How to apply for funding

For landowners new to LIP, applying for funding begins with submitting a pre-proposal during our open enrollment period. The pre-proposal allows staff to review your proposed project before you invest time in drafting a full project proposal. If your pre-proposal is approved, you will be invited to submit a full proposal, which includes detailed budget information, project objectives, work schedule and evaluation benchmarks. Based on your pre-proposal, staff may be able to offer suggestions to help your project rank higher, or suggest other programs which may be better suited to your restoration goals.

Please contact the LIP coordinator with questions: Dawn.Hinebaugh@wisconsin.gov.

Eligibility

• Projects must be on privately owned land in the Driftless Area and focus on providing connectivity to similar or complementary habitats.
• Individuals or groups — for example, land trusts, watershed councils or conservation organizations — are eligible to apply.
• Projects should promote restoration of rare, fire-dependent natural community types including prairie, oak savanna, barrens and oak woodland.
• Projects should focus on providing a benefit to the state's at-risk species, including Species of Greatest Conservation Need.  Focal species are rusty patched bumble bee, monarch and timber rattlesnake.
• Landowners must be willing to enter into a 10-year agreement to maintain the intent of the LIP-funded project area.

Reimbursement process

NOTE: LIP cannot reimburse for any work that is completed prior to having an agreement signed by both parties. All project work, including match, must occur within the funded grant period to be eligible. Please refer to your "Financial Guidance" document for details on the reimbursement process.

Please complete and sign the LIP reimbursement form below and submit to the LIP coordinator. Be sure to include any invoices, receipts and match documentation with the reimbursement request. To be eligible for reimbursement, the recipient cost share (as defined in the agreement) must be submitted with the request. You may submit for partial reimbursement as frequently as you wish. The last reimbursement will be made pending department approval of the final project report.

LIP reimbursement request form

All costs and match included in the request must be incurred within:

• the funded grant period defined in the cost share agreement;
• the scope of activity and budget summarized in the cost share agreement; and
• the total amount of state aid awarded per the grant agreement.

Email your signed reimbursement request form, match forms, and any other necessary documentation (receipts, invoices, etc) to Dawn Hinebaugh or mail to:

Dawn Hinebaugh
WDNR-NHC/6
PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707

**All final reimbursements will only be made upon submission of all necessary documentation, including a final project report.

Forms and resources

• "Financial Guidance" example for grant recipients
• Sample LIP agreement
• Sample LIP reimbursement form
• LIP match documentation forms (labor, equipment, supplies)
• LIP match rates
• Donated volunteer labor fillable form
• W-9 form

Trouble opening or downloading forms? Please read our troubleshooting document for help.