Grants Database

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rolling admission, must be LTA-accredited to apply. Proposed project acres must total 500 or more acres, but may be aggregated with multiple non-adjacent parcels. Adjacent lands are preferred. Awards will be up to $100,000 in funding for existing fee lands and up to $250,000 to support new land acquisitions, all of which will be permanently protected with a forever-wild easement. The funds may be used for: staff time; stewardship endowment; forever-wild land acquisition; and transaction costs associated with the Wildlands Partnership project. (Funds may not be applied to cover legal fees.)

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.

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.

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.

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.