Partners are valuable allies to the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and play a vital role in meeting the Service's conservation goals. We team up with private conservation organizations, state and federal agencies and tribes. Together, with the landowner, this collective shares funding, materials, equipment, labor and expertise to meet restoration goals and our conservation mission.

Partnership Categories

Great things happen when partners are matched with the right opportunities. That's why we work with many types of partners at FWS from local businesses and conservation groups to veterans and large industry partners. Here are just a few of the Partner Categories working with FWS today.

We frequently partner with academia to further the conservation of and research into the stewardship of many species.

We often partner with non-governmental conservation organizations on conservation projects, whether it's to conserve identified species such as the monarch butterfly or to advise on land acquisition for conservation so that it has the greatest benefit for species.

We partner with these groups to help them conduct their commercial activities in a way that best promotes conservation.

We work with other federal agencies to help them meet their legal responsibilities as well as their mission.

Friends groups are organizations of community members committed to helping national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries meet conservation goals that would otherwise be out of reach. 

Our Partners

Here are just a few of our national partners.  You can view the full list of FWS partners, along with the regions and areas of focus our work together entails.

Latest Stories About Our Partners

Staff talking to students on beach
Get Involved
Florida State University Student Career Shadow Day
Students from Florida State University visited the Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office for a career shadow day to learn about agency programs and job opportunities.
The silhouette of a hiker walking with the night sky illuminating them
Our People
Passion Is About The Journey
Wildlife conservation is a work of passion, but that passion is driven by the journey. What journey has Koa Matsuoka taken to find his way to the Service?
Biologist Christy Hand raises her arm and holds up a phone using playback audio while searching for Eastern black rail birds in South Carolina.
Our Partners
2023 Recovery Champion Award: Christy Hand
Biologists surveying salt and freshwater marshes might hear the “kickee-doo” call of an eastern black rail more often now due to the work and research of Christy Hand, wildlife biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. For her efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s...
Bright blue, Big Sandy crayfish resting on a rock.
Endangered Species Act
Threatened species gets head start at hatchery 
Biologists released hatchery-raised Big Sandy crayfish in Virginia for the first time, marking a historical step towards recovery for the federally threatened species.
A Taylor's checkerspot butterfly on a yellow flower in a prairie
Our Partners
Service Partners Named “Recovery Champions” for Butterfly Conservation
The Sustainability in Prisons Project and Mary Linders of WDFW have been recognized by the Service for their contributions to conservation of the endangered Taylor's checkerspot butterfly.
Guam NWR volunteer labeling planted seeds at the plant nursery
Habitat Restoration
Restoring habitat after Typhoon Mawar
Check out this opportunity with Kupu Americorps based at Ritidian!

Partnership Services

Through our partnerships we are able to expand our capabilities through the inclusion of services in areas such as:

  • Grant opportunities
  • Sponsorship of grants
  • Cooperative Agreements

To find out more about how our partner provides services view our partner services below.