Conservation Partners Program
Supports technical assistance to help landowners adopt regenerative agriculture and conservation practices, focusing on soil, water, and wildlife outcomes in key U.S. landscapes.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates: July 22, 2026 (Full Proposals, 2026) | July 17, 2025 (Full Proposals, 2025 - closed)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: $250,000–$750,000 (average ~$500,000); project duration up to 24 months; matching contributions encouraged but not required.
Summary: Supports organizations providing technical assistance to private landowners to accelerate regenerative agriculture and conservation practices through Farm Bill programs.
Key Information: Eligible applicants are nonprofits, government agencies, tribes, and educational institutions; for-profits and individuals are not eligible.
Description
The Conservation Partners Program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with federal agencies and private sector partners, funds organizations to deliver technical assistance to private landowners and agricultural producers. The program aims to accelerate the voluntary adoption of regenerative agriculture principles and conservation practices on working lands, particularly by helping landowners participate in Farm Bill conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP. Projects are expected to address soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and related conservation outcomes at a landscape scale, focusing on priority geographies including the Great Plains, Upper Mississippi River Basin, Great Lakes Basin, and Western Working Lands.
Grant recipients hire, train, or support conservation professionals who work directly with producers to develop management plans, design and implement best practices, and foster peer-to-peer networks. The program does not fund direct financial assistance to producers but supports technical assistance that enables producers to access such funding through other channels.
