The American Eagle Fund
Summary Guidelines for Bald Eagle Grants
American Eagle Foundation

The American Eagle Foundation (www.eagles.org) (AEF) is a 501 (c) (3) public charity, headquartered at Pigeon Forge, TN. It was established in 1985 to conduct public awareness and recovery programs directed toward national conservation of Bald Eagles.

In 2004, the "Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin Act" authorized the U.S. Mint to create and market $5 gold, $1 silver and $0.50 clad commemorative coins during 2008. These Coins celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as well as the Bald Eagle's successful recovery in the U.S.A. The Act authorized surcharges collected from the sale of collectible Bald Eagle Commemorative Coins to be paid to AEF of Tennessee "to further its works," which includes grants for Bald Eagle Projects.

The U.S. Mint's 2008 Eagle Coin sales yielded $7.8 million in surcharges. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the monies, $5.8 million, were earmarked in the American Eagle Fund, hereafter called the Fund. This Fund supports priority bald eagle projects within the USFWS Regions (http://www.fws.gov/where/) of the United States. Projects may be conducted by state, federal and private agencies.

In 2011, AEF accepted its first applications for nationwide Bald Eagle projects beginning in 2012. The Fund’s earnings are utilized to provide competitive annual grants. Grants support conservation, monitoring, educational, and research projects, rated as most needed and of greatest benefit to Bald Eagles.

Applicants must document at least a $25 match for each $75 to be received. Worthy applications with significantly higher matches are given higher points. Matches may be in cash and/or in-kind services, provided proposed and actual in-kind services are itemized by dollar value.

The AEF has formed a 12-person Bald Eagle Grant Advisory Team (BEGAT), consisting of eagle experts, representing federal, state, and private agencies from all regions of the country. They advise AEF concerning: a) grant criteria, subject to annual refinements and b) rating of the relative merits of applications for AEF grants for bald eagle projects.

AEF’s total grant allocation was $100,000 for the 2012 Bald Eagle projects.  Grants are divided among nationwide projects @ up to $5,000 - $20,000.  Total grants ideally will increase significantly during most subsequent years, pending adequate growth of the Fund.  

AEF normally accepts applications during July 1 – September 1 for 1-year grants, beginning at the start of any quarter of the next calendar year. Unfortunately, the economy and the Grant Fund declined excessively for support new grants for 2013 projects. AEF plans to accept applications from July 1 – September 1, 2013 for 2014 Bald Eagle projects, with the total grant allocation to be determined by May, 2013.     

Contact AEF’s Bob Hatcher at EagleFund@eagles.org for more detailed guidelines for any potential grant application.

Last updated:  March 3, 2013

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Congratulations to our 2012 Grant Winners!