Version 12-17-2010
Proposal for Distributing FY 2011 10YWSC Off-the-Top (OTT) Funding
Objectives
1. Increase the number of wildernesses in the 10YWSC scoring 60 pts. or higher
2. Lay the foundation for funding in future years
3. Spend funds on projects consistent with source BLI (NFRW, NFVW, NFIM, WFPR)
Roles
Forest Role
• Create and submit proposals for Forest Grant Funds
• Support development of Regional Strike Team proposals, working with the Regional Office or
other forests
Wilderness Regional Program Manager (RPM) Role
• Notify forests of opportunity to submit proposals for Forest Grant Funds
• Develop and submit proposals for Regional Strike Teams
• Stay abreast of progress in their region during the year and provide periodic updates to their
Director and Regional Forester
WO-WWSR Role (with WAG and Enterprise Team support as needed)
• Make final decision on distribution method and criteria before advanced notice to RPMs
• Provide advanced notice to RPMs on upcoming proposal request
• Oversee submittal process
• Collect and evaluate proposals including feedback to regions as necessary
• Award and distribute funds
• Track expenditure of funds
• Track accomplishment and communicate results
Allocation of Funds
Forest Grant Funds: (~$900,000)
Description: These funds will support individual projects proposed by individual forests to
increase their 10YWSC scores. Multiple forests can jointly submit proposals for wildernesses
with shared management. The primary focus of these funds is to increase the number of
wildernesses scoring 60-points and higher. The objective is to show a measurable improvement
in the number of wildernesses meeting standard, in part, to build the case for OTT funding in
future years.
Page 1 of 4
Version 12-17-2010
Target recipient: Forests with existing capacity who have demonstrated prior ability to make
progress on the Challenge but need additional resources to increase scores above 60-points (or
to keep from slipping below). The top funding priority will be forests scoring between 50-59
points in the FY10 reporting, though any wilderness scoring less than 70-points (FY 10 reporting)
can compete for these funds.
Grant size limit: $50,000
Distribution mechanism: Funds to be made available through four WO job codes (one for each
BLI).
Regional Strike Teams: (~$450,000)
Description: Regional Strike Team proposals will be developed by regional wilderness program
managers, or a collection of national forests, to use off-forest resources to improve stewardship
scores across multiple forests and wildernesses. While strike teams will largely employ offforest resources, a local commitment of staff time and energy is required for the strike teams to
be successful. Strike team proposals may also be approved for higher scoring wildernesses on
the basis of cost-efficiency or lack of available skills.
Target recipient: Wildernesses that have not demonstrated the capacity to make significant
improvement on the Challenge as evidenced by low scores. The top funding priority will be
those forests scoring less than 49 points in the FY10 reporting. These forests can best be
supported by using off-forest resources to make significant headway. Any wilderness scoring
less than 70-points (FY 10 reporting) can compete for these funds.
Distribution mechanism: Funds to be made available through four WO job codes (one for each
BLI).
Grant size limit: $75,000
Supplement to National Forest Foundation Wilderness Stewardship Grants: $150,000
Description: Funds will supplement the National Forest Foundation’s (NFF) existing Wilderness
Stewardship Challenge grant program. The requirement for 1:1 cash matching has proven a
barrier to new or lower capacity wilderness stewardship groups. These funds would be used to
eliminate the 1:1 cash matching requirement and would only be available to stewardship groups
with operating budgets below $150,000. This funding level includes 15% overhead and staff
time cost incurred by NFF to administer the program.
Target recipient: Newly formed or low capacity wilderness stewardship groups unable to
compete for the routine Wilderness Stewardship Grants requiring a 1:1 cash match.
Page 2 of 4
Version 12-17-2010
Distribution mechanism: Funds to be provided to the National Forest Foundation through a new
cooperative agreement to supplement their existing 10YWSC grant program.
Grant size limit: $20,000
WO Administration: $40,000
Description: Funds will be used to pay for an Enterprise Team to oversee and manage the
process, including assistance with the development of proposals, proposal scoring, awarding of
grants, tracking of expenditures and accomplishment reporting and communication.
Grant Criteria
Initial screening:
1. The project must occur in one or more of the original 406 wildernesses in the 10YWSC;
2. Funds cannot be used for wildernesses scoring more than 70-points (as reported in FY 10);
3. Funds cannot be used to support trail maintenance;
4. While proposals can be received for work on any of the elements, a projected improvement in
scores in Element 10 (Baseline Workforce) cannot be used as a justification for a proposal;
5. Awards will not be made for implementation activities (monitoring, treatment actions, etc.)
proposed in the absence of a management plan;
6. Funds are not to be used for wildernesses that did not complete the performance reporting in
the previous year (we have no current measure of current performance accomplishment).
Scoring criteria:
1. Current (FY10) 10YWSC score
 The Forest Grant Funds and Strike Teams funds will have different target audiences
though every wilderness meeting the initial screen criteria described above can
compete.
2. Does the project bring in additional support?
 Support includes funds from other program areas, volunteer labor, or other partner
contributions.
3. Planned accomplishment
 How many points would be gained on 10YWSC score for each wilderness?
4. Distribution of funds will be consistent with original BLI funding mix:
 NFRW (Elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
 NFVW (Elements 2, 3, 8, 9)
 NFIM (Elements 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9)
 WFPR (Elements 1, 8)
Accountability
From field to WWSR Staff/WAG:
 Grant recipients (region or forests) report back accomplishments and explanation of any
underachievement by October 31st
Page 3 of 4
Version 12-17-2010


Measurement: compare planned from proposal with actual accomplishment as reported in
Infra-WILD
Consequence: track record becomes criterion for grant scoring in future years
From WWSR/WAG to Chief/Deputy Chief/WO Directors:
• May 1st - Interim report of awarded projects in process (to build request for FY 12 OTT funds)
• November 15th - Final report of how funds were spent (by BLI) and accomplishments
Page 4 of 4