--- title: "Healthy American Forests Initiative (HAFI)" date: 2025-11-04 author: "Ashley Buckley" --- # Healthy American Forests Initiative (HAFI) # Healthy American Forests Initiative (HAFI) Applicant Support ![](https://www.ectinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AS_358610106_Forest-1024x416.jpeg) The **[Healthy American Forests Initiative (HAFI)](https://www.nfwf.org/healthy-american-forests-initiative-request-proposals-0)** is a funding opportunity administered by the [National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)](https://www.nfwf.org/) through an agreement with the [U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/). The HAFI program supports watershed restoration and vegetation management projects on National Forest System lands to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and strengthen community and ecosystem resilience. Healthy forests sustain local economies, particularly in rural areas, by supporting timber production, protecting lives and property, and maintaining long-term ecological balance. Competitive projects must be located on National Forest System Lands and align with a water source protection plan developed under Section 303(d) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003, or a watershed restoration action plan developed under Section 304(a)(3) of HFRA. Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT) serves as a field liaison team to help applicants navigate the application process, understand program requirements and evaluation criteria, and submit compelling and competitive applications. ECT is part of the overall HAFI review team and will provide debriefs to unawarded applicants. While we clarify expectations and answer applicant questions, ECT does not draft, edit, or prepare proposals. All funding decisions are made by NFWF. This page provides resources to applicants interested in submitting project ideas to the NFWF HAFI Program. It also includes available Field Liaison generated HAFI resources, such as the recorded applicant-support webinar, which are intended to complement NFWF’s materials by offering applicants additional guidance. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your project idea one-on-one, please [schedule an online meeting](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIFieldLiaisonProposalLab@ectinc.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled) with our field liaison staff. You can also schedule a proposal discussion directly with NFWF [here](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIProposalLabCalendar@nfwf.org/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true). Field Liaison Led Applicant Webinar ECT hosted a live applicant-support webinar to complement [NFWF’s HAFI presentation](https://nfwf.sharefile.com/share/view/sed446b70ea074eac9527081f605f63a6) made available on their website. ECT’s webinar focuses on practical guidance for developing strong, competitive proposals and includes a live Q&A with ECT’s liaison team. **Field Liaison & Applicant Webinar Topics include:** - Aligning project objectives with HAFI priorities - Strengthening proposal narratives and metrics - Budgeting and match requirements - Eligibility requirements and project “must haves” - Common application pitfalls and reviewer “red flags” - Tips for success and live Q&A session [ Watch the Webinar ](https://youtu.be/y0gSCi0QU0s) [ Webinar Transcript ](https://www.ectinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HAFI_Webinar_Transcript.pdf) [ Download Slides ](https://www.ectinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HAFI_Webinar_slides_compressed.pdf) [ How to Find a WRAP ](https://youtu.be/yifIBYEuwRk) Timelines **October 17, 2025** NFWF HAFI Applicant Webinar Recording Available **October 29, 2025** ECT Field Liaison and Applicant Webinar **March 17, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (EXTENSION)** Full Proposal Due Date **Mid-March 2026 – August 2026** Review Period **Early 2026** Awards Announced Schedule a Proposal Lab [**Click here**](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIFieldLiaisonProposalLab@ectinc.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled) to schedule a proposal lab session with the **Field** **Liaison Team.** [**Click here**](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIProposalLabCalendar@nfwf.org/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true) to schedule a proposal lab session directly with **NFWF Staff.** Contact Us For more information, contact . ECT hosted a live applicant-support webinar to complement [NFWF’s HAFI presentation](https://nfwf.sharefile.com/share/view/sed446b70ea074eac9527081f605f63a6) made available on their website. ECT’s webinar focuses on practical guidance for developing strong, competitive proposals and includes a live Q&A with ECT’s liaison team. **Field Liaison & Applicant Webinar Topics include:** - Aligning project objectives with HAFI priorities - Strengthening proposal narratives and metrics - Budgeting and match requirements - Eligibility requirements and project “must haves” - Common application pitfalls and reviewer “red flags” - Tips for success and live Q&A session [ Watch the Webinar ](https://youtu.be/y0gSCi0QU0s) [ Webinar Transcript ](https://www.ectinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HAFI_Webinar_Transcript.pdf) [ Download Slides ](https://www.ectinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HAFI_Webinar_slides_compressed.pdf) [ How to Find a WRAP ](https://youtu.be/yifIBYEuwRk) **October 17, 2025** NFWF HAFI Applicant Webinar Recording Available **October 29, 2025** ECT Field Liaison and Applicant Webinar **March 17, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (EXTENSION)** Full Proposal Due Date **Mid-March 2026 – August 2026** Review Period **Early 2026** Awards Announced [**Click here**](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIFieldLiaisonProposalLab@ectinc.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled) to schedule a proposal lab session with the **Field** **Liaison Team.** [**Click here**](https://outlook.office.com/book/HAFIProposalLabCalendar@nfwf.org/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true) to schedule a proposal lab session directly with **NFWF Staff.** For more information, contact . ## NFWF National Programs Field Liaisons ECT provides a nationally distributed Field Liaison Team that supports NFWF’s National Programs Team, applicants, and grantees across multiple programs [ Learn More ](https://www.ectinc.com/nfwf-national-programs-field-liaisons/) ## Western Big Game Fund The Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund aims to conserve critical winter range and migration corridors to maintain healthy populations of pronghorn, elk and mule deer, and the phenomenon of big game migration. [ Learn More ](https://www.ectinc.com/western-big-game-fund) ## America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (AERI) The AERI program supports locally led, large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts that advance habitat connectivity, watershed health, resilience, and community-based conservation across the United States. [ Learn More ](https://www.ectinc.com/americas-ecosystem-restoration-initiative-aeri)