Conservation Program
Conservation Program supports organizations and socially minded businesses in protecting land, restoring habitats, and strengthening sustainable communities to advance conservation across the United States.
Funder: Richard King Mellon Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (General Application) | RFP-specific deadlines (see individual guidance)
Funding Amounts: $55,779,005 across 104 Conservation grants and PRIs in 2024; most grants last 12–18 months
Summary: Supports land protection, ecosystem restoration, conservation participation, and sustainable communities across the United States.
Key Information: Postsecondary and research institutions cannot receive general operating support or support for indirect expenses.
Description
The Richard King Mellon Foundation’s Conservation program supports habitat conservation, stewardship, activation, and sustainable communities in Western Pennsylvania and nationally. It funds durable land protection through acquisitions and conservation easements, aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration, and research and management addressing invasive species and wildlife diseases. Research is supported as a basis for scientifically informed decisions; planning is supported with the expectation that it leads to programs advancing the Conservation strategy.
The program also invests in sustainable rural economies near conserved lands, innovative conservation finance, and broader participation in outdoor recreation and environmental research. Sustainable-community priorities include renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental technologies, green stormwater infrastructure, healthier homes, and accessible natural spaces. Grants are the principal funding mechanism, supplemented by program-related investments (PRIs).
