Acres for America Program
Acres for America Program supports conservation organizations and public bodies in acquiring land and perpetual easements to protect wildlife habitat, connect protected lands, and benefit communities.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates: October 19, 2026 (Pre-proposal) | December 2, 2026 (Full proposal, by invitation)
Funding Amounts: $250,000–$1 million per award for projects up to three years
Summary: Supports voluntary land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements that protect significant wildlife habitat, connectivity, outdoor access, and local economies.
Key Information: Grant funds may only support the property’s purchase price, and awards require at least a 1:1 match.
Description
Acres for America is a nationwide land conservation program operated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with Walmart. Established in 2005, it provides private funding to permanently conserve large-scale habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants through voluntary land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements. Projects should protect acreage significant within their landscape or have exceptional strategic importance for regional conservation.
The program prioritizes critical habitat protection, connections between protected lands and migration routes, public access to the outdoors, and local economies dependent on forestry, ranching, wildlife, and recreation. Proposals addressing more than one priority receive preferential consideration. The partnership was renewed for another 10 years in November 2024.
