Best Conservation Biology Grants

The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation offers grants focusing on the conservation of natural resources in eastern North America and the Caribbean Basin, particularly in the U.S. Key areas include marine resource management, South Florida ecosystems, and Alabama environmental issues. Grants are site-specific, require a 1:1 match, and are not available for individuals or capital campaigns. Initial inquiries should be submitted by the first or second Friday of April or September.

The Clif Family Foundation Open Call invites 501(c)(3) organizations to apply for grants supporting general operating costs or specific projects. With a focus on regenerative farming, food worker health, climate justice, and food access, the foundation aims to empower grassroots initiatives. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, with applications reviewed twice a year. Deadlines are March 1 and August 1, and announcements occur about four months post-deadline.

The Sarah K. de Coizart Perpetual Charitable Trust, established in 1992, focuses on supporting species conservation and blindness-related services in the Northeast United States. Grants range from $20,000 to $75,000 for conservation projects and $20,000 to $50,000 for blindness initiatives. Priority is given to endangered species and innovative research efforts. Organizations must be IRS-designated public charities. The Trust does not fund individuals or matching gifts, ensuring support goes directly to impactful projects.

The Heritage Partnership Program, managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, aims to foster collaboration on projects that deliver conservation and recreational benefits. Eligible entities include governmental agencies, Indian tribes, and 501c3 organizations. With specific funding categories for habitat management, public access enhancement, and urban wildlife conservation, projects must be completed within one year, following the state fiscal year. Note that no funding is available for FY26 as all funds are obligated.

The NFWF's Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program aims to enhance community capacity for sustaining local natural resources through financial assistance for diverse partnerships. With approximately $2.5 million available, projects focus on improving water quality, restoring habitats, and engaging underserved communities. By promoting ecological improvements and community outreach, this program seeks to increase access to nature's benefits while addressing environmental hazards. A blend of urban and rural initiatives is expected for effective implementation.

The John Sage Foundation supports projects that enhance the relationship between people and the natural environment, primarily in Maine. Since its inception in 1992, it has funded various initiatives, including land acquisition, water testing, and environmental education. The foundation is open to funding a range of projects but may concentrate its resources on a single entity in a grant cycle. Notably, it does not support political advocacy efforts.

The Canaday Family Charitable Trust primarily aims to support Vermont-based not-for-profit organizations that enhance the lives of children and families, advocate for environmental conservation and education, and address economic and racial inequalities. Grants are provided for innovative projects that produce measurable impacts, focusing on sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community engagement. The Trust emphasizes funding projects rooted in Vermont's unique context, promoting initiatives that empower local families and foster significant improvements in their quality of life.

The Cabot Family Charitable Trust, established in 1942, provides grants to nonprofit organizations in Boston and surrounding areas, focusing on youth and community development. The Trust supports initiatives in arts, education, environment, and health, prioritizing programs that enhance the growth of young children. While most grants are for one year, multi-year funding may be available for capital campaigns. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the Trust's philanthropic interests.

The Sustainable Forests and Communities Grant aims to foster environmentally and economically sustainable forest communities in the U.S., particularly where the Weyerhaeuser Family has interests. It prioritizes projects enhancing the environment, economy, and community through sustainable practices. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities operating in forested areas, focusing on integrated approaches that value forest ecosystem services. This initiative encourages local job creation, sustainable economic activities, and innovative partnerships to achieve sustainability goals.

The Whitley Awards, presented annually in London, recognize grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South with £50,000 in project funding. Winning not only provides financial support but also enhances the visibility and career prospects of conservationists. This recognition fosters local pride and encourages philanthropic contributions while enabling winners to influence environmental policy. The awards aim to spotlight impactful projects led by local leaders, promoting sustainable conservation practices and community engagement.

To preserve and interpret Alaska's rich maritime heritage the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the State Libraries, Archives, and Museums (LAM) announce the launch of the Alaska Maritime Heritage Preservation Program. This program is designed to protect Alaska's maritime resources and advance public awareness of Alaska's nationally significant maritime properties, collections, traditional skills, and knowledge.

The Alaska Maritime Heritage Preservation Program will offer Alaskans two new grant opportunities for preservation and education projects.

Applicants for preservation grants can request from $15,000-$75,000 and applications for education grants can request from $10,000-$50,000.

Eligible projects must support the preservation, education, or interpretation of Alaska’s maritime heritage by addressing approved resource categories and demonstrating clear public benefit. Applications should reflect strong community value and alignment with program goals.

Projects must address one or more of the following resource categories:

• Maritime heritage collections
• Traditional maritime skills
• Maritime education activities
• Historic maritime properties (meeting National Register significance criteria)

Applications must also demonstrate:

• How proposed activities directly benefit one or more eligible resource categories
• Community and heritage value, supported through letters or documentation
• Clear alignment with program intent, including preservation, documentation, and education/interpretation of maritime heritage

The Firedoll Foundation, a private family foundation, focuses on five key areas: Community Development and Entrepreneurship, Immigrant Issues and Human Rights, Environmental Conservation, Middle East Peace, and support for Traumatic Brain Injury survivors. Emphasizing support for vulnerable populations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the foundation backs projects that promote social justice and environmental sustainability. With a commitment to providing alternatives to detention and legal aid for immigrants, it aims to empower communities while addressing urgent environmental concerns.

The Shelton Hardaway Short, Jr. Trust Grant, established in 1974, supports charitable organizations primarily in Central and Southern Virginia. Grants, typically between $10,000 and $50,000, are given as memorials to Mr. Short's family members. The foundation prioritizes various program areas including arts, education, health, and human services, and aims to enhance the community's welfare. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) entities, with no geographic limitations, although local organizations are favored.

The Lubrizol Foundation Grants support nonprofit organizations that align with community investment priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on quality education, health, and sustainable communities. Established in 1952, the foundation emphasizes support for initiatives in Cleveland, Ohio, and Houston, Texas. Grant applications are evaluated based on alignment with Lubrizol's investment pillars, with a commitment to fostering social impact and community well-being through financial support.

The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation Grants, established in 1990, aim to support organizations that assist individuals with physical disabilities through guide dogs and other assistance animals. The foundation also prioritizes wildlife conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species and their habitats. Grants are awarded to charitable organizations under specific IRS classifications, focusing on long-term impactful projects. Applications for ongoing operational funding are discouraged, and priority is given to conservation activities that are science-based.

The GOCO: Pathways Program, initiated by Great Outdoors Colorado, aims to enhance Colorado's public spaces through innovative planning and capacity-building grants. Since 1992, GOCO has allocated over $1.3 billion in lottery proceeds towards preserving parks, trails, and wildlife habitats across the state. This program addresses critical issues and opportunities by supporting research, data analysis, and the development of tools to strengthen local governments and conservation organizations.

The Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine, focusing on community-based initiatives that address social and environmental issues. Established in 1986, the foundation prioritizes projects enhancing community capacity, with a particular interest in literacy and the arts. Grant decisions are made at the foundation's discretion, with no obligation to applicants. Organizations may only apply once per year, and funding is not available for individual support or recurring operational costs.

The McInerny Foundation, one of Hawaii's largest charitable organizations, supports major capital requests for projects exceeding $500,000. These grants can fund equipment purchases, renovations, and environmental land protection. The foundation emphasizes collaboration, requiring organizations to secure 100% board financial contributions and 75% of their funding goal before applying. By fostering community involvement and ensuring financial accountability, the foundation aims to enhance the impact of its contributions across various sectors, including arts, education, and health.

The Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) Grant, offered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, provides funding ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to tax-exempt organizations. This initiative promotes outdoor recreation and environmental education for under-served populations, including low-income and minority groups. By fostering partnerships with local organizations, CO-OP aims to enhance accessibility to outdoor activities, ensuring that all Texans can enjoy and engage with nature responsibly.

Definition

A Focused Investment Partnership is an OWEB investment that:

• Addresses a board-identified Focused Investment Priority of significance to the state; 
• Works towards achieving clear and measurable ecological outcomes;
• Uses integrated, results-oriented approaches as identified through a strategic action plan; and 
• Is implemented by a high-performing partnership.

Implementation Grants

Implementation funding supports partnerships with up to $12 million over 3 biennia (6 years). Initiatives must demonstrate clear and measurable restoration outputs and ecological outcomes that support limiting factors outlined in a federal recovery and/or state conservation plan(s).

Strategic Action Plan

Partnerships applying for FIP Implementation funding must have a strategic action plan (SAP) that addresses all components detailed in OWEB's Strategic Action Plan Guidance. A SAP defines the geographic extent, timeframe, and range of strategies and actions that will lead to the long-term goals of a partnership. The scope of an Implementation conservation initiative is determined by the partnership and constitutes the portion of the SAP that the partnership believes it can accomplish in the proposed timeframe with the proposed funding.

The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Utah through philanthropic efforts. With a mission to support impactful projects in arts, education, community welfare, health, and preservation, the foundation seeks organizations that deliver measurable benefits without duplicating existing services. Applications for 2025 are encouraged to be submitted early, as the grant aims to foster significant community contributions and support a diverse range of initiatives.

The Department of Natural Resources’ Watershed and Climate Services Grants Gateway

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed & Climate Services (WCS) is committed to providing technical and financial assistance to Maryland’s communities that are challenged by intense storms, changing sea levels and increasing flooding, while balancing growing populations, economic growth, and increased tourism and recreation. These trends make the already challenging task of restoring the Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding people and infrastructure and managing natural resources even more complex.

Grants Gateway provides a resource for partners seeking technical and financial support for projects that foster healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies. Grants Gateway provides a centralized hub to streamline the grant application process for governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

Eligible projects across six programs (as above) will improve water quality, restore local waterways, increase community flood planning, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, improve shorelines, and plan for beneficial reuse.

Environmental Education and Stewardship (Outcome 4)

Improve student and community ability to take action benefiting Chesapeake ecosystems through professional development and training, curriculum expansion, outdoor learning and stewardship.

What kind of projects are supported by Environmental Education and Stewardship?

Funding will be offered as available to support learning experiences and educational opportunities focused on environmental issue exploration and investigation leading to stewardship action. Funding supports two tracks for this funding program:

• Track One will focus on projects serving formal K-12 education systems, and
• Track Two will focus on projects serving communities or public education. Both tracks include proposals focused on local watershed and land-use issues, and should be based on sound environmental education principles.

Applicants should collaborate with the student or community that they will be working with to build capacity, engagement and stewardship. The project should address the needs of the community and include the voices of the community.

All projects should be located within Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund Grant provides competitive funding to restore and protect the health of Long Island Sound. Aiming to empower underrepresented communities, this grant supports projects that promote sustainability, resilience, and equity within the watershed of Connecticut and New York. With $400,000 available in 2025, proposals should address the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) and advance environmental justice initiatives.

The Betterment Fund Grant provides financial support ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 annually, aimed at enhancing education, health, conservation, and community support in Maine. The fund prioritizes systemic community initiatives that address essential human needs while favoring projects with a proven track record in grant management. Special attention is given to projects in the Western Mountains region, although broader applications that meet their criteria may also be considered.

The Marianne G. Faulkner Charitable Trust Grant supports charitable organizations with a focus on elderly care, environmental protection, and community preservation. This private foundation primarily funds two organizations and a park of significance to the donor. Limited support may also be available for other eligible nonprofits aligned with these interests. Note that only 501(c)(3) organizations can apply, and individuals are not eligible for grants.

The BECU Foundation's People Helping People Awards honor exceptional nonprofit work in communities served by BECU. Each year, BECU members can nominate organizations for grants up to $50,000. Eligible nonprofits must be active 501(c)(3) organizations with a direct impact in Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, or Washington. This initiative highlights the importance of community service and encourages members to recognize local heroes making a difference.

MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' development finance agency and land bank. We partner with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to help Massachusetts grow and thrive. We are committed to achieving three core goals: stimulating business, driving economic growth, and strengthening communities across the state. 

Brownfields Redevelopment Fund

Finances the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites. Eligible applicants include community development corporations, nonprofit organizations, EDICs, and municipalities and their agencies for publicly owned sites with an identified developer. Applicants have a redevelopment project that will commence site work and construction within a short period of time; have a demonstrated immediate funding gap in the development budget; and provide a substantial public benefit to the community they are in by eliminating blight, through the creation of employment or housing opportunities. 

Eligible Projects

Projects eligible for funding through the Rolling Round program include the assessment and/or remediation of environmental contamination when necessary to redevelop vacant, abandoned, or underutilized properties. Above-ground contamination will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may not be used to remediate a building in advance of demolition. Funds may, however, be used for limited demolition to advance additional required environmental testing or assessment.

Environmental Site Assessment Projects

Up to $250,000 is available for environmental site assessment with an eligible scope submitted by a Massachusetts Licensed Site Professional in good standing.