Grants for Land Conservation in California

Last updated July 22, 2026

There are 15 active grants for land conservation tagged to California, part of 348 active grants for land conservation listed nationwide. Updated daily.

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Type	Grant	Funder	Deadline ▲	Amount
State	2026 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: HCP Land Acquisition (Nontraditional Section 6)	Department of Fish and Wildlife	August 14, 2026	$1M – $2.6B
State	The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River	Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	Cleanup, Remediation, and Watershed Enhancement Funding Opportunity	Department of Fish and Wildlife	Rolling	Varies
State	Prop 4 – Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)	San Diego River Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	Nature Based Solutions – Wildlife Corridors	Department of Fish and Wildlife	Rolling	Varies
State	Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Proposition 4 Nature Based Solutions and Climate Adaptation Grant Program	Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	California Forest Improvement Program	Department of Forestry and Fire Protection	Rolling	Varies
State	San Diego River Conservancy Direct Grant Program	San Diego River Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All – (Prop 68 River – CA) Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – California)	Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley – Severely Disadvantaged Community)	Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – (Prop 68 River – Severely Disadvantaged Community)	Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	Land Acquisition 2025	Wildlife Conservation Board	Rolling	Varies
State	Desert Conservation Program	Wildlife Conservation Board	Rolling	Varies
State	The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) SMMC Grant Program – Prop 68 River San Fernando Valley	Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies
State	Coachella Valley Open Space Acquisition Program	Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy	Rolling	Varies

Showing 1–15 of 15

About grants for land conservation in California

Grants for land conservation help protect open space, forests, farmland, and natural areas through acquisition, conservation easements, and stewardship. Federal programs include the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program and the USDA NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), often supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Land trusts, nonprofits, tribes, and government agencies are the most common applicants.

Grants for Land Conservation in other states

Grants for Land Conservation in Maryland 9 Grants for Land Conservation in Vermont 6 Grants for Land Conservation in North Carolina 4 Grants for Land Conservation in Georgia 2 Grants for Land Conservation in Minnesota 2 Grants for Land Conservation in Virginia 2 Grants for Land Conservation in Wyoming 2 Grants for Land Conservation in Delaware 1

Other grant categories in California

Environmental Conservation Grants in California 66

Frequently Asked Questions

What grants are available for land conservation?

Funding supports purchasing land or conservation easements, protecting forests and farmland, and stewarding protected properties. The Forest Legacy Program protects privately owned forest land, and USDA's ACEP helps fund agricultural and grassland easements. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and many private and community foundations also support land protection.

Who funds land conservation and land trusts?

Key federal sources include the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Legacy Program) and USDA/NRCS (ACEP), often drawing on the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Land trusts frequently partner on these projects, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation plus private foundations provide additional support. The Land Trust Alliance maintains resources tracking federal funding opportunities.

Can a land trust apply for federal conservation funding?

Land trusts play a major role in many federal land conservation projects, helping identify properties, work with landowners, and negotiate easement and acquisition transactions. Some federal programs flow through state agencies, with land trusts as partners, while others fund nonprofits more directly. Reviewing each program's eligibility rules and partnering early with the relevant agency is important.

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