Best Grants for Environmental Conservation in Pennsylvania

Municipal entities in Pennsylvania seeking to improve parks, recreation, and conservation services can receive up to US $18,000 to hire a professional consultant for small-scale planning issues. Focused on environmental conservation, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources invites eligible applicants, and in special cases nonprofits, to support collaborative planning, technical services, and related project costs.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to organizations focused on improving the lives of children in urban poverty in the U.S., India, and South Africa. They prioritize projects in education, health, and family economic stability. Grants typically do not exceed 25% of a project's budget or 10% of an organization's annual expenses. The foundation seeks to partner with organizations already making an impact, ensuring funding supports impactful social enterprises.

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Established on July 1, 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is charged with:

• Maintaining and protecting 125 state parks
• Managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land
• Providing information on the state's ecological and geologic resources
• Establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space, and natural areas.

PA Community Tree Assistance Program

The PA Community Tree Assistance Program helps communities that need support caring for their trees. 

Trees in cities and towns can help manage stormwater, control sediment erosion, and help reduce the impacts of extreme heat by cooling neighborhoods and reducing energy costs.

Through the PA Community Tree Assistance Program, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will contract directly with trusted tree-care professionals who will perform the work in eligible and approved communities.

Eligible Community Tree Activities

Municipalities and nonprofit organizations can request help with:

• Planting new trees and caring for them as they grow
• Pruning and caring for existing trees to keep them healthy
• Inventorying trees and creating management plans
• Checking for tree hazards and making needed safety improvements

Projects must take place in public or community spaces like parks, street trees, cemeteries, and school grounds. After a project is approved, DCNR will hire pre-qualified tree-care professionals to complete the work at no cost to the communities.

Nonprofit organizations, municipalities, counties, and educational institutions in Pennsylvania can receive mini-grants to run public, educational paddling events on the state’s waterways. Grants from Pennsylvania Environmental Council support recreational water use and boating while advancing environmental conservation and community engagement; awards are US $1,000 per on-water day with a 1:1 match required.

Pennsylvania environmental and community organizations can access funding for projects on designated Pennsylvania Water Trails, including conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation efforts. Through the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s mini-grant program, eligible nonprofits and public entities in Pennsylvania may receive up to US $7,000 with a 1:1 match to enhance access, sustainability, and community engagement on water trails.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, municipalities, counties, and educational institutions in Pennsylvania can receive up to US $30,000 for acquiring, designing, engineering, constructing, or upgrading non-motorized public access to waterways. Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Statewide Waterway Access Grant supports environmental conservation, outdoor recreation, and community engagement projects that enhance recreational access and stewardship of Pennsylvania’s waterways.

Environmental and conservation-focused nonprofits and public agencies in Pennsylvania can seek flexible funding for land protection, stewardship, and activation through the Richard King Mellon Foundation’s General Application. Focused on conservation in southwestern Pennsylvania and select national efforts, it supports planning, implementation, scaling, and general operating or project-specific work that aligns with the Foundation’s 2021–2030 strategic plan.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3), (4), (6), or (19) nonprofits with at least three years of operations and $250K in annual revenue can seek US $50,000 - US $400,000 for sustainability projects benefiting communities in Pennsylvania and other eligible states. Green Mountain Energy funds renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and related environmental initiatives.

Schools, higher education institutions, county conservation districts, nonprofits, and businesses in Pennsylvania can seek funding for environmental education projects, including hands-on student programs, teacher training, and community conservation initiatives. Grants from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection help Pennsylvania environmental conservation efforts addressing climate change, water quality, and environmental justice, with awards up to US $65,000.

Pennsylvania nonprofits, municipalities, agencies, and educational institutions planning river-focused conservation and celebration activities in Pennsylvania can apply for mini-grant support. Pennsylvania Environmental Council provides Pennsylvania environmental conservation groups with US $15,000 through the River of the Year program to fund a yearlong schedule of events, including at least one on-water sojourn.

Pennsylvania environmental and community organizations in southwestern counties can seek funding for conservation, stewardship, trails, waste cleanup, and related environmental projects. Local environmental conservation groups in Pennsylvania can access funding through Colcom Foundation to support advocacy, education and media, youth initiatives, and projects that enhance quality of life and natural resources in the region.

Agricultural producers, forest landowners, Tribes, and water management entities in Pennsylvania can apply for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP support to implement conservation practices on working lands. Funding and technical assistance help improve water and air quality, soil health, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience, benefiting environmental conservation efforts statewide.

Nonprofit organizations in Northampton and Lehigh Counties, Pennsylvania, can seek $1,000 - $10,000 to support children and families through environmental, education, arts, health, and community programs. Just Born prioritizes underprivileged and underrepresented populations and funds initiatives like environmental education, nature-based programming, housing, food access, and workforce development, including projects with diverse leadership.

Environmental and conservation-focused 501(c)(3) public charities in Pennsylvania can apply for Hillman Family Foundations’ Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation support to advance environmental education, stewardship, and related programs. Grants may benefit organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania counties working on conservation or broader environmental initiatives within the foundation’s geographic focus areas.

Environmental conservation nonprofits in Pennsylvania can seek funding for conservation, environmental education, climate change mitigation, and wildfire resiliency projects, primarily in the Pittsburgh region and surrounding counties. With a mission to strengthen conservation and sustainability, Hillman Family Foundations supports 501(c)(3) public charities working on these priorities, with most grants initiated by its program staff and board.

Nonprofits, schools, and local governments in select Pennsylvania watersheds can seek funding for watershed protection and drinking water source conservation projects. Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Essential Utilities Protect Your Drinking Water Grant offers US $2,500 - US $10,000 for efforts like green stormwater infrastructure, streambank stabilization, agricultural best practices, spill prevention, and educational programming in priority source water protection regions.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini-Grant Programs

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and our supporting organization the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) currently administer eight mini-grant programs. Each program is unique with specific goals and objectives but all focus on one or more of the following areas of interest: land and water trails; outdoor recreation; resource protection and conservation; and community engagement.

Protect Your Drinking Water Grant Program

Supported by funding from Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, PEC administers the Protect Your Drinking Water grant program on behalf of and in collaboration with Aqua.

This program provides grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for watershed protection projects that serve to protect the sources of public drinking water by addressing potential sources of contaminants (i.e., excess nutrients, sediment, road salts, pathogens, etc.) to our waterways. Grants may be used for a variety of projects that result in the protection or improvement of the community’s public drinking water supplies, such as green stormwater infrastructure, stream bank stabilization, agricultural best management practices, spill prevention planning, and educational programming.

Proposals selected will improve stream water quality and engage area residents in work to protect our watersheds. Outcomes could include on-the ground projects, as well as the development and delivery of citizen, municipal, and student educational programs.

Funding and Match:

This Essential Foundation provides this program funding. All grants given will require a 20% match of cash, in-kind, or a combination of cash and in-kind donations. 90% of funds awarded will be dispersed up-front and the remaining 10% will be dispersed following the completion of the project report. 

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania working on environmental conservation, community enrichment, or STEM education can access funding through EQT Foundation; awards are approximately US $15,000. Eligible projects include environmental education, community gardens, watershed conservation, green space preservation, and related initiatives in the listed Pennsylvania counties within EQT’s operating footprint.

The Environmental Action: Equitable Access to Land, Water and Air Grants by the Pittsburgh Foundation aim to support community-centered projects that enhance access to natural resources and promote environmental justice. The program prioritizes initiatives that engage local communities in decision-making, address climate change impacts, and improve public health. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $150,000, emphasizing sustainable stewardship and equitable access to greenspaces for underserved populations in Allegheny County and surrounding regions.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in or serving Allegheny County can apply for Pittsburgh Foundation grants supporting environmental action, basic needs, equity and social justice, arts and culture, and economic mobility. Awards range from US $10,000 - US $150,000 for project/program or general operating support, which may benefit Pennsylvania environmental conservation efforts.

Nonprofit conservation and community organizations, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and agencies in Pennsylvania and other Appalachian states can apply for The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Appalachians grants, offering up to US $100,000 for fee or easement land acquisition. Funding covers capital, project development, stewardship, legal defense, and community engagement that delivers equitable conservation benefits.

Municipalities, municipal agencies, pre-qualified land trusts, eligible nonprofits, and some for-profit enterprises in Pennsylvania can obtain funding for ATV and snowmobile trail planning, land acquisition, development, rehabilitation, maintenance, equipment, and safety education programs; awards range from US $25,000 - US $1,000,000. With a mission to conserve natural resources, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources provides support for outdoor recreation and environmental conservation projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, municipalities, counties, and educational institutions in Pennsylvania can receive US $2,000 - US $10,000 to support environmental conservation and natural resource projects. Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Pocono Forests & Waters mini-grants fund conservation, community, and connection efforts in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties, with a 20% match required.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages, protects and promotes agriculture and related industries throughout the commonwealth while providing consumer protection through inspection services that impact the health and financial security of Pennsylvania's citizens.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture exists to ensure a vibrant economy, a successful future for Pennsylvania agriculture, and to safeguard the public through: Targeted investments to grow opportunities and remove barriers; Protecting human, animal, environmental, and plant health through regulatory oversight; Promotion of and education about Pennsylvania’s agriculture products and sectors; Conserving farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of Pennsylvania

Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Program

The Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Program was created by state law, and up to $1 million in funding may be allocated annually by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to the program for the purposes of increasing the production of Pennsylvania-made malt and brewed beverages and enhancing the Pennsylvania malt and brewed beverage industries through promotion, marketing, and research-based programs and projects. The Program is administered by five Board members who are appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly. The Board meets throughout the year to solicit, evaluate and recommend projects to the PLCB for funding.

Environmental organizations, businesses, projects, and individuals in northeastern Pennsylvania working on conservation and resource protection can receive recognition through the Northeast Environmental Partnership Awards, a non-monetary program. Pennsylvania Environmental Council honors outstanding environmental partnerships and leadership, which may benefit Pennsylvania environmental conservation groups seeking visibility and acknowledgment for their work.

Nonprofits, municipalities, and eligible public entities in Pennsylvania can seek US $2,500 - US $25,000 for public-facing projects that enhance habitat, trail connectivity, river access, or ecosystem health in the Susquehanna Riverlands. Weconservepa supports conservation efforts in Lancaster and York counties that protect land, steward natural resources, and engage local communities.

Local governments, educational institutions, public authorities, and incorporated nonprofits in Pennsylvania can seek funding for coastal planning, restoration, access, and construction projects within designated coastal zones, with awards up to US $75,000. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection supports environmental conservation through projects addressing coastal hazards, polluted runoff, wetlands, fisheries, public access, and related coastal resource management priorities.