Funding Opportunities Newsletter
December 2023 & January 2024

Upcoming Grants

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (Part B): Conservative Planning Assistance Grants (due December 13) are intended to support the development of new, or the renewal or amendment of existing, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), safe harbor agreements (SHAs), and candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs).
• The CA Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Outdoor Equity Grants Program (due December 14) provides funding for transportation, logistics, program operations, and capacity costs associated with helping historically underserved urban and rural communities participate in outdoor experiences.
• The US Forest Service (USFS) Wood Innovation Grant Program (due December 15) stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood-product markets and wood-energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands through a focus on mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development.
• The USFS Community Wood Grant Program (due December 15) provides funding to install thermally led community wood-energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities.
• The USFS Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Federally Recognized Tribes (due December 15) funds collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes on tribal lands.
• The CA State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Nonpoint Source Grant Program (due December 15) funds projects that reduce runoff of pollution in priority watersheds, such as improvement or decommissioning of dirt roads or streambank stabilization to reduce erosion and sediment runoff.
• The US FWS Recovery Challenge Fund Grants (due December 19) provide financial assistance for non-federal partners working on high-priority-recovery actions as identified by the Fish & Wildlife Service for ESA endangered and threatened species.
• The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Economic Development Grant and Loan Programs (due December 31) are designed to support projects that promote rural economic development and job creation.
• The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Inc. Office of Indian Economic Development NATIVE Act Capacity Building Grants (due January 2) provide capacity-building awards to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to enhance cultural tourism efforts and provide economic and cultural benefits.
• The US Corporation for National Service AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants Program (due January 4) supports the development of AmeriCorps programs focused on community-service priorities, one of which is environmental stewardship.
• The UC SAREP Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Small Grants Program (due January 9) supports California’s farmers, ranchers, and lands stewards that are implementing or transitioning to food and farming systems that: increase resilience through diversified production, marketing, and distribution systems; contribute to the health and vitality of rural and tribal communities; are environmentally regenerative; and are culturally responsive and reflect the diversity of California. 
• The CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant Program (due January 10, 2024) funds projects in and near fire-threatened communities to improve public health and safety, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The USFS Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (due January 12) supports the establishment of community forests through fee-simple acquisition of private forest land to protect it from conversion to non-forest uses and allows it to provide community benefits.
• The USDA Food and Nutrition Service Farm to School Grant Program (due January 12) helps increase the availability of local foods in schools and helps connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals.
• The CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant Program (due January 15) funds landscape-scale, land-management projects that restore forest health and disaster resilience, protect upper watersheds, and promote long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils through reforestation and reduction of forest overcrowding and pests.
• American Trails, The Trail Capacity Program (due January 15) provides modest funding for trail maintenance, research, and stewardship training.
• The National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program (due January 16) funds projects on US National Forests and Grasslands or adjacent public lands, which focus on in-person community engagement, include stewardship activities, and aim to inspire lasting change.
• The Roy A. Hunt Foundation: Community Farming Giving Circle Program (Letters of Inquiry due January 17) improves access to local, organic, and regenerative food, and invests in farmers that are dedicated to their local communities by supporting holistic health and connecting people with the land.
• The Council of Western State Foresters Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program (due January 18) mitigates risk from wildland fire within the WUI through hazard-fuel reduction, information and education, assessment and planning, and monitoring through community and landowner action.
• The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Duck Stamp Project Grants (due January 22) support projects that protect, preserve, restore, enhance, and develop migratory waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat; evaluate habitat projects; and conduct waterfowl resource assessments and research.
• The American Alpine Club Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Awards (due January 31) provide funding for search and rescue groups’ critical needs and to promote a “Rescue of the Year” award.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Wildlife Habitat Council: Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program (due January 31) supports diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds, and the species and habitats they support.
• The CA DPR Boating Launching Facilities Grant (due February 1) funds facilities, such as boat-launching ramps, boarding floats, associated parking areas, restrooms, and lighting for motorized and non-motorized boating.
• National Park Trust: Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program (due February 2) provides funding for students to participate in park-themed educational activities and stewardship activities through the Kids to Parks Day, which is May 18.
• The CA Strategic Growth Council Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program (due February 5) provides funding and technical assistance to California Native American tribes to build staff capacity to advance tribes’ climate-related work.
• The National Park Service Rivers and Trails Assistance Program (due March 1) provides technical assistance by conservation and recreation-planning professionals to help local communities realize their conservation and outdoor-recreation visions and goals.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sacramento District California In-Lieu Fee Program (rolling) provides funding for on-the-ground implementation of aquatic-resource restoration, establishment, enhancement, and/or preservation projects in specific Sierra Nevada watersheds. Contact Chris Gurney for the most recent Notice of Funding Availability.
• The National Park Service 21st Century Conservation Service Corps & Civilian Climate Corps Program – National Youth Cooperative Agreements (rolling) develops collaborative partnerships with nonprofit youth-serving organizations to support employment and education programs in national parks and affiliated sites, such as National Heritage Areas, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Historic Landmarks, National Trails, and adjacent gateway communities.
• The USDA Forest Landowner Support: Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets Grant Program – Track B (rolling) supports the participation of underserved and/or small-acreage landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience. Track B is for projects with budgets up to $2 million.
• The Hind Foundation Standard Grants Program (rolling) supports community-based projects proposed by nonprofit organizations in several areas, including plant and wildlife protection, historic landmark restoration, and ecosystem conservation.
• The Headwater Economics Community Planning and Assistance for Wildfires (CPAW) Program (rolling) provides interdisciplinary teams that collaborate with communities to develop site-specific planning recommendations regarding wildfire risks.
• The CA Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (rolling) funds projects that provide climate adaptation and resilience on California’s natural and working lands.
• The CA WCB 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 WCB Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Program (rolling) supports habitat-restoration projects throughout the state, including planning, restoration-project implementation, acquisition, and scientific studies.
• US FWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (rolling) provides free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat-restoration projects.
• The Boat US Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water: Grassroots Grants Program (rolling) helps nonprofit organizations implement creative and innovative projects that promote safe and clean boating on local waterways.
• The CA Division of Boating and Waterways Sewer Management Operation and Maintenance Grant (rolling) supports the costs of pumpout parts and labor to maintain existing pumpout and dump stations at public and private marina facilities on California’s waterways.
• The USDA Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program (rolling) provides technical and financial assistance to plan and implement authorized watershed project plans for the purposes of flood prevention, watershed protection, public recreation, etc.