Conservation Program
Conservation Program supports organizations working on habitat protection, restoration, research, and sustainable communities to protect biodiversity and help people thrive across the United States.
Funder: Richard King Mellon Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (General Application)
Funding Amounts: Most Foundation grants last 12–18 months; $55,779,005 awarded across 104 Conservation grants and PRIs in 2024
Summary: Supports habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, sustainable rural economies, and livable communities across the United States.
Key Information: Postsecondary and research institutions cannot receive general operating support or funding for indirect expenses.
Description
The Richard King Mellon Foundation’s Conservation program funds work that protects biodiversity and helps people thrive in healthy natural systems across the United States. Its four investment areas are habitat conservation, stewardship, activation, and sustainable communities. Supported approaches include land purchases, conservation easements, ecosystem restoration, innovative conservation finance, and sustainable technologies. Grants are the primary funding mechanism, alongside program-related investments (PRIs).
The program supports research grounded in data and scientific evidence, and planning expected to lead to programs advancing its Conservation strategy. Priorities include large working lands and critical ecosystems, water quality, habitat connectivity, invasive species and wildlife diseases, rural economies near conserved lands, and broader participation in outdoor recreation and conservation. Community investments address renewable energy, energy efficiency, green stormwater infrastructure, healthier homes, greenspaces, and trails.
