OPEN Applications DUE by 5 pm on July 13, 2026
Background
A Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) program is an OWEB investment that
addresses a board-identified ecological priority of significance to the state; works toward achieving
clear and measurable ecological outcomes; uses integrated, results-oriented approaches as identified through a
strategic action plan; and is implemented by a
high-performing partnership.
Ecological Priorities
The OWEB Board approves ecological priorities of significance to the state to be addressed by FIP Initiatives. Ecological priorities were first established by the board in 2015, and are reviewed every five years with public input and scientific rigor. FIP ecological priorities include:
Offering for New FIP Initiatives
OWEB funding supports the implementation of Focused Investment Partnership Initiatives over three biennia (six years). The OWEB board sets the biennial funding cap with each Initiative solicitation.
Offered: FIP initiative applications are solicited once each biennium.
Opens: February 18, 2026 - Closes: 5 pm (Pacific Time), July 13, 2026
Required Pre-Application Consultation: February – May 26, 2026. Contact
Ivy Clark-Henry or 971-718-7749 to schedule.
Eligible Partnerships for a FIP Initiative award are Partnerships that:
- Are high performing, as demonstrated through a shared history of successful, collaborative project implementation and an established, documented Partnership governance;
- Have a current Strategic Action Plan that includes all elements described in OWEB’s Strategic Action Plan Guidance and addresses a FIP ecological priority;
- Have a detailed Initiative Work Plan using the FIP Work Plan Template.
Eligible Applicants for a FIP Initiative award include any Core Partner that is a Tribe, watershed council, soil and water conservation district, not-for-profit corporation, school, Oregon institution of higher education, independent not-for-profit institution of higher education, or political subdivision of this state that is not a state agency. Core Partners are identified in the Initiative grant application as signatories to the FIP Partnership Agreement and are eligible to apply for project-level grants to provide capacity for Partnership coordination and Work Plan implementation.
Eligible Work Plan Projects include Engagement, Technical Assistance, Restoration, Monitoring, Land Acquisition, and Water Acquisition projects that align with the Strategies and Conservation Actions described in a Partnership’s Strategic Action Plan. Implementation of Work Plan projects is expected to result in specific Conservation Outputs that can be quantified and measured over time and logically lead to near and long-term ecological outcomes. Proposed Initiative Work Plans must be submitted with the Initiative Application.
Once FIP Initiatives are awarded, each project in the Initiative Work Plan must be described in an individual project-level grant application. Project-level grant applications serve as the scope of work, document the individual project budget and required match, and have reporting requirements and deadlines. Project-level grant applications are reviewed for technical soundness by a Technical Review Team during grant cycles that are established by the Partnership through the life of the FIP investment. Each project receives a grant agreement that is tracked through project completion.
Partnerships interested in applying for a FIP initiative must schedule a 1-hour, virtual pre-application consultation with OWEB to be eligible to apply. The consultation is not evaluative, and the discussion will not be included in the application review/evaluation process. The purpose of the consultation is to:
Discuss the FIP program structure, requirements, applicant eligibility, solicitation timeline, and application evaluation criteria.
Familiarize OWEB staff with the partnership, its Strategic Action Plan, and the proposed FIP Initiative.
Ensure the Partnership’s eligibility.
Discuss information and insights intended to help the Partnership create a strong, competitive proposal.
Discuss questions that the Partnership may have.
Prior to the consultation, potential applicants should email the following to
Ivy Clark-Henry.- A map of the partnership’s Strategic Action Plan geography and the proposed FIP Initiative area.
- A list of core partners.
- A 1-page overview describing what the Partnership hopes to accomplish through a FIP Initiative.
Max Request: The OWEB Board sets a biennial funding cap with each Initiative solicitation. For the current solicitation, the funding cap for each Partnership is $5 million per biennium and up to $15 million for the 6-year Initiative.
Required Match: match is required at the project level with engagement, technical assistance, and monitoring grants requiring 5% match and restoration and acquisition grants requiring 25% match.
Application Guidance & Templates
Partnership Guidance
Strategic Action Planning
Adaptive Management
Partnership Learning Project
After applications are submitted:
- OWEB staff check project eligibility in each application.
- An Expert Review Team evaluates, ranks, and provides a funding recommendation based on the information provided and according to criteria described in OAR 695-047-0060 and OAR 695-005-0045.
- OWEB staff review the results from the Expert Review Team and make a funding recommendation, based on the current Board-adopted spending plan line item for Focused Investment partnership Initiatives, to the Board’s Partnerships and Capacity Committee. The results from the Expert Review Team and OWEB staff funding recommendation are provided to applicants and the board.
- Board Committee interviews Core Partners proposing an Initiative and makes a funding recommendation to the Board based on the results of the Expert Review Team, the OWEB staff funding recommendation, the interview of the Core Partners, and the evaluation criteria described in OAR 695-047-0060 and OAR 695-005-0045.
- FIP Initiatives are selected for funding by the OWEB Board. FIP Initiatives are funded 6 months after Board selection to accommodate a ramp up period prior to the first project-level grant cycle for selected FIP Initiatives.
1. Obtain a login (username and password).
If your organization already has an OGMS login, skip to step 2.
An OGMS login is required to access the online grant application. Only one login per organization is allowed. If no login exists for an organization, please email
Leilani Sullivan to request one. Include the following in your email:
- Organization name and address
- Grantee Contact Information: name, title, email address, and phone number for the person who will receive all communication from OWEB and sign any grant agreements.
- Payee Contact Information: name, email address, and phone number for the person who keeps records and submits payment requests and documentation.
- FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number). OWEB may enter into agreements only with legally established entities. OWEB will review potential applicants prior to creating an OGMS login.
- Per federal guidance, all OWEB grantees must be registered at the System for Award Management (SAM) before receiving a grant agreement. Entities will received a non-proprietary identifier (called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).) This identifier is assigned by SAM (sam.gov is a free service) and entities must update their registration annually.
2. Log in to the Online Application.Guidance to help you fill out the application is available in Documents & Guidance section above as well as the top navigation bar of the online application. An application template is also available after you log in and choose "Create a New Application."
View Funded Initiatives &
Progress Tracking Reports