Protect land for clean drinking water, public recreation, healthy communities, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience through land acquisition, grants, loans, research, and advocacy.
Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc. channels large conservation dollars into land protection, watershed work, and public access projects, with its recent grants showing a strong mix of state agencies, land trusts, and park organizations. The largest recent award in the data is $28,501,378 to South Carolina Dept of Parks Recreation & Tourism for land conservation support, followed by $7,455,085 to the South Carolina Forestry Commission and $5,461,219 to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for the same purpose. That pattern points to a funder that works at landscape scale rather than through small, isolated awards. The foundation also supports conservation in the Northeast and Appalachian region. Recent examples include $1,395,526 to Natural Lands Trust Inc. for Delaware River watershed protection and $495,000 to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for Appalachian landscape protection. In New York, it gave $1,498,818 to New City Parks Inc for support of public parks. Across the portfolio, the grants align with land acquisition, stewardship, climate resilience, clean water, and recreational access.
Land protection is the clearest thread in the recent record. Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc. gave $3,850,000 to Charleston County for land conservation support and $1,550,000 to Beaufort County for land conservation support, showing a preference for public and quasi-public conservation partners. Watershed protection is another active area. The foundation awarded $1,395,526 to Natural Lands Trust Inc. for Delaware River watershed protection and $638,455 to New Jersey Conservation Foundation for the same purpose. It also backed Appalachian work with $541,250 to Tenngreen Land Conservancy for Appalachian landscape protection. Public parks appear as a separate line of work, including $1,498,818 to New City Parks Inc. for support of public parks. The grant record also includes climate and resilience-oriented support through Appalachian landscapes and related conservation planning.
Typical awards cluster from modest planning or support grants to larger capital commitments: p25 is $15,000, median is $45,000, and p75 is $232,938. The recent record includes both one-time project support and repeated funding to the same recipients across multiple years, such as South Carolina state agencies and The Nature Conservancy. OSI Land Trust Inc. is a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and operates multiple named grant programs and loan facilities. Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including Conservation Fellowship, Resilient Communities, the New Jersey Land Protection Fund, and the Appalachian Landscapes Project — Catalyst Grants.
$9.5M
$448.3M
$73.1M
$30M
Most grants fall between $15K and $233K, with a median of $45K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$45K
75th Percentile
$233K
About 23% of grants go to recipients in PA.
MAY MAY CHENG
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Grantmaking is regional and concentrated in the United States. By count, Pennsylvania is the top recipient state, while New York accounts for 23% of grants. Recent awards also land in South Carolina, New Jersey, and across the Appalachian corridor. Named recipient cities in the data include Columbia, SC; North Charleston, SC; New York, NY; Media, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Bridgton, ME. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 132 grants in the United States.
The foundation funds land protection, clean water and watershed protection, wildlife habitat conservation, park improvements, climate resilience, and community forests. Recent grants show support for land conservation, Delaware River watershed protection, Appalachian landscape protection, and public parks.
The grant-size distribution is broad, with p25 at $15,000, a median of $45,000, and p75 at $232,938. Recent awards range from smaller planning and support grants to multi-million-dollar conservation commitments.
Some active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Conservation Fellowship, Resilient Communities, the New Jersey Land Protection Fund, and Appalachian Landscapes Project — Catalyst Grants. Other named programs, such as the Appalachian Landscapes Project and the Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards, are marked as not accepting unsolicited applications.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and New York receives 23% of grants. Recent recipient locations also include Columbia and North Charleston in South Carolina, New York City, Media and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and Bridgton, Maine.
Yes. The recent record includes repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including South Carolina Dept of Parks Recreation & Tourism, South Carolina Forestry Commission, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, New City Parks Inc., The Nature Conservancy, and Natural Lands Trust.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES | COLUMBIA, SC | $1,702,207 | 2025 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| NEW CITY PARKS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,498,818 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS |
| NATURAL LANDS TRUST INC | MEDIA, PA | $1,395,526 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION & TOURISM | COLUMBIA, SC | $1,200,000 | 2025 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| CHARLESTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION | CHARLESTON, SC | $750,000 | 2025 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $495,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION | HARRISBURG, PA | $400,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $381,424 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) | WASHINGTON, DC | $278,650 | 2025 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | FAR HILLS, NJ | $224,493 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY | BOONTON, NJ | $177,310 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| BULL CREEK COMMON LANDS INC | ATHENS, VT | $120,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| FRIENDS OF COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA | MT PLEASANT, SC | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS |
| SOMERSET WOODS TRUSTEES | SKOWHEGAN, ME | $100,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $92,762 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST INC | PHOENIXVILLE, PA | $65,459 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| THE CLEARWATER CONSERVANCV OF CENTRAL PENNSVLVANIA INC | STATE COLLEGE, PA | $61,850 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| LAND TRUST ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF COASTAL CAROLINA | MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $54,000 | 2025 | SWIM SAFETY PROGRAM |
| STATE OF GEORGIA | ATLANTA, GA | $40,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| MAHOOSUC LAND TRUST | BETHEL, ME | $35,475 | 2025 | SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS |
| LOON ECHO LAND TRUST | BRIDGTON, ME | $35,000 | 2025 | SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS |
| WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY INC | EMMAUS, PA | $28,300 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| THE ADIRONDACK COUNCIL INC | ELIZABETHTOWN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTERN FOOTHILLS LAND TRUST | NORWAY, ME | $22,500 | 2025 | SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS |
| TOWN OF SPRING CITY | SPRING CITY, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| CHATTANOOGA HOUSING AUTHORITY | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| FRIENDS OF HOPEWELL VALLEY OPEN SPACE | PENNINGTON, NJ | $15,000 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| LAND IN COMMON INC | GREENE, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| VERMONT RIVER CONSERVANCY INC | MONTPELIER, VT | $14,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| NORTHERN FOREST CENTER INC | CONCORD, NH | $14,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| BUCK HILL CONSERVATIB2C36ON FOUNDATION | BUCK HILL FALLS, PA | $13,500 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| ESF COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $12,400 | 2025 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE MAD RIVER | WAITSFIELD, VT | $11,275 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION |
| HUNTERDON LAND TRUST | FLEMINGTON, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECT | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | PLANNING AND VISION GRANT |
| PARKS & TRAILS NEW YORK | ALBANY, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE WALLKILL VALLEY LAND TRUST | NEW PALTZ, NY | $7,379 | 2025 | STEWARDSHIP |
| ORANGE COUNTY LAND TRUST | MOUNTAINVILLE, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| RIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INC | NEWTON, NJ | $5,500 | 2025 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION & TOURISM (SCPRT) | COLUMBIA, SC | $28,501,378 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION | COLUMBIA, SC | $7,455,085 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (SCDNR) | COLUMBIA, SC | $5,461,219 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| CHARLESTON COUNTY | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $3,850,000 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| US FOREST SERVICE (USFS) | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,581,977 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| BEAUFORT COUNTY | BEAUFORT, SC | $1,550,000 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| NEW CITY PARKS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,149,380 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS |
| FLORENCE COUNTY | FLORENCE, SC | $650,000 | 2024 | LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT |
| NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | FAR HILLS, NJ | $638,455 | 2024 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $531,179 | 2024 | DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION |
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
$1,702,207LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
NEW CITY PARKS INC
$1,498,818SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS
NATURAL LANDS TRUST INC
$1,395,526DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION & TOURISM
$1,200,000LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
CHARLESTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
$750,000LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
$495,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
Current and upcoming funding from Open Space Institute Land Trust that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Project must be within the Fund region and conserve contiguous, high-priority forest blocks identified in OSI's regional climate and conservation analyses; meet OSI's threshold criteria described on the fund page.
Who can apply: Projects must advance conservation within the ALP service area. The page indicates the Capital Grant is one of two complementary funding opportunities, but detailed eligibility and application instructions are on the separate Capital Grant page not fully provided here.
Deadline: Next round anticipated in Fall 2026 (based on related ALP cycle).
Who can apply: Open to land trusts, nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments, and municipalities committed to advancing permanent land conservation in the Appalachian region. Projects must be broad-scale, climate-informed planning projects within the ALP service area; single-property planning projects are not eligible. Collaborative proposals are encouraged. No general operating support, implementation, land acquisition, restoration capital costs, or political lobbying.
Deadline: Fall 2025 round no longer accepting proposals; next round anticipated in Fall 2026.
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PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION
$400,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$381,424APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS)
$278,650LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$224,493DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY
$177,310DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
BULL CREEK COMMON LANDS INC
$120,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
FRIENDS OF COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA
$100,000SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS
SOMERSET WOODS TRUSTEES
$100,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC
$92,762GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST INC
$65,459DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
THE CLEARWATER CONSERVANCV OF CENTRAL PENNSVLVANIA INC
$61,850APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
LAND TRUST ALLIANCE
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YMCA OF COASTAL CAROLINA
$54,000SWIM SAFETY PROGRAM
STATE OF GEORGIA
$40,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
MAHOOSUC LAND TRUST
$35,475SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS
LOON ECHO LAND TRUST
$35,000SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS
WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY INC
$28,300DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
THE ADIRONDACK COUNCIL INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTERN FOOTHILLS LAND TRUST
$22,500SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS
TOWN OF SPRING CITY
$20,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
CHATTANOOGA HOUSING AUTHORITY
$20,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
FRIENDS OF HOPEWELL VALLEY OPEN SPACE
$15,000DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
LAND IN COMMON INC
$15,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
VERMONT RIVER CONSERVANCY INC
$14,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
NORTHERN FOREST CENTER INC
$14,000APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
BUCK HILL CONSERVATIB2C36ON FOUNDATION
$13,500DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
ESF COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
$12,400LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE MAD RIVER
$11,275APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPE PROTECTION
HUNTERDON LAND TRUST
$10,000DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECT
$7,500PLANNING AND VISION GRANT
PARKS & TRAILS NEW YORK
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE WALLKILL VALLEY LAND TRUST
$7,379STEWARDSHIP
ORANGE COUNTY LAND TRUST
$7,000DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
RIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INC
$5,500DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT OF PARKS RECREATION & TOURISM (SCPRT)
$28,501,378LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION
$7,455,085LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (SCDNR)
$5,461,219LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
CHARLESTON COUNTY
$3,850,000LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
US FOREST SERVICE (USFS)
$1,581,977LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
BEAUFORT COUNTY
$1,550,000LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
NEW CITY PARKS INC
$1,149,380SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARKS
FLORENCE COUNTY
$650,000LAND CONSERVATION SUPPORT
NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$638,455DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$531,179DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED PROTECTION
