DCNR State and Regional Partnerships' Grants

DCNR State and Regional Partnerships' Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR)
Last Updated: February 24, 2026

Summary

The DCNR State and Regional Partnerships' Grants support collaborative projects aimed at enhancing local and regional capacity for managing recreation and park facilities while promoting conservation efforts. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and municipal entities that comply with tax-exempt regulations. Projects may involve training, education, or implementation of conservation strategies, with a mandatory 50/50 funding match. This initiative fosters community engagement and sustainable resource management across Pennsylvania.

Overview

Partnerships projects are collaborative statewide or regional initiatives that help build local, county, regional and statewide capacity to better develop and manage recreation and park facilities and to promote the conservation of natural and heritage resources through plan implementation, education and training. Project Types for Partnerships Convening, Education, or Training Projects that develop, promote, and/or conduct training or education programs; prepare and distribute technical assistance or educational materials, brochures or videos and/or otherwise provide for the training and education of professionals and/or the general public on a local, county, regional or statewide basis. These projects address issues related to plan implementation, capacity building, training or education programs related to natural resource and community conservation, land and open space preservation, greenways, trails and recreation and parks. Example of these types of projects include: Advancing awareness of rivers, greenways, trails, recreation and/or conservation issues through educational conferences, workshops, materials, publications, sojourns and websites. Special Purpose and Planning Studies Special Purpose Planning is a comprehensive planning process that will define a long-range (5-10 year) plan of action to organize, implement, manage and market natural resource and community conservation, heritage resources, land and open space preservation, greenways, trails, recreation and parks, or cultural preservation. Special Purpose Study is a more concentrated study or plan necessary to implement one or more of the recommendations of a previously completed planning study. These projects will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The Bureau requires that project consultants are selected using a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. Examples of special purpose studies would be management action plans, economic assessments, marketing plans, specialized inventories, preservation and interpretive plans, as well as, special feasibility studies. Implementation Projects Implementation Projects are non-planning projects that implement recommendations of previously completed special purpose plans or studies. Examples of implementation projects include the construction of interpretive/educational exhibits, programs, signage and materials, as well as, promotional/marketing products. The Bureau requires an open and competitive process for the award of all sub-contracts. Mini-Grants Statewide and regional partners may request mini-grant funding to develop small grant programs that will implement multiple projects through their local partners. These projects should advance priorities identified through previous completed plans. The request can include a combination of project types eligible for funding under the Statewide and Regional category.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants are statewide and regional non-profit recreation, conservation and greenways organizations, regional municipal entities and Pennsylvania’s 12 designated heritage areas.The organization (unless it is an educational institution) must be both tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Charitable Organizations (BCO).A 50/50 match requirement applies to all projects funded.