California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP)

California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) is sponsored by CAL FIRE. CFIP provides technical and cost-share financial assistance to eligible private forest landowners for planning, reforestation, and resource management. It supports efforts to bring overgrown forests into a healthier state, increasing fire resiliency.

California Forest Improvement Program - California Grants Portal The purpose of the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) is to encourage private and public investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources, to ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other economic benefits, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations.

The program scope includes the improvement of all forest resources including fish and wildlife habitat, and soil and water quality. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land.

Cost-shared activities include: Preparation of a Forest Management Plan by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and RPF Supervision of the following: Reforestation, Site Preparation, Trees and Planting, Tree Shelters, Stand Improvement, Pre-commercial Thinning or Release, Pruning, Follow-up (includes mechanical, herbicide and/or slash disposal follow-up), Forestland conservation practices / fish and wildlife habitat improvement Broadcast/controlled/cultural burning is not eligible for CFIP cost share.

Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forestland but not more than 5,000 acres of forestland in California. The 20-acre minimum does not apply to forestland zoned timber production zone. Forestland means land at least 10 percent occupied by trees of any size that are native to California.

Developed areas such as structures, landscaping, and gardens shall not be excluded from the 20-acre minimum property size and shall be included. Matching Funding Requirement: CFIP provides reimbursement at either an 80% or 90% cost-share rate. Landowners with less than 500 acres receive 90% funding.

Landowners with 500 acres or more receive either 80% or 90% funding depending on the nature of their project. Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.

Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given.

Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts.

Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.

Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. Funding differs annually depending on the states annual budget allocation.

The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. CFIP receives funding from a variety of other State and Federal sources.

The highest ranked CFIP projects/applications will be selected for funding in each application period, about every 3 months. Program established by the 1978 California Forest Improvement Act. The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee.

Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). Advances & Reimbursement(s) State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying. For questions about this grant, contact: 1-530-723-3651, cfip@fire.

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gov Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program FR92 More Details about Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program FR92 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants Solicitation 2026 More Details about Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants Solicitation 2026 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 2026 Wildfire Resilience Block Grants More Details about 2026 Wildfire Resilience Block Grants CA Department of Food and Agriculture More Details about 2026 Dairy Plus Program Change Notes: 12/09/2025, 12:23pm Updated primary contact information, dates and deadlines.

Funding Source Notes updated. Solicitations have switched from every two months to every three months. Matched Funding Percentage updated.

Matching fund percentage decreased from 25% to 20%. Matched Funding Notes updated. Cost-share rate increased 5%.

Projects will receive either an 80% or a 90% cost share. Performance period and award announcement date ranges extended from 06/30/2027 to 06/30/2028.