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    Massachusetts land trusts strive to be well-equipped to permanently protect natural and working lands in perpetuity, welcome their whole communities, collaborate with peers and partner organizations to further the impact of their work, and bring people with a multitude of experiences and perspectives together to address frontline issues such as climate change, water quality and food security. To take on new challenges in an ever-increasing complex world, land trusts may need outside help from time to time.

    With support from an anonymous donor, the Land Trust Alliance, in partnership with the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, is offering grants to Massachusetts land trusts to assist with organizational development and activities to sustain their work. Organizations can apply for up to $2,500 in grant funding through this program. Eligible projects include organizational health activities such as board development, financial systems improvements, fundraising planning, staff development or tools and equipment to make tasks more efficient and effective. Projects may also help land trusts strengthen or initiate programs that advance mission priorities, such as enhancing a stewardship program, communicating the value of their work and building the base of support, making their organization and properties more inclusive, or position the land trust to increase community resilience to climate change.

    This grant opportunity is meant to have an immediate impact on a project that can be meaningfully addressed within the next couple of months.

    Grant details

    • Grant requests can range from $1,000- $2,500.

    • There is no match requirement.

    • Allowed expenses include staff time, consultants, equipment, trainings and meetings, and other project expenses.

    • A maximum of 20% indirect/overhead can be included in the project budget.

    Eligibility requirements   

    • Grantee must be a current member of the Land Trust Alliance or Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition.

    • Grantee must be a Massachusetts-based land trust.

    • Grantee must have the capacity to complete the project no later than August 2026.

    • Grantee must be a 501c3 organization.

    Example eligible activities

    • Acquiring GIS software or mapping tools to improve land management planning.

    • Implementing or upgrading donor management or CRM systems.

    • Hiring a consultant to lead:

      • A strategic planning process.

      • Training for staff and/or board members on cultural competence, board development, governance, stewardship, etc.

    • Developing or upgrading a website or implementing new tools for community engagement.

    • Producing outreach materials (e.g., brochures, signage for conserved properties).

    • Establishing policies or systems for:

      • Baseline documentation for CRs.

      • Annual monitoring programs.

      • Volunteer program development or training.

    • Infrastructure improvements.

    • Paying staff or interns for short-term, project-based work tied to clear organizational improvement goals, such as recordkeeping or baseline documentation reports.

    • Activities to increase compliance with Land Trust Standards & Practices and/or compliance with accreditation requirements or Terrafirma eligibility requirements.

    • Terrafirma registration fees.

    Example ineligible activities

    • Activities outside of the grant timeline.

    • Purchasing land or conservation easements.

    • Paying for property taxes or annual premiums for liability insurance, including Terrafirma.

    • Covering rent or utility bills.

    • Paying regular staff salaries without a clear connection to a short-term improvement project.

    • Donor premiums (like t-shirts or mugs).

    • Lobbying.

    Selection criteria

    We encourage land trusts who haven’t participated in previous Massachusetts Advancing Conservation Excellence programming (e.g., fundraising training and assessments and/or organizational capacity assessments) to apply. Priority will be given to applications that do one or more of the following:

    • Describe a project that clearly strengthens the land trust’s ability to achieve its mission.

    • Describe a project that will have a tangible effect on the land trust’s capacity, operations, or effectiveness.

    • Is proposed by an organization that demonstrates readiness and the ability to complete the project by August 2026.

    • Secondary criteria: Is proposed by an organization who has not yet directly participated in the Massachusetts Advancing Conservation Excellence programming.

    Process and timeline

    Aug. 4, 2025
    Request for proposals announced.
    Aug. 4-Sept. 10, 2025
    (Optional) If you want to discuss your proposal idea, please reach out to Jen Plowden at jplowden@lta.org.
    Sept. 15, 2025
    Grant proposals due.
    October 2025
    Grantee(s) notified of grant award; grant funds distributed to grantees.
    March 2026
    Check-in call with Alliance staff.
    August 2026
    Project must be completed.
    Sept. 30, 2026
    Grant report due.

    Reporting requirements

    Grantees must submit a final report on the progress and accomplishments attained through the project by Sept. 30, 2026. All reporting must be completed online by logging into the same system you used to apply for this grant. Failure to complete required reports may result in grantee forfeiting a portion or all the grant funds awarded.