This database includes grants available to support a range of land conservation activities in Massachusetts, including land acquisition, habitat management, education and outreach, and organizational operations and capacity building.
This tool only displays grants with upcoming deadlines. Grants offered on an annual basis are not included until the next deadline has been announced. Grants are displayed in order by nearest application deadline. Filtering by Applicant Type or Program Category will limit results to applicable grants.
The database includes all grants MLTC has heard about, but we may have missed some. For lists compiled by others, visit Other Funding Resources page.
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Grant Administrator:
USDA
Program Category:
Land Acquisition, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, State Agency, Tribal
Funder Type:
Federal
Max Award:
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Geographic Eligibility:
Subregion of Massachusetts
Grant Name:
Land-Trust Capacity Building Grants
Grant Administrator:
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Program Category:
Operations & Capacity Building
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization
Funder Type:
Non-Profit Org (i.e., cultural council, LTA, OSI)
Max Award:
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
The Land Trust Capacity-Building Grant Program is invitation only, and will provide up to two years of support to the 22 land trusts serving Worcester County by investing in activities that will strengthen the capacity of land trusts to do their work, including strategic planning, volunteer management, grant navigation, project management, leadership development, and scaling internal systems.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Geographic Eligibility:
Subregion of Massachusetts
Grant Name:
Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) Program
Grant Administrator:
University of Connecticut/EPA
Program Category:
Operations & Capacity Building
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Other Non-Profit
Funder Type:
Federal
Max Award:
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
TCTAC supports underserved and rural/remote communities in EPA Region 1 as a resource and technical assistance hub. They provide training and assistance to help organizations navigate federal and local grant systems, develop strong proposals, and manage grant funding effectively.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Coldwater Land Conservancy Fund
Grant Administrator:
National Office of Trout Unlimited
Program Category:
Land Acquisition, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization
Funder Type:
Non-Profit Org (i.e., cultural council, LTA, OSI)
Max Award:
$5,000
Match Required?:
Applicants must match grant on a one-to-one basis
Summary:
The Coldwater Land Conservancy Fund provides grants for land protection projects that result in conservation easements or land trust or agency acquisition of important properties that protect salmon habitat. Funds will be awarded to TU Chapters and Councils in partnership with land trusts and conservation agencies to support land protection project expenses.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Conservation Loans Program
Grant Administrator:
The Conservation Fund
Program Category:
Land Acquisition
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, Other Non-Profit, Tribal
Funder Type:
Non-Profit Org (i.e., cultural council, LTA, OSI)
Max Award:
$1,000,000
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
The Conservation Fund’s Conservation Loans program enables land trusts and other conservation organizations to act quickly to protect key properties in their communities by providing low-interest, short-term loans as bridge financing. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at any time of year.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling until Mon, Mar 31 2025
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program
Grant Administrator:
EOEEA
Program Category:
Land Acquisition, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration
Applicant Type:
Farm, Co-op, Food, or Agriculture, Land Trust or Conservation Organization
Funder Type:
State
Max Award:
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
The APR Program helps Landowners with at least five acres of land with suitable soils in agricultural production for the last two years to preserve agricultural land to keep farmland soil from being built on by development companies for non-agricultural purposes. The program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the "fair market value" and the "agricultural value" of their farms in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which prevents any use of the property that will negatively impact its future agricultural viability.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling until Tue, Apr 1 2025
Geographic Eligibility:
Subregion of Massachusetts
Grant Name:
Partnership Grants
Grant Administrator:
Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area
Program Category:
Land or Habitat Management & Restoration, Outreach & Education Programs
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, Other Non-Profit, State Agency
Funder Type:
Non-Profit Org (i.e., cultural council, LTA, OSI)
Max Award:
$7,500
Match Required?:
2:1 match. See guidelines for details.
Summary:
These reimbursable matching grants have a rolling application deadline, which starts on October 1. Freedom's Way welcomes calls before submitting an application. See info page for details. Grants support of the goals and objectives outlined in the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Management Plan and are summarized as: Inclusive Storytelling; Education, Interpretation & Curation; Community Planning & Resource Conservation; Historic Preservation; and Regional Cultural Events.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling until Fri, Apr 11 2025
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Land Conservation Assistance Program
Grant Administrator:
EOEEA
Program Category:
Land Acquisition, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration
Applicant Type:
Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, Tribal
Funder Type:
State
Max Award:
$50,000
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affair's Division of Conservation Land Services' Land Conservation Assistance Grants are for municipalities, 501(c)(3) land trust organizations, tribal governments, conservation districts, water/fire districts, and public water suppliers to support property transactions that will result in the permanent protection of land. Funds can be used to develop or update a municipal Open Space and Recreation Plan, or plan for the development or renovation of a park.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Rolling until Tue, Apr 15 2025
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Farm-Pass: Farm Transfer Planning Assistance Program
Grant Administrator:
MDAR
Program Category:
Land Acquisition
Applicant Type:
Farm, Co-op, Food, or Agriculture
Funder Type:
State
Max Award:
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
MDAR's Farm-Pass Farm Transfer Plan Assistance provides direct services for owners of commercial farms in Massachusetts that have identified a successor to transfer the farm to and are seeking assistance to develop a farm transfer plan. Support includes assistance from a technical service provider to help with the development of the plan.
Details:
Application Deadline:
Thu, Oct 30 2025
Geographic Eligibility:
Statewide
Grant Name:
Energize the Environment Grants
Grant Administrator:
Quadratec, Inc.
Program Category:
Land or Habitat Management & Restoration, Outreach & Education Programs
Applicant Type:
Farm, Co-op, Food, or Agriculture, Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, Other Non-Profit, Tribal
Funder Type:
Private & Corporate Foundations
Max Award:
$3,500
Match Required?:
No
Summary:
Quadratec’s Energize the Environment Grant supports community-driven projects that enhance local ecosystems through trail restoration, park improvement, litter prevention, and environmental education initiatives that promote sustainability and outdoor stewardship.
Details: