing fieldwork in counties like San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, Inyo, Imperial, or Los Angeles. If your business is not doing desert habitat or tortoise recovery work in those geog

Best for
Environment & conservation organizations doing tortoise or desert habitat work, Nonprofits and land trusts operating in the tortoise recovery units, Public agencies and special districts managing roads, habitat, or conservation land, Tribal governments and private entities doing fieldwork in the eligible counties
Not for
Retail, e-commerce, finance, or manufacturing businesses with no conservation role, Organizations outside the Mojave Desert tortoise range in California, Projects that cannot report measurable outcomes within the grant period
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Environment & ConservationMatches your industry (conservation)
73
Good Match
Education & TrainingMatches your industry (stem)
63
Good Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Not clearly about your industry or what you need funding for; check the…
54
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to arts & culture
54
Possible Match
Construction & InfrastructureMatches your industry (infrastructure)
54
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Nothing in this notice points to food & beverage
54
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Healthcare & BiotechMatches your industry (health)
54
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Nothing in this notice points to housing & real estate
54
Possible Match
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: Nothing in this notice points to social services & nonprofit
54
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsMatches your industry (logistics)
54
Possible Match
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Nothing in this notice points to energy & clean tech
53
Possible Match
ManufacturingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to manufacturing
52
Possible Match
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Nothing in this notice points to technology & software
52
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to finance & banking
50
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Nothing in this notice points to retail & e-commerce
47
Possible Match

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Who can apply
Small businesses, For-profit companies, Nonprofits, State and local governments, Tribal governments and organizations

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
December 3, 2026 at 4:00 AM Pacific time.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
The per-award amount is not published as a fixed amount; it depends on the applications received. The total program funding is $2,000,000, and funding is provided as reimbursements.
Who can apply for this grant?
Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies (including state and local government agencies and special districts), tribal governments, private entities, and land trusts operating within the priority areas may apply. Projects must be located within the Mojave Desert Tortoise range and recovery units in California, including Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts do not specifically address sole proprietors or single-member LLCs. Private entities and businesses are listed as eligible applicant types, so a single-member LLC may qualify, but the notice does not confirm this explicitly.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes, nonprofit organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

Summary

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering $2 million in grant funding to develop or enhance Mojave Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Recovery. This funding supports projects that produce measurable, near-term progress toward Mojave Desert Tortoise recovery in California, prioritizing actions with a strong evidence base and the ability to report outcomes within the grant

About this grant

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering $2 million in grant funding to develop or enhance Mojave Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Recovery.   This funding supports projects that produce measurable, near-term progress toward Mojave Desert Tortoise recovery in California, prioritizing actions with a strong evidence base and the ability to report outcomes within the grant period.

Eligible projects should be focused on: Managing habitat connectivity and linkage protection, including maintenance and installation of Mojave Desert tortoise fencing along roads within and near the Tortoise Conservation Area corridors to concentrate desert tortoise and increase adult survivorship and overall population densities. Installing, or improving culverts, underpasses or overpasses to allow for Mojave Desert tortoise movement. Cumulative-impact monitoring and data infrastructure, such as a centralized geospatial tracking system for surface disturbance, remediation effectiveness, and translocation outcomes across the species' range. Supporting on-the-ground efforts to improve habitat conditions for Mojave Desert tortoises in landscapes affected by adjacent development including, but not limited to, addressing surface hydrology disruptions, predator monitoring and control, habitat restoration and enhancement actions (including seeding with desert tortoise forage species), and nonnative removal and control to benefit population recovery. Activities to support population augmentation of depleted Mojave Desert tortoise populations including establishment of facilities, head-starting and reintroduction, genetic testing, translocation logistics, health screening, post release monitoring.

Type: Grant Award: not published as a fixed amount; depends on the applications received Total available: $2,000,000.00 Matching funds: Not Required Funding method: Reimbursement(s) Funding source: State Deadline: 2026-12-03 04:00:00 (Pacific time) Award period: March 15, 2029 Apply at: https://watershedgrants.wildlife.ca.gov/index.do Source: California Grants Portal record 193758, published by the State of California.

Who can apply

Eligible applicant types: Business; Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government

Eligible applicants include state and local government agencies; special districts; California Native American Tribes (Tribes), public entities, private entities, nonprofit organizations; and land trusts operating within the priority areas.

Geography: Project should be located within the range and recovery units of the Mojave Desert Tortoise in California counties, including but not limited to the following counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Environment

Program contact

Elizabeth ButtlerElizabeth.Buttler@Wildlife.ca.gov1-916-594-3879

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