Friends of NACD District Grants Program

Program Overview: Friends of NACD are individuals who support the nation's nearly 3,000 conservation districts through cash donations to NACD. Individuals contribute at four donation levels (between $35 to $1,500), with each level entitling members to specific benefits. Included as a benefit to Friends of NACD is the opportunity to support individual conservation districts through the Friends of NACD District Grants Program.

Funding Track Record: Since Fiscal Year 2020, Friends of NACD have awarded over $96,000 in grant funding to 39 districts across the country.

Eligible Applicants

• Individual conservation districts

Focus Areas (Based on Recent Recipients)

Projects have included:

• Environmental education initiatives
• Streambank stabilization and restoration
• Water quality monitoring
• Pollinator habitat and education programs
• Soil health education and demonstration projects
• Native plant nurseries and restoration
• Climate resilience forestry programs
• Youth and community engagement programs
• Outdoor classroom development
• STEM education initiatives

Recent Grant Recipients (2025 - 2022)

2025 Recipients: 9 districts from GA, IN, KY, MI, OH, OK, PA
2024 Recipients: 11 districts from CO, Northern Mariana Islands, ME, OH, OR, WA
2023 Recipients: 6 districts from AL, ME, NC, ND, OK, WA
2022 Recipients: Multiple districts (program continues)

Note on FY25 Deadline

The deadline for FY25 has passed. FY25 grantees were announced in Salt Lake City, UT, at the 2025 NACD Annual Meeting.

Application Process

Specific application procedures were not detailed in the available text. However, the program indicates:

1. Funding Source: Friends of NACD individual members donate at four levels ($35-$1,500) to support conservation districts
2. Annual Process: The program operates on a fiscal year basis with announced deadlines and recipients
3. Contact for Details: Jackson Moody, NACD Membership and Development Coordinator

For More Information:

• Direct questions to jackson-moody[at]nacdnet.org
• Listen to Conservation Coffee sessions to hear from past awardees about grant impacts
• Check NACD website for current year application timeline and requirements