Funding Opportunities Newsletter
December 2025 & January 2026

Upcoming Grants

• The US Department of Agriculture: Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program (due December 5) increases the availability of local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operations and connects students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for CNP meals.
• The National Association of Conservation Districts Technical Assistance Grant Program (due December 11) supports boots-on-the-ground assistance by conservation districts to help producers develop conservation plans, implement practices, and access funding and assistance programs through strengthening the technical skills of conservation district staff.
• The Temper of the Times Foundation Grants (due December 15) support media campaigns and other efforts to communicate about conservation and restoration initiatives and actions.
• The California State Water Resources Control Board Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program (due December 19) funds projects that reduce nonpoint source impacts to waterways, including from livestock, road sedimentation, and stream erosion.
• The California Volunteers Youth Service Corps: Competitive Program (due December 19) supports eligible cities and counties to recruit, train, and place high-need, low-income, former foster, justice-involved and unemployed youth (ages 16-30) at positions in a new or existing youth workforce development program to address key areas of education, food insecurity, climate, and public service.
• The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative (Letters of Inquiry due January 1, 2026) supports organizations that work in forested landscapes to enhance the environment, economy, and community and implement integrated approaches to enhance market valuation of forest-ecosystem services.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Healthy American Forests Initiative (due January 13, 2026) supports watershed restoration and vegetation-management projects on National Forest System lands to achieve healthy forest ecosystems.
• The Strategic Growth Council Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation: Agricultural Acquisition Conservation Grants Program (due January 15, 2026) protects agricultural lands from conversation 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 National Forest Foundation Matching Award Program: Connecting People to Forests (due January 22, 2026) 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, 2026) 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, 2026) 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, 2026) 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, 2026) 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 implementation of tribal solid and hazardous waste programs.
• The Climate Smart Communities Initiative Climate Resilience Project Grants (due March 12, 2026) 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 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.
• The 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.
• 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 on 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 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.