1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
This listing may be outdated. Verify details at the official source before applying.
Find similar grantsMonarch Conservation Grant is sponsored by California State Parks Foundation. The California State Parks Foundation supports projects that protect critical monarch habitat, particularly overwintering groves, and ensures visitors can safely witness monarch butterflies.
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.
Saving the Western Monarch Butterfly: The Partnership Making a Difference | California State Parks Foundation Saving the western monarch butterfly: The partnership that’s making a difference This fall, California State Parks Foundation will continue to support one of our most beloved species — the western monarch butterfly.
Through our 2024 Monarch Conservation Grant, California State Parks Foundation is partnering with the Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) on a major overwintering grove restoration project at Pismo State Beach. Over 100,000 visitors travel to Pismo State Beach every year to see roosting monarchs, and last year, the site hosted the second-highest number of monarchs out of all overwintering sites in California.
By providing $25,000 in grant funding to CCSPA, California State Parks Foundation is working to protect critical monarch habitat and ensure that visitors can continue to safely witness the splendor of the western monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies at the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo State Beach. What are overwintering groves and why are they so important?
Western monarchs used to number in the millions, but the population has plummeted since the 1990s due to development, pesticide use, and habitat deterioration — particularly at overwintering sites. Every year, monarchs return from their northward migration to specific locations along the California coast that contain the optimal conditions for monarchs to pass the winter.
This includes protection from the cold and wind, available water, dappled sunlight, and access to nectar sources. Throughout the winter months, monarchs spend their time in diapause — a state of suspended development — sunning themselves and feeding on nectar before starting their migration anew at the end of the season. Map of Western Monarch butterfly migration pattern.
Because overwintering habitat is so unique, monarchs largely return to the same sites every year, many of which are in California state parks. In fact, California State Parks is the largest single land manager of monarch overwintering sites in the state.
As such, California State Parks and California State Parks Foundation can play a central role in protecting the western monarch butterfly by protecting this habitat while ensuring optimal viewing opportunities for beach visitors. Improving the visitor experience at Pismo State Beach To protect the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, CCSPA will complete significant restoration work beginning later this year.
A critical aspect of this project is ensuring that visitors can access the site safely, including replacing fencing along walkways. Proper fencing not only protects sensitive habitat, but it also provides stability for visitors with mobility impairments along the pathway. Unfortunately, the aged fencing at Pismo State Beach requires excessive repair to perform this function.
Therefore, CCSPA will use the $25,000 to replace damaged fencing around high-priority areas of the overwintering grove. The more stable fencing will also support five interpretive panels to teach visitors about the western monarch butterfly, such as its unique multi-generational migration, anatomy, life cycle, and more.
“Central Coast State Parks Association and Ocean Dunes Districts are honored and excited to put these grant funds to use to protect the western monarch and its habitat,” said Sierra Emrick, Executive Director of CCSPA. “Funds ensure the Grove remains accessible and a powerhouse for education on the species.
” Pismo State Beach's Monarch butterfly grove A multi-benefit project: Building for the future CCSPA’s work at Pismo State Beach highlights the importance of multi-benefit projects and the breadth of goals they can accomplish. Maintaining state parks means not only protecting our natural resources, but also ensuring all Californians can access and learn about nature.
With this one project, CCSPA and California State Parks Foundation will both protect an important ecosystem and teach visitors about one of California’s famous species, perhaps contributing to the next generation of conservationists. The Pismo State Beach project also exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to deferred maintenance in state parks.
Deferred maintenance refers to a backlog of projects that need to be completed in parks, such as repairing infrastructure. However, deferred maintenance can no longer mean just rebuilding as it was; it requires looking forward to rebuild strategically. With this approach, CCSPA will be replacing the damaged wooden fencing with aluminum fencing that is more durable and will require less-frequent repairs.
In the long run, this change will save staff time and funds, ensuring that the grove will remain free for the public and, therefore, accessible for lower-income communities. Working through partnerships California State Parks Foundation is committed to preserving California’s extraordinary biodiversity, including species like the western monarch butterfly.
By working with park partners like Central Coast State Parks Association, we know that we can make an even greater difference in conservation. To learn more about ongoing partnerships, read about our current Building Climate-Resilient State Parks Grant , where we’re working with partners across the state to help preserve our state parks for future generations. Want to take it a step further?
Consider donating to fund our ongoing work to protect state parks from the impacts of climate change !
Related Insights & Stories How to Take Better Photos in California State Parks: Lessons from the Field Legislation and Budget Update: May Revise and Mid-Session News Gaviota State Park: A Coast Worth Protecting California State Parks System to Grow with Park Expansions and New State Park Properties Take Action now For a Lasting Difference Your voice and support are crucial for the immediate needs facing our state parks.
Protect Western Monarch Butterflies! Release Prop 4 Funding Immediately! Your Support Protects California's Parks Every dollar you contribute directly helps us preserve and enhance our state parks for future generations.
$25 Provides essential poison oak scrub $50 Supplies snacks for park restoration volunteers $150 Funds native California seeds to restore vital habitats
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Nonprofit organizations partnering with California State Parks on monarch conservation efforts. Specific eligibility for future cycles should be confirmed on the funder's website. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $25,000 (for previous cycle). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Monarch Conservation Grant is funded by California State Parks Foundation. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in California. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
The FY2026 MEP Center State Competition ran in two rounds: eight states worth $139.1 million, then fourteen more worth $232.4 million, both closing August 21, 2026. That's 43 percent of the national network recompeted in twelve months, under a 50 percent non-federal cost share, while the administration's own budget request proposed eliminating the program. Here's what the award tables reveal, why incumbents are genuinely at risk, and how to position for the FY2027 wave.
Read articleOn August 14, 2026, the California Arts Council approved nearly $24.6 million across 1,200 grant awards. Buried in the release is a rare thing: before-and-after data showing exactly how much the ranked-priority bonus moved the pool. Small organizations went from 53% of applicants to 72% of awardees. Geography moved 19 points. First-time status barely moved at all. Here is what that means for the 2027 cycle.
Read articleThe California Civic Media Program is a $20 million public-private fund — $10 million from the state, $10 million matched by Google — that pays local newsrooms on a per-journalist formula: $20,000 for each of the first five FTE reporters, $10,000 for reporters six through twenty, capped at $250,000 per organization. Applications open July 6 and close August 21, 2026. Here is exactly how the formula works, which newsrooms qualify (and which are excluded), and how to position a small newsroom to win.
Read article