Grants Database

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:

    Tue, Dec 31 2024

    Geographic Eligibility:

    Subregion of Massachusetts

    Grant Name:

    Spark Good Local Grants

    Grant Administrator:

    Walmart Org

    Program Category:

    Climate Mitigation & Resiliency, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration, Operations & Capacity Building, Outreach & Education Programs

    Applicant Type:

    Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Other Non-Profit

    Funder Type:

    Private & Corporate Foundations

    Max Award:

    $5,000

    Match Required?:

    No

    Summary:

     Walmart's Spark Good Local Grants Program awards cash grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations operating locally and directly benefiting the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding. Funds range from $250 to $5,000 designed to address the unique needs of the communities where they operate. 

    Details:

    Learn more

  • Application Deadline:

    Thu, Jan 9 2025

    Geographic Eligibility:

    Statewide

    Grant Name:

    Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants

    Grant Administrator:

    EEOA

    Program Category:

    Land Acquisition

    Applicant Type:

    Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, State Agency, Tribal

    Funder Type:

    Federal

    Max Award:

    $1,000,000

    Match Required?:

    No

    Summary:

    The LWCF Grant Program is for state agencies, municipalities, or federally recognized tribes to support the acquisition of parkland, development of new parks, renovations to existing parks, development of trails in existing conservation and recreation areas, or the acquisition of conservation land.

    Details:

    Learn more

  • Application Deadline:

    Mon, Jan 13 2025

    Geographic Eligibility:

    Statewide

    Grant Name:

    Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program

    Grant Administrator:

    USDA Forest Service

    Program Category:

    Land Acquisition, Land or Habitat Management & Restoration

    Applicant Type:

    Land Trust or Conservation Organization, Municipality, Town, or Local Govt, Tribal

    Funder Type:

    Federal

    Max Award:

    $600,000

    Match Required?:

    Yes

    Summary:

    The USDA's Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provides financial assistance to Indian Tribes, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to acquire and establish community forests that provide community benefits including public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs. Public access is required for all projects.  

    Details:

    Learn more

  • Application Deadline:

    Sat, Mar 1 2025

    Geographic Eligibility:

    Statewide

    Grant Name:

    Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative

    Grant Administrator:

    CornellLab

    Program Category:

    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:

    $25,000

    Match Required?:

    No

    Summary:

    Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative provides funds for accredited land trusts to contribute to bird conservation on private lands through activities such asstrategic planning, outreach, habitat management, stewardship, bird monitoring, eBird use, capacity building, and land or easement prioritization.

    Details:

    Learn more

  • 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:

    Learn more

  • 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:

    Learn more

  • 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:

    See details

    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:

    Learn more