Funder: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Spring deadline) | October 2027 (Fall deadline)
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 locally led conservation planning and project implementation by Montana conservation districts.
Key Information: Only Montana’s 58 conservation districts may apply, including as sponsors for other entities.
Description
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), through its Conservation Districts Bureau, distributes legislative funding to help conservation districts carry out locally led natural resource conservation. Project and planning funding sits within the combined Pollinator, Project & Planning Grants program and supports work identified through district conservation planning.
Planning grants fund formal processes producing written plans, reports, or larger grant applications intended to lead to on-the-ground projects. Examples include strategic plans, watershed restoration plans, preliminary engineering reports, and feasibility studies. Project grants support activities such as stream restoration, soil health and water quality improvements, demonstration projects, farm experiments, and eligible equipment purchases. All funded work must provide public natural resource benefits rather than private benefit alone.
