Donated Conservation Easement Funding Program
Donated Conservation Easement Funding Program supports willing landowners by funding easement transaction and stewardship costs to protect Vermont farms, forests, natural areas, and recreational lands.
Funder: Vermont Housing and Conservation Board
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications)
Funding Amounts: Up to $32,500, or 50 percent of eligible project costs; matching funds required
Summary: Supports transaction and stewardship costs for donated conservation easements protecting Vermont farms, working forests, natural areas, and recreational lands.
Key Information: Individuals wishing to conserve their land should work with a land trust to apply.
Description
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) administers this program to reduce financial barriers to conservation easements donated by willing landowners. Grants help pay the transaction costs needed to complete an easement and the stewardship costs associated with its long-term care, making voluntary land conservation more accessible and affordable.
Supported projects include farms, working forests, natural areas, and recreational lands that align with VHCB’s conservation policies. Projects must contribute to Vermont’s clean-water, biodiversity, and climate-resilience goals and provide lasting benefits to Vermonters. Through support for donated easements, the program seeks to expand Vermont’s conservation capacity, leverage private and federal resources, and advance the state’s conservation goals.
