Stewardship Fund
Forecasted
The Stewardship Fund by Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation funds science-based projects to conserve, restore, and enhance sage grouse habitat and populations across Montana.
Funder: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: No fixed maximum; prior awards range from ~$100,000 to $2 million per project; funding is competitive and based on project scope.
Summary: Competitive grants for agencies and organizations to conserve, restore, or enhance sage grouse habitat in Montana, often generating mitigation credits.
Key Information: Only agencies/organizations (not individuals) may apply; projects must be in designated sage grouse habitat.
Description
The Stewardship Fund, overseen by the Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) and administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, provides competitive grants to maintain, enhance, restore, or expand sage grouse habitat and populations in Montana. The program supports voluntary, incentive-based conservation projects, especially on private lands, and facilitates the generation of credits that can offset development impacts through Montana’s mitigation system. Projects must be located in designated Core Areas, General Habitat, or Connectivity Areas for sage grouse.
