San Francisco Bay Area: Conservation Grants

San Francisco Bay Area: Conservation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Gordon E And Betty I Moore Foundation
Last Updated: May 20, 2025

Summary

The Gordon E And Betty I Moore Foundation offers conservation grants to support projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. Their initiatives prioritize land acquisition and conservation easements, while fostering partnerships among stakeholders. With a commitment to preserving the region's unique landscapes, the foundation has facilitated over 80 conservation projects across ten counties, enhancing habitats for native species and ensuring sustainable environmental stewardship.

Overview

NOTE: Please note that we do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Because of our tightly-defined grantmaking strategies, many worthwhile projects fall outside the scope of our funding priorities. However, if you have thoughts or inquiries related to our work that you would like to share, you may send us a brief, ~100-word email. Please understand that due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we are only able to commit to reviewing those inquiries that adhere to the ~100-word guideline. Conservation: Committed to conserving irreplaceable Bay Area landscapes Sustaining the Bay Area’s healthy ecosystems The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most biodiverse regions of the United States, and its storied conservation history and role in the environmental movement is unparalleled. Compared with other metropolitan areas, the proximity of significant, biodiverse open space to major economic and residential centers is exceptional. Our region’s unique role in the history of the conservation and its remarkable network of open space have been the direct result of concerted effort by many individuals and organizations. We are honored to be a part of this community, conserving these landscapes for the future generations who will call this region home. Strategies We aim to maintain and, where possible, increase the Bay Area’s remarkable biodiversity, ecosystem services, and nature-based recreation opportunities. In order to do so, we pursue several strategies: Prioritize land acquisition and conservation easements that are grounded in science-based regional conservation planning Support initial stewardship in order to deliver real, durable conservation outcomes Coordinate partnerships across the region to foster effective collaboration among stakeholders Develop the most effective conservation finance structures to maximize the impact of our funding and ensure financial sustainability To protect and steward Bay Area conservation resources for future generations the efforts of local conservation groups and agencies are more critical than ever before. The same technological and financial engine that helps define the Bay Area’s economy also pushes up against the undeveloped and wilderness areas that define its ecology. Threats to natural habitat have become even more acute in recent years due in part to the regional economic boom. That’s why we’re focused on supporting grantees who, through property acquisition, natural resource use and conservation finance, are working to preserve and enhance habitat for native plant and animal species in the Bay Area. Together with nonprofits, agencies and other funders, we have been fortunate to play a part in more than 80 acquisitions, easements and other conservation-related projects across the 10-county Bay Area. Impact Statement Maintaining and increasing the biodiversity, ecosystem services and nature-based recreation opportunities of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Our Bay Area conservation funding supports projects in the following 10 counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.