Explore environmental conservation grants for land preservation, wildlife protection, reforestation, and natural resource management
1,000+
Available grants
$144.3M
Total funding
$8.6K
Median grant
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North Carolina Sea Grant
Under executive director Susan White, North Carolina Sea Grant works with local, state, and national policymakers and scientists to co-produce critical projects in four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, resilient communities and economies, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and environmental literacy and workforce development.
With significant returns on investment for coastal North Carolina, we forge partnerships and support research, education, and outreach. Funding opportunities include grants for established scientists and specialists, fellowships to develop the next generation of researchers and policymakers, and special collaborations that fuse community and academic expertise.
North Carolina Team Competition for Resilience Research
This funding opportunity, supported by North Carolina Sea Grant, provides awards to teams of North Carolina-based graduate and undergraduate students led by a PhD student. Winning teams will conduct hypothesis-based research projects that contribute to more resilient habitats and communities across North Carolina.
Research Focus Areas
Proposals must address at least one core aspect of resilience in North Carolina:
Boone County Community Foundation
The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.
Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.
Grants
Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.
Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant
Impact Grant
$15,001 and up
Boone County Community Foundation
The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.
Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.
Grants
Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.
Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant
Standard Grant
$3,001 - $15,000
Boone County Community Foundation
The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.
Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.
Grants
Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.
Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant
Simple Grant
$3,000 and under
Keokuk County Community Endowment Foundation
The KCCEF was formed in 2005 as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. The founding members of the organization had a vision to ensure that our county’s charitable programs were supported now, and in the future. We work together with many individuals, families, businesses and organizations to establish endowment funds that will provide grant awards for years to come.
What We Offer
The Keokuk County Community Endowment Foundation is here to assist our county’s organizations contribute to the local quality of life, and one of the ways that is done is through grant funding. KCCEF accepts grant applications to enable projects and programs impacting a wide range of needs in the community. In the past, grants have been awarded for projects involving arts and culture, health & human services, community betterment, historic preservation, and more. Proof of non-profit status, or sponsorship by a government entity is required.
Major Grant
What We Support
The Keokuk County Community Endowment Foundation will provide grants to improve life in Keokuk County, Iowa by supporting projects relating to: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues…we’re simply better together.
Taylor County Endowment Foundation
Mission of the Taylor County Endowment Foundation:
It is the mission of the Taylor County Endowment Foundation to distribute funds for educational, cultural, civic and charitable purposes for the benefit of the greater community of Taylor County, Iowa. Principles have been established to assure equitable and effective grant making of these funds, thus enhancing the quality of life for citizens of Taylor County, Iowa.
The Taylor County Endowment Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life throughout Taylor County by investing in area nonprofits through our grant programs and by providing individuals, families and area businesses who love our communities with a way to give back.
Taylor County Endowment Foundation Grants
What we Support
The Taylor County Endowment Foundation will provide grants to build community strengths and develop leadership potential. Areas of Foundation giving are health and human services, recreation and environment, arts and culture, community betterment, education, and youth development. The Foundation will fund special projects, but will not fund ongoing operational expenses.
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership was formed as a community foundation to distribute Iowa’s County Endowment Fund money and support charitable giving in Warren County, Iowa.
For more than a decade, the foundation has responsibly distributed charitable dollars through grants to community nonprofit organizations. Since our inception, we have awarded more than $1 million into the community for beneficial projects. As we move into the future, our goal is to continue grantmaking, but also to assist citizens in their charitable giving plans, work closely with city leaders and other organizations for organizational collaboration, and improve the quality of life in Warren County.
WCPP is an Affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and is governed by a Board of Directors under the direction of Warren County Economic Development Corporation, made up of passionate individuals invested in making decisions to improve Warren County.
WCPP Grants
Program Area of Focus
Applications should fall under one of these focus areas:
Project Type
Projects should fall under one of two types:
Grant Type
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership currently offers three grant options: Community Grant; Trails Grant; and High Impact Grant.
High Impact Grant
For High Impact Grants, we are looking for applications which:
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership was formed as a community foundation to distribute Iowa’s County Endowment Fund money and support charitable giving in Warren County, Iowa.
For more than a decade, the foundation has responsibly distributed charitable dollars through grants to community nonprofit organizations. Since our inception, we have awarded more than $1 million into the community for beneficial projects. As we move into the future, our goal is to continue grantmaking, but also to assist citizens in their charitable giving plans, work closely with city leaders and other organizations for organizational collaboration, and improve the quality of life in Warren County.
WCPP is an Affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and is governed by a Board of Directors under the direction of Warren County Economic Development Corporation, made up of passionate individuals invested in making decisions to improve Warren County.
WCPP Grants
Program Area of Focus
Applications should fall under one of these focus areas:
Project Type
Projects should fall under one of two types:
Grant Type
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership currently offers three grant options: Community Grant; Trails Grant; and High Impact Grant.
Community Grant
For Community Grants, we are looking for applications which:
Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation
For more than 20 years, our Foundation has fostered a culture of philanthropy across Hardin County by delivering exceptional assistance and resources to our benefactors, volunteers, other charitable organizations, grant applicants, and the wider community.
Our Mission is to promote charitable giving, to build permanent endowment funds for Hardin County, and to address a broad range of community issues through active leadership and grant-making.
Hardin County Community Endowment Grant Program
The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout Hardin County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships. Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of Hardin County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, and human services.
Okoboji Foundation
The Okoboji Foundation was started in 1988, by a group of dedicated lovers of The Lakes Region who wished to improve the quality of life of those who call this area home.
Originally named the University of Okoboji Foundation, Berkley Bedell served as the first Board Chairman. In 2006, the foundation changed its name to the Okoboji Foundation to establish the organization as a Community Foundation. Over $5.24 million has been granted to more than 80 different nonprofit agencies located around The Lakes since its inception and preserving the stories that make Iowa Great Lakes a place of local legends.
Today, the Okoboji Foundation is the center point of giving for vital capital projects. Current funding priorities focus on arts & culture, economic development, lake quality & environment, and outdoor experiences & recreation. It’s through the generosity of donors that the Okoboji Foundation continues to make a positive, lasting impact in the Lakes community.
Areas of Focus
We fund projects in the Iowa Great Lakes Region that align with one or more of the following:
What We Fund
We fund VITAL CAPITAL PROJECTS, such as buildings, equipment, or physical property that will be available for many years of use in our Lakes communities. We want to help develop communities where people want to live, work, visit, and play
Projects should be visible, available to a large portion of the public, and have a long lasting impact in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Professional signage must be included on structures or property funded by Foundation grants. The Okoboji Foundation will provide official logos and style guidelines for signage.
Funding Levels
There are two categories of funding: Leadership Grants and Community Needs Grants.
Community Needs Grants
Grant requests under $25,000 will be considered by the Youth In Philanthropy student led committee. Any unfunded grants in this category will then be reviewed by the Okoboji Foundation grant committee. Projects should be completed and request reimbursement with receipts totaling amount of grant award within one year of the award notification.
Okoboji Foundation
The Okoboji Foundation was started in 1988, by a group of dedicated lovers of The Lakes Region who wished to improve the quality of life of those who call this area home.
Originally named the University of Okoboji Foundation, Berkley Bedell served as the first Board Chairman. In 2006, the foundation changed its name to the Okoboji Foundation to establish the organization as a Community Foundation. Over $5.24 million has been granted to more than 80 different nonprofit agencies located around The Lakes since its inception and preserving the stories that make Iowa Great Lakes a place of local legends.
Today, the Okoboji Foundation is the center point of giving for vital capital projects. Current funding priorities focus on arts & culture, economic development, lake quality & environment, and outdoor experiences & recreation. It’s through the generosity of donors that the Okoboji Foundation continues to make a positive, lasting impact in the Lakes community.
Areas of Focus
We fund projects in the Iowa Great Lakes Region that align with one or more of the following:
What We Fund
We fund VITAL CAPITAL PROJECTS, such as buildings, equipment, or physical property that will be available for many years of use in our Lakes communities. We want to help develop communities where people want to live, work, visit, and play
Projects should be visible, available to a large portion of the public, and have a long lasting impact in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Professional signage must be included on structures or property funded by Foundation grants. The Okoboji Foundation will provide official logos and style guidelines for signage.
Funding Levels
There are two categories of funding: Leadership Grants and Community Needs Grants.
Leadership Grants
Grant requests of $25,000 or more will be reviewed by the Okoboji Foundation grants committee. The committee may request an in person follow-up presentation by the nonprofit. Projects should be completed and request reimbursement with receipts totaling amount of grant award within three years of the award notification.
The Youth Participation Initiative Program was established in 2009 to provide funding for the purpose of educating children in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and safety. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) encourages applicants to focus on the education, recruitment, or retention of youth in the areas listed above or in any safety issues arising from the areas of hunting, fishing, or conservation.
Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
The Department of Fish and Game’s mission is to conserve the Commonwealth’s abundant marine and freshwater fisheries, wildlife, plants, and natural communities, as well as the habitats that support them, for the benefit and enjoyment of all people.
Massachusetts Community Biodiversity Grants
About the Opportunity
The Community Biodiversity Grants program supports local efforts to protect and restore biodiversity everywhere.
The Massachusetts Biodiversity Goals establish an ambitious, whole-of-government approach to rebuild biodiversity and invest in nature to sustain our health and well-being, food security, economy, and way of life. The plan sets four key goals—Protect, Restore, Sustain, and Connect—each with specific strategies for action for 2030, 2040, and 2050.
The Community Biodiversity Grants program seeks proposals for projects that drive on-the-ground progress towards the Biodiversity Goals. The program will award grants between $20,000 and $150,000 to support biodiversity conservation and bring nature to every neighborhood.
Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
Introduction
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (P.L. 85-578) created a matching grant program to stimulate, encourage, and assist states with the acquisition, development, and expansion of quality outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF) is a reimbursement grant program funded by revenues generated from outer continental shelf oil and gas drilling. New Mexico is eligible to receive funding allocations from the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) whenever Congress appropriates LWCF funds for this purpose. The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), State Parks Division (Division) serves as the agency responsible for the LWCF and the Division is assigned administrative responsibility. The DOI manages the LWCF program through the National Park Service (NPS).
In 2024, New Mexico was allocated approximately $3.51 million by the NPS for local assistance grants to support outdoor recreation and education, education, resource protection, and wetland acquisition across the state.
Aastha Horizons Grant
The Aastha Horizons Grant seeks to support organizations dedicated to enhancing Lancaster County. Applications from initiatives addressing a wide range of topics, including but not limited to education, healthcare, social services, environmental conservation, arts and culture, community development, and youth empowerment are welcome. This grant will provide resources for projects that demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact in our community, whether by addressing immediate needs or fostering long-term sustainability.
About Us
In the mid-1980s, a rapid rise in housing prices and an increase in the pace of development threatened the rural character and historic settlement patterns of Vermont. As a result, in 1986, a coalition of affordable housing, conservation, and historic preservation advocates approached the state legislature with a plan to form a unique agency that would review and fund projects to address a range of community needs. In response, the Legislature passed the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund Act in 1987.
The newly created Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, or VHCB, was charged with a dual goal mission:
to create permanently affordable housing and conserve and protect Vermont’s agricultural, forest, recreational, and natural lands, as well as historic properties. Since our founding, we have remained true to this mission by supporting projects that benefit Vermont communities in perpetuity, guided by our core values: equity and access, affordability and economic vitality, environmental sustainability and resilience, and quality of life.
Donated Easement Funding Program
The Donated Easement Funding Program provides grants to help cover transaction and stewardship costs for conservation easements donated by willing landowners. The program is designed to make voluntary land conservation more accessible and affordable by reducing financial barriers that often prevent donated projects from moving forward.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CDFW’s MISSION is to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.
Natural Community Conservation Planning Local Assistance Grant Program
Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks proposals for highest priority projects associated with the implementation of an NCCP. The intention of this Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) is to solicit proposals of the highest quality that are consistent with the goals of the NCCP Program. Proposals must address the highest priority tasks associated with the implementation of an NCCP such as:
The FY2025-27 Biennial Budget provided $4 million for Dam Grants with the majority being committed to fund eligible engineering and construction costs associated with the maintenance, repair, modification or abandonment and removal of municipally owned dams.The Municipal Dam grant program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction costs for dam maintenance, repair, modification or abandonment and removal. Applicants must have an Engineer's inspection order or directive and a Dam Failure Analysis sufficient to identify the hazard potential based on the current development in the hydraulic shadow downstream of the dam. Applicants must have an Engineer's inspection order or directive and a Dam Failure Analysis sufficient to identify the hazard potential based on the current development in the hydraulic shadow downstream of the dam.
DFFP Inflation Reduction Act Grants - Community Forest Management Plan, Tree Inventory, and Tree Canopy Assessment Grants
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, Community Forestry Program (CFP), have Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant monies available to local governments, state agencies, tribal organizations, non-profits, public universities, and other non-federal entities for projects in Alaska communities.
No match funding is required. A total of $180,000 is available.
The Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Program aims to protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s waterways.
The program - administered by DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation - provides technical and financial assistance to partners to carry out activities that improve watershed health and/or provide water-based outdoor recreation opportunities.
Although the program name emphasizes rivers work, it supports initiatives that benefit all types of waterways and significant water resources.
Initiatives included in the DCNR Rivers Conservation Program are:
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation is authorized through the United States Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to issue grants for the purpose of reclaiming abandoned mine lands (AML) and abating abandoned mine drainage (AMD) as defined in Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
The goals of the Program include:
Grants for environmental conservation fund programs aimed at protecting natural resources, preserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable practices. The following grants empower nonprofits to implement conservation initiatives and foster environmental stewardship.
Discover 300+ funding opportunities for environmental conservation, with $79.8M in resources. Instrumentl helps nonprofits secure impactful funding by offering deadline alerts, advanced search capabilities, and detailed funder analysis to drive conservation efforts.
How common are grants in this category?
Common — grants in this category appear regularly across funding sources.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for grants for Environmental Conservation?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
Private organizations, corporations, and government agencies contribute to the $25M of funding available for environmental grants. Funders for these grants include the Fort Worth Zoo, Waste Management, the Marathon Petroleum Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Grants for environmental conservation are available to various types of nonprofits. These include environmental nonprofits, conservation groups, research institutions, and advocacy groups. Funders prioritize initiatives that protect natural resources, preserve biodiversity, and promote sustainability. The goal of these grants is to empower nonprofits to implement conservation initiatives and foster environmental stewardship.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for environmental conservation, grant deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 27.2% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Environmental conservation grants help support nonprofit initiatives that promote biodiversity, reduce pollution, and implement sustainable practices. Through these grants, funders aim to preserve natural habitats, mitigate climate impacts, and educate communities on environmental stewardship.
Funding for environmental conservation grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $46,000,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $12,500, while the average grant awarded is $450,722. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
To improve their success rate, nonprofits interested in environmental conservation grants should:
For additional guidance, explore our step-by-step guide to crafting compelling grant proposals.
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