To connect Americans to their national forests and fund on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects—including tree planting, watershed protection, collaborative capacity building, and stewardship—so national forests are healthy, resilient and accessible for future generations.
National Forest Foundation’s grantmaking centers on U.S. national forests and grasslands, with support directed to restoration, stewardship, watershed protection, collaboration, and access to public lands. The recent grants list shows a clear emphasis on large-scale, on-the-ground work: Conservation Legacy received $1,943,515 in 2025 to support U.S. national forests and grasslands, and Wetland Initiatives received $673,731 in 2024 for the same broad purpose. Those awards sit alongside repeated support for organizations working in forest health, wildfire resilience, youth stewardship, and Tribal co-stewardship across the National Forest System. The foundation also uses program structures that connect funding to specific stewardship needs, including collaborative capacity work, matching awards, stewardship funds, and competitive opportunities tied to national forests and grasslands. Its giving pattern reflects a funder that backs both field implementation and the groups that help coordinate it, from conservation corps and watershed organizations to tribes, universities, and local stewardship partners. Across the recent grants, the recurring thread is support for public lands projects that keep forest and grassland ecosystems functional and accessible.
In forest stewardship and restoration, National Forest Foundation funded Ecoculture with $602,943 in 2025 and $379,950 in 2024, both for support of U.S. national forests and grasslands. Watershed work also appears prominently: Truckee River Watershed Council received $512,434 in 2025, and Big Thompson Watershed Coalition received $250,000 in 2023, each tied to the same public-lands support language in the recent grants list. The foundation also backs community-based conservation and workforce-style stewardship. Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - Co received $365,688 in 2024 and $315,055 in 2025, while American Conservation Experience received $342,500 in 2023. Tribal partners are present as well, including the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and the Washoe Tribe of NV and CA, both funded for work connected to national forests and grasslands.
Typical awards cluster in the tens of thousands: the 25th percentile is $19,482, the median is $34,639, and the 75th percentile is $78,000. The recent grants list also shows that the foundation makes much larger project grants alongside those smaller awards, with several awards in the hundreds of thousands and some above $1 million. Recipients appear in multiple years, including Conservation Legacy, Wetland Initiatives, Ecoculture, Southern Highlands Reserve, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - Co, Rio Grande Return, and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, which points to repeat support rather than one-off giving. National Forest Foundation is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. It also posts competitive opportunities and unsolicited application pathways through several program pages.
$13.3M
$93.5M
$77.9M
$82.1M
Most grants fall between $19K and $78K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$78K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in ID.
DIETER FENKART-FROESCHL
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The grants are entirely U.S.-based: 349 grants, or 100%, went to U.S. recipients. Idaho is the top state by grant count, while Montana accounts for 5% of grants. Recent recipient locations show a broad spread across the country, including Durango and Greeley in Colorado, Chicago in Illinois, Flagstaff in Arizona, Truckee in California, and Pablo in Montana. The pattern fits a regional funder working through national-forest project sites rather than a single local market.
Its recent grants support U.S. national forests and grasslands through restoration, stewardship, watershed protection, collaboration, and access-related work. The foundation also backs wildfire resilience, recreation opportunities, rural economies, and Tribal co-stewardship through its program structure.
Yes. Several active opportunities are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including Collaboration & Capacity Grants, the Collaborative Capacity Program for Forests & Communities, Junior Field Rangers, the Barrett Challenge, Matching Awards Program, and the general RFP listing.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards: p25 is $19,482, median is $34,639, and p75 is $78,000. The recent grants list also includes much larger project awards, so the foundation mixes modest grants with sizable implementation funding.
The foundation’s giving is regional and entirely U.S.-based. Idaho is the top state by grant count, while Montana received 5% of grants. Recent recipients are spread across multiple states, including Colorado, Arizona, California, Illinois, and Montana.
Yes. Several organizations appear across more than one grant year, including Conservation Legacy, Wetland Initiatives, Ecoculture, Southern Highlands Reserve, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - Co, Rio Grande Return, and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSERVATION LEGACY | DURANGO, CO | $1,943,515 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| ECOCULTURE | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $602,943 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| CITY OF GREELEY | GREELEY, CO | $589,153 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| TROUT UNLIMITED INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $529,405 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL | TRUCKEE, CA | $512,434 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS RESERVE | LAKE TOXAWAY, NC | $418,207 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS - CO | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $315,055 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $284,414 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES FIRE SAFE COUNCIL | IDYLLWIDE, CA | $283,180 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| RIO GRANDE RETURN | SANTA FE, NM | $281,883 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| TREE PEOPLE | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $268,630 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| CONFEDERATED SALISH & KOOTENAI TRIBES | PABLO, MT | $261,399 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| FRIENDS OF DILLON RANGER DISTRICT | SILVERTHORNE, CO | $244,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| THE EMBER ALLIANCE | FORT COLLINS, CO | $240,240 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| BIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITION | LOVELAND, CO | $234,988 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| WILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS | LONGMONT, CO | $227,320 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| WEST REGION FIRE COUNCIL | RIDGEWAY, CO | $209,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| LA CONSERVATION CORPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $201,903 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| LEFTHAND WATERSHED OVERSIGHT GROUP | NIWOT, CO | $199,991 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| COALITIONS AND COLLABORATIVES INC | GOLDEN, CO | $199,973 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $199,482 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION | AVON, CO | $197,991 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| BOULDER WATERSHED COLLECTIVE | BOULDER, CO | $190,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| OVERLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION | FORT COLLINS, CO | $180,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| COLORADO FIRECAMP INC | SALIDA, CO | $170,896 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| STATE OF WYOMING | CHEYNNE, WY | $170,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| SOUTHEAST ALASKA WATERSHED COALITION | HAINES, AK | $155,294 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| FRIENDS OF VERDE RIVER GREENWAY | COTTONWOOD, AZ | $152,059 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $136,128 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| NATURAL CURIOSITY | HILLSBORO, NM | $131,534 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP OF AZ | TUCSON, AZ | $109,298 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED | FORT COLLINS, CO | $101,946 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $98,512 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| VM WEST LP | HOTCHKISS, CO | $95,063 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| CONSERVATION CORPS OF LONG BEACH | LONG BEACH, CA | $93,901 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS - NM | RANCHOS DE TAOS, NM | $88,815 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| COTTONWOOD CANYONS FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $87,867 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY | OAK GLEN, CA | $82,446 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| WALKING MOUNTAINS | AVON, CO | $80,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| WESTERN LANDOWNERS ALLIANCE | DENVER, CO | $78,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING | LARAMIE, WY | $77,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| FRIENDS OF THE INYO | BISHOP, CA | $65,676 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| KENAI WATERSHED FORUM | SOLDOTNA, AK | $62,937 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| FRIENDS OF COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER | EVERGREEN, CO | $62,280 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD | SANTA FE, NM | $57,810 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| RANDOLPH MOUNTAIN CLUB | GORHAM, NH | $56,596 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| PEAKS TO PEOPLE WATER FUND | FORT COLLINS, CO | $53,550 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
| TUOLUMNE RIVER PRESERVATION TRUST | SONORA, CA | $51,742 | 2025 | SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS |
CONSERVATION LEGACY
$1,943,515SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
ECOCULTURE
$602,943SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
CITY OF GREELEY
$589,153SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
TROUT UNLIMITED INC
$529,405SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL
$512,434SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS RESERVE
$418,207SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS - CO
$315,055SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$284,414SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
$283,180SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
RIO GRANDE RETURN
$281,883SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
TREE PEOPLE
$268,630SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
CONFEDERATED SALISH & KOOTENAI TRIBES
$261,399SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
FRIENDS OF DILLON RANGER DISTRICT
$244,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
THE EMBER ALLIANCE
$240,240SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
BIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITION
$234,988SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
WILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS
$227,320SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
WEST REGION FIRE COUNCIL
$209,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
LA CONSERVATION CORPS
$201,903SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
LEFTHAND WATERSHED OVERSIGHT GROUP
$199,991SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
COALITIONS AND COLLABORATIVES INC
$199,973SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$199,482SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
VAIL VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION
$197,991SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
BOULDER WATERSHED COLLECTIVE
$190,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
OVERLAND MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION
$180,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
COLORADO FIRECAMP INC
$170,896SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
STATE OF WYOMING
$170,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
SOUTHEAST ALASKA WATERSHED COALITION
$155,294SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
FRIENDS OF VERDE RIVER GREENWAY
$152,059SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
$150,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
AMERICAN CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE
$136,128SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
NATURAL CURIOSITY
$131,534SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP OF AZ
$109,298SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED
$101,946SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$100,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
$98,512SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
VM WEST LP
$95,063SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
CONSERVATION CORPS OF LONG BEACH
$93,901SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS - NM
$88,815SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
COTTONWOOD CANYONS FOUNDATION
$87,867SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY
$82,446SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
WALKING MOUNTAINS
$80,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
WESTERN LANDOWNERS ALLIANCE
$78,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
$77,000SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
FRIENDS OF THE INYO
$65,676SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
KENAI WATERSHED FORUM
$62,937SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
FRIENDS OF COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
$62,280SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
THE FOREST STEWARDS GUILD
$57,810SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
RANDOLPH MOUNTAIN CLUB
$56,596SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
PEAKS TO PEOPLE WATER FUND
$53,550SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
TUOLUMNE RIVER PRESERVATION TRUST
$51,742SUPPORT US NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS
Current and upcoming funding from National Forest Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, and universities are eligible. Program is an open, competitive grant round.
Deadline: Round 2 2026: July 9, 2026
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
