Conservation District- Project and Planning Grants

The Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation provides Conservation District Grants to empower local conservation efforts. These grants fund projects aimed at preserving Montana's natural resources through planning, education, and innovative practices. With funding amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, applicants can implement on-the-ground projects or develop strategic plans. This initiative supports community-led conservation, ensuring sustainable management of vital resources for future generations.

Conservation District Grants
DNRC's Conservation Districts Bureau offers state-funded grants provided by the legislature with the goal of empowering conservation districts to conserve the natural resources of Montana through locally-led conservation. Grant funds can be used for implementing on-the-ground projects, delivering educational programming to youth and adults, assisting landowners with innovative conservation practices, and for district operations.
Project & Planning Grants (Formerly 223 grants)
Grants for conservation projects and planning.
Conservation Planning Grants
Conservation District Planning Grants are intended to assist conservation districts with operational planning and for the planning and design of technically feasible natural resource projects. These grants are specifically available to fund a formal planning process that results in a written plan or report. Examples include strategic plans, watershed restoration plans, preliminary engineering reports, feasibility studies, new program guidelines, or completed applications for larger project grants. In addition to the general guidelines provided previously in the overview section, the following guidelines apply specifically to the Conservation District Planning Grants:
The minimum application amount is $5,000 and applications may not exceed $20,000.The final deliverable must be a completed planning document, report, or grant application.Planning grants are intended to lead to on-the-ground project(s).
Conservation District Project Implementation Grants:
The Conservation District Project Implementation Grants are for any project under the authority of Conservation Districts pursuant to MCA, Title 76, Chapter 15, Part 4. Funds may be used for any project a conservation district is authorized to carry out, including, but not limited to stream restoration, soil health improvements, water quality improvements, demonstration projects, farm experiments, equipment purchases, or construction projects. In addition to the general guidelines provided previously in the overview section, the following guidelines apply specifically to the Conservation District Project Implementation Grants:
Projects must be identified in the district’s strategic plan or annual workplan, a copy of which must be provided with the application.The minimum application amount is $5,000 and applications may not exceed $50,000. Conservation Districts may request funds above this limit, but for any grant above $50,000.00 a 50:50 cash match is required for the entire grant amount.Applications that include a monitoring plan, a public outreach and education plan, and a partners’ plan will rank higher.For educational events, funds can only be used to pay for expenses that exceed revenue (registration fees, sponsorships, donations, etc.). A detailed spreadsheet that itemizes expenditures and revenues must be submitted with the final report.Applications that include the purchase of equipment must include a maintenance plan that includes rental fees, repair and maintenance costs, deposits (if applicable), and long-term leases (if applicable). Reasonable rental fees must be charged to cover maintenance and replacement costs. Applications for equipment must also include 50:50 cash match.Per DNRC policy, noxious weed projects must demonstrate that funding was first sought through the Noxious Weed Trust Fund at the Montana Department of Agriculture and be coordinated with the local weed district. https://agr.mt.gov/NoxiousWeedTrustFundPer DNRC policy, aquatic invasive species project funding must be sought through the DNRC Aquatic Invasive Species Program. https://invasivespecies.mt.gov/montanainvasive-species/Aquatic-Invasive-Species-Grant-Program .