Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Grants
Application deadline: Thursday, November 30
This USDA Forest Service program encourages collaborative, science-based, high-impact restoration of priority forest landscapes. Project examples include water quality and watershed health improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, and community tree planting projects in communities with a population of less than 50,000. Learn more.
NEW! Merrimack Conservation Partnership Land Conservation Grants
Application deadline: Friday, December 1
Land Conservation Grants underwrite transaction costs—appraisals, surveys, title research, staff time, etc.—on conservation projects that protect land identified as a priority in the Merrimack Valley Regional Conservation Plan (2014). Projects must be located in these towns to be eligible for funding. Learn more and apply. The grant program is privately funded and administered by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests on behalf of the Merrimack Conservation Partnership.
NEW! Watershed Collaboration Funding Workshop
Tuesday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. via Zoom
Sponsored by Mass ECAN (Ecosystem Climate Adaptation Network), this workshop will explore the needs and opportunities related to funding for the facilitation, relationship building, and collaborative capacity that makes these partnerships a success. Register.
Forest Legacy Program
Application deadline: Monday, December 11
This program is to identify and conserve environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, and to provide economic incentives to landowners to keep their forest as forests. Landowners may participate by either selling their property outright, or by retaining ownership and selling only a portion of the property’s development rights. Learn more.
Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) Action Grants
Expression of Interest (EOI) Form deadline: Friday, December 15
Through this form, potential applicants provide basic information about their project idea. MVP staff will then provide feedback prior to the Request for Responses (RFR) release date. Submission of an EOI for a project is not mandatory in order to submit an application once the RFR comes out (tentatively mid-March 2024), but is encouraged. Submit a form.
NEW! LSP (Licensed Site Professionals) Association Grants
Application deadline: Friday, December 15
This pilot grant program supports local environment and natural resource projects that benefit Massachusetts communities with Environmental Justice (EJ) populations. The focus is on implementing community-driven projects that provide a better understanding of local environmental and public health issues, and assist communities in developing strategies for addressing those issues. $7,500 remains to be awarded in the Southeast Region of the state and $6,000 to be awarded in the Central Region. Learn more and apply.
Funding for MA Forest Landowners to Improve Native Wildlife Habitat
Application deadline: Friday, January 5 (also March 8 or May 10)
Offered through the Massachusetts Collaborative for Private Forestland – Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), this funding focuses on improving and protecting wildlife habitat on private forest land in the Massachusetts. Eligible landowners must own forestland in Massachusetts that is at least 10 acres. Applications received by January 5 (or March 8 or May 10) will be ranked and considered for funding in fiscal year 2024. Learn more.
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants (LWCF)
Application deadline: Thursday, January 11
These grants provide financial assistance to municipalities and the state's Departments of Conservation and Recreation and Fish and Game for the acquisition of parkland, development of a new park, renovation of an existing park, development of trails in an existing conservation or recreation area, or the acquisition of conservation land. Grant limit: up to $1,000,000. Learn more and apply.
Community Forest Program Grants
Application deadline: Friday, January 12
This program provides financial assistance to establish community forests by protecting forest land from conversion to non-forest uses through fee simple acquisition of private forest land. Public access is required for all projects. Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their appropriate Forest Service Region/Institute contact during the application process before submission. Learn more. View the RFP.
NEW! MassTrails Grants
Application deadline: Thursday, February 1
These grants provide funding and technical expertise for project development, design, engineering, permitting, construction, maintenance of recreational trails, shared-use pathways, and the amenities that support trails. These are reimbursement grants with a match requirement. Learn more and apply.
NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) Program
Application deadline: Monday, February 5
CAP is an applied research and engagement program which supports sustained, collaborative relationships that help communities build lasting and equitable climate resilience. It seeks to support new creative, solution-oriented approaches that are both responsive to communities and that integrate across silos of scientific knowledge and expertise. Funded by five-year cooperative agreements. Info sheet. Learn more.
Cornell Land Trust Small Grant RFP Opens in January
Application deadline: Friday, March 1
Cornell Lab’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative grant program will award around $230,000 to as many as 14 projects in two categories: Capacity and Partnership Projects – up to 6 grants of $5,000 each, and Management and Restoration Projects – 8 grants of $25,000 each. Funds to be dispersed in late May. Learn more.
Innovation and Capacity-Building Grants
Application deadline: rolling through Wednesday, April 3
These grants, part of the EmPower Program of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, provide seed funding for the exploration of innovative ideas for potential program models or projects that will provide access to the benefits of clean energy, or reduce energy burden for previously underserved or vulnerable populations in the state. RFP. Learn more.
NEW! Solar Moonshot Program
This program helps non-profits afford the switch to clean energy. Grant priority is given to solar projects that have additional funding sources and community support. Grants are typically awarded up to $25,000, with grant amounts dependent on various factors, including the organization’s need for funding. The program is managed by Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation, and grants are funded by generous philanthropists and foundations. Questions? Contact solarmoonshot@hcs.foundation. Learn more and apply.
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Partnership Grants
Application deadline: accepted on a rolling basis starting October 1 until funding is exhausted
This program serves as a catalyst for new, creative programs and projects within 45 communities of the Heritage Area. Reimbursable matching grants are offered in support of the goals and objectives outlined in the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Management Plan and summarized as: Inclusive Storytelling; Education, Interpretation & Curation; Community Planning & Resource Conservation; Historic Preservation; and Regional Cultural Events. Funding ranges from $1000 to $7500. Discussion of your proposal with a grant specialist before applying is highly recommended. Learn more here and here.
Land Conservation Networking Mini Grants
Applications accepted on a rolling basis, but applying in the fall is recommended
Projects must be complete by April 15, 2024
Recognizing that many land conservation projects require partnerships among community leaders and other conservation partners, this mini grant program focuses on creating intentional opportunities for networking and relationship building. The ideal proposal will bring together people from a shared geography to build or strengthen relationships in service of community conservation. Learn more.
Neighborhood Outreach Project
Applications accepted on a rolling basis, but applying in the fall is recommended
Landowner decisions are often informed by advice and stories of friends and neighbors. The goal of this grant is to use neighborhood-scale social networks to help inform landowner decisions about the future of their land. Past projects include direct mailings to high-priority landowners, videos, workshops, potlucks, site visits, and individualized follow-up with interested landowners. Learn more and apply.
Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Participation
Application deadline: reviewed quarterly, with final deadline Wednesday, August 21, 2024
These grants, funded by the US Forest Service, support the participation of underserved or small-acreage forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience. Learn more and apply.