Project & Planning Grants
Project & Planning Grants support Montana conservation districts with locally led planning and on-the-ground conservation projects that advance district priorities and deliver public natural resource benefits.
Funder: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (Fall application) | March 15, 2027 (Spring application)
Funding Amounts: Planning: $5,000–$20,000; projects: $5,000–$50,000, with larger requests permitted subject to cash match; generally 1–2 years
Summary: Supports Montana conservation districts with locally led conservation planning and on-the-ground natural resource projects.
Key Information: Only Montana’s 58 conservation districts may apply, and districts must levy maximum county mills and demonstrate financial need.
Description
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), through its Conservation Districts Bureau, administers Project & Planning Grants within the combined Pollinator, Project & Planning Grants program. Legislative funding supports locally led conservation activities identified by Montana conservation districts, with an emphasis on public natural resource benefits.
Planning grants support formal processes that produce written plans, reports, or larger grant applications and are intended to lead to on-the-ground work. Examples include strategic plans, watershed restoration plans, preliminary engineering reports, and feasibility studies. Project grants support authorized district activities such as stream restoration, soil health and water quality improvements, demonstration projects, farm experiments, equipment purchases, and construction projects. Work must be technically and financially feasible and connected to district conservation priorities.
