1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is sponsored by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and McDonald's USA (with key beef and beverage suppliers) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This initiative aims to invest in grassland conservation efforts across the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast, and Southeast, benefiting cattle ranching communities and wildlife.
Get a weekly digest of new grants like this
A free weekly digest of new foundation and federal funding opportunities as they're added to Granted. Unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
First Projects from Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative Generate Nearly $42 Million to Support Wildlife and Regenerative Agriculture | NFWF First Projects from Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative Generate Nearly $42 Million to Support Wildlife and Regenerative Agriculture Six initial grantees selected for the newly formed Initiative, helping beef ranchers support wildlife, improve soil health, and conserve water Short duration high intensity grazing on restored grasslands in Montana.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (April 7, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced an initial award of $32.
8 million in grants under the new Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative , supported by funding from McDonald’s USA, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and several key McDonald’s USA beef and beverage suppliers.
Nearly $42 million in total conservation impact will be generated through this first round of awards from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative , achieved by leveraging an additional $9. 1 million in matching contributions from grantees. This initial investment will advance voluntary conservation practices benefiting both wildlife and ranchers across nearly 2.
5 million acres of U.S. grasslands. Launched in 2025, this landmark seven-year initiative aims to invest more than $200 million to benefit America’s iconic grasslands, cattle ranching communities and wildlife populations that depend on healthy soils, productive habitats and plentiful water.
Through this initiative, grants will promote and accelerate wildlife conservation efforts across 4 million acres of grazing lands within the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast and Southeast.
The six grants announced today to American Bird Conservancy , American Farmland Trust , Mule Deer Foundation , National Audubon Society , Sand County Foundation , and University of Missouri are the first to be awarded through this historic investment.
These initial six grantees are expected to work with more than 750 private cattle ranch operations across 26 states to implement conservation activities including: Developing and implementing improved grazing management plans Installing grazing infrastructure such as wildlife-friendly fencing and watering systems Restoring grasslands through reseeding of native plants, prescribed burning and removal of invasive vegetation Conserving water and recharging aquifers by improving water control structures and restoring wet meadows and streambanks Such conservation practices are designed to support ranchers in sustaining healthy, resilient cattle herds while also providing the diversity of high-quality habitats needed by wildlife species that depend on healthy grasslands.
Many participating ranchers will build on their existing efforts and achieve meaningful gains in operational efficiencies made possible through the financial and technical support offered by the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative. “Today is a great day for America’s wildlife, its ranching communities and its beef supply chain,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.
“This first round of grants from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative shows what can happen when corporations, federal agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners join forces to support both wildlife conservation and economic prosperity. This initiative is just getting started. We are confident it will play a leading role in grasslands conservation across the nation for years to come.
” McDonald’s USA suppliers participating in the initiative include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company. On behalf of McDonald’s USA, Cultivo (now integrating Kateri) and Carbon Yield will provide independent monitoring and quantification of any improvements to soil health. In its role within the initiative, NFWF will manage and invest funding to advance voluntary conservation efforts by ranchers.
NFWF collaborates with NRCS and other funding partners across America’s grasslands to identify impactful, landscape-scale projects that will generate the greatest possible benefits to both wildlife populations and the productivity of vital U.S. ranch lands. Ranchers interested in participating are encouraged to reach out directly to grantees.
Contact information can be found here , and a detailed list of the grants announced today is available here . About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation.
Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion. Learn more at nfwf. org .
About the Natural Resources Conservation Service For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture.
NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs. usda.
gov . Caitlin Luby, Public Communications Inc., cluby@pcipr. com
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Ranching operations and landowners involved in grassland conservation. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and McDonald's USA (with key beef and beverage suppliers) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds wetland and migratory-bird habitat through two tracks — U.S. Small Grants (up to $250,000, closing June 25, 2026) and the larger U.S. Standard Grants. Both require a 1:1 non-federal match, and that match is where most applications are won or lost. Here is how the program works, who is eligible, and why land trusts and Tribes should care.
Read articleThe FWS Coastal Program (F26AS00069) and Partners for Fish and Wildlife (F26AS00068) close September 30, 2026 with a combined $21 million and 650 anticipated awards. Both list broad eligibility and zero cost share. Both also require contact with a local program office before you write a word — which makes this a FY2027 positioning story, not an October deadline story.
Read articleNSF 26-526 posted August 25 with October 19-23 deadlines instead of November, ten eligible fields instead of eleven, and a newly ineligible category covering wildlife management and conservation practice. NSF just offered 2,500 fellowships for 2026. The new solicitation estimates 1,500.
Read article