Funding Opportunities Newsletter
January & February 2026

Upcoming Grants

• The Strategic Growth Council Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation: Agricultural Acquisition Conservation Grants Program (due January 15) protects agricultural lands from conversion to more GHG-intensive uses, including both cultivated and non-cultivated lands, such as lands where traditional foods, medicines, fibers, etc. are gathered by California Native American tribes.
• The Strategic Growth Council Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation: Agricultural Conservation Planning Grants (pre-proposals due January 15) support a wide range of planning activities related to the protection of agricultural lands under pressure of being converted to non-agricultural uses.
• The National Forest Foundation Matching Award Program: Connecting People to Forests (due January 22) supports projects that are focused on in-person community engagement and completion of appropriate stewardship activities to create lasting change on National Forest lands or adjacent public lands.
• The US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grants (due January 28) provide funding for assessment and remediation of sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, and petroleum.
• The Water for Wildlife Foundation Grants (due January 31) support the conservation of wildlife through the development of supplemental water/habitat resources.
• The Indigenous Stewardship Network’s Rekindling Fire and Culture Grant Program (due February 2) supports capacity-building for cultural fire or Indigenous-led fire in California.
• The US Environmental Protection Agency Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (due February 6) assists tribal governments and intertribal consortia in planning, developing, establishing, and maintaining the capacity to implement federal environmental programs administered by the funding agency, and to assist in the implementation of tribal solid and hazardous waste programs.
• The Polaris Trails Grant Program (due March 1) supports trail preservation, promotes safe and responsible riding, and helps protect the environment and natural resources that are a part of the off-road trail systems.
• The Clif Family Foundation Open Call Grants Program (due March 1) provides operational and project funding in several areas, including regenerative and organic farming, climate justice, healthy food access, and inclusive outdoor access.
• The Climate Smart Communities Initiative: Climate Resilience Project Grants (due March 12) fund project teams consisting of a local or regional government entity and a community-based organization to advance community-based climate resilience in communities or regions that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
• The International Mountain Biking Association Trail Accelerator Grants (due March 15) help accelerate the pace of mountain bike trail building by providing a jump-start to communities that have the interest and political support to develop trail systems but need assistance to get projects up and running. Rather than providing monetary awards, this program provides in-kind professional services, including professional trail planning and consultation services, valued between $10,000 and $30,000.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Healthy American Forests Initiativem (due March 17) supports watershed restoration and vegetation-management projects on National Forest System lands to achieve healthy forest ecosystems.
• The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant Program (reviewed quarterly, submit request at the beginning of the quarter) provides lifesaving equipment and prevention education tools to first responders and public safety organizations.
• TThe First Nations Development Institute – Community Navigator Project (rolling) provides up to $50,000 to eligible tribes and Native-led organizations to cover costs associated with building capacity such as strategic planning, feasibility assessments, grant writing, project and grant management training, development of conservation strategies, etc.
• The CA Department of Parks and Recreation Clean Vessel Act: Pumpout Dump Station Installation Program (rolling) provides funding for the installation of Pumpout and Dump stations on public and private property.
• The CA Department of Parks and Recreation Boat Launching Facilities Grant (rolling) supports the development and improvement of public motorized and non-motorized boat launching facilities, including parking lots and restrooms.
• The Hind Foundation Standard Grants Program (rolling) supports community-based projects proposed by nonprofit organizations that are at least three years old and have visible impacts in California. Areas of funding include ecosystem conservation, historical landmark restoration, plant and wildlife protection, and land conservation.

• The Groundwork USA: Nonprofit Brownfield Technical Assistance Program (rolling) supports community-led brownfield and land-reuse efforts through working with nonprofit organizations to advance equitable brownfield projects that transform underutilized spaces into parks, trails, urban farms, and other community assets.

  Note on Wildlife Conservation Board Grants: Because of issues with review of the Wildlife Conservation Board Proposition 4 Grant Application Materials, new pre-applications are not currently being accepted. This is a temporary situation, so check on the Wildlife Conservation Board’s Grants Page to see the current status.

• The CA Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Wildlife Conservation Board California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program (rolling) supports riparian restoration projects that further biodiversity, promote climate resilience, or help achieve other state priorities.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Proposition 1 Streamflow Enhancement Program (rolling) supports projects that enhance stream flows with the focus on streams that support anadromous fish; support special-status, threatened, endangered, or at-risk species; or provide resilience to climate change.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Forest Conservation Program (rolling) advances the protection, restoration, and improvement of upper watershed lands in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains, including forest lands, meadows, wetlands, chaparral, and riparian habitat, in order to protect and improve water supply and water quality, improve forest health, reduce wildfire danger, mitigate the effects of wildfires on water quality and supply, increase flood protection, or protect or restore riparian or aquatic resources.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (rolling) funds projects that provide climate adaptation and resilience within California’s natural and working lands.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Oak Woodlands Conservation Program (rolling) provides a mechanism to bring ranchers and conservationists together in a manner that allows both to achieve sustainable ranch and farming operations and healthy oak woodlands.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Public Access Program (rolling) supports projects focused on the protection and development of public access areas and the promotion of hunting and fishing opportunities.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Oak Woodlands Conservation Program (rolling) provides a mechanism to bring ranchers and conservationists together in a manner that allows both to achieve sustainable ranch and farming operations and healthy oak woodlands.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Public Access Program (rolling) supports projects focused on the protection and development of public access areas and the promotion of hunting and fishing opportunities.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board Land Acquisition Program (rolling) supports the acquisition of real property or rights in real property through conservation easements, water rights, and fee purchases where the acquisition will contribute to state priorities, such as protecting biodiversity, increasing climate resilience, providing access for all, expanding nature-based climate solutions, and conserving 30 percent of California’s lands by 2030.
• The CA Department of Conservation California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP): Land Improvement Projects and Agricultural Conservation Easement Grants (rolling) support the voluntary acquisition of conservation easements and restoration of and improvements to agricultural land.
• The US Department of Agriculture Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program(rolling until funds depleted) provides loan guarantees to establish, reopen, expand, or improve sawmills and other wood-processing facilities.
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program (rolling) provides technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic connectivity, improve community safety, and support local economies.
• The US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program (rolling) provides technical and financial assistance to support the planning and implementation of authorized watershed projects for the purpose of watershed protection, flood prevention, public recreation, etc.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, through the CA Office of Emergency Services (rolling) provides support for communities to implement mitigation activities to reduce risk to life and property from natural hazards. Federal funding is distributed through the state periodically, and Notices of Interest are accepted on an ongoing basis.