Grant Program
The program aims to support and build the capacity of land trusts and other groups that conserve and steward land to integrate climate change into land protection and management decisions.
The program supports the development of climate-informed land conservation, stewardship, policy or communications plans that address one or more of the following issues: habitat resilience, carbon mitigation, renewable energy siting or community adaptation to climate impacts such as stronger storms, flooding, drought, fire or extreme heat.
Projects should achieve one or more of the following deliverables:
Incorporate climate science into new or existing strategic conservation plans that target land protection for climate adaptation or mitigation.
Incorporate climate science into land stewardship or management plans to address adaptation and/or mitigation strategies.
Develop a comprehensive climate communication strategy that promotes the adaptation and mitigation goals of the organization and its conservation or stewardship plans.
Develop a plan, decision matrix and/or policies to guide organizational engagement with renewable energy siting on conservation lands and/or in service areas.
The program encourages proposals that address the inequitable burdens of climate change and environmental racism on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and low-income communities.
See grant awardees in the 2024 grant roundTHANK YOU
This program is made possible through support from the Doris Duke Foundation, Jane’s Trust Foundation, The Volgenau Foundation, the William Penn Foundation and several generous individual donors.
Opportunity and funding available
Through the program, Land Trust Alliance and Open Space Institute awarded $200,000 to support projects in the 2024 grant round.
Eligibility
Projects must begin in 2024 and be completed by Dec. 1, 2025. Please carefully consider if the project is ready and your organization has the capacity to complete the work within this timeframe.
The grants may be used to cover costs associated with the development of strategic conservation plans or land management plans as described above and/or to develop internal policies, procedures, and communications in support of this work. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to staff time, travel, graphic design, printing, mailing, indirect costs (up to 15%) and project consultants.
General operating support
Research that is not directly related to the conservation planning or management project described in the application
Land acquisition and restoration capital costs
Political lobbying
Development of carbon offset projects.*
*The Alliance’s Carbon Offset Pilot Program provides a separate opportunity for qualified land trusts to apply for grants that support carbon offset project development.
Who may apply
Land Trust Alliance Grants
Please note that Renewable Energy Siting project grants are only available to applicants that meet Land Trust Alliance eligibility requirements.
Open Space Institute Grants
Please note that applicants that are not land trusts are only eligible to apply for grants from Open Space Institute, which are limited to the geographies outlined above. You may use this tool to check whether your project is within Open Space Institute’s eligible geography.
Match
There is no match requirement. Applicants will be asked to report the full project budget, and any sources of funding in addition to the grant request as part of the financial summary form. Documentation of in-kind or cash match is appreciated where possible.
Evaluation criteria
Project impact
The project has the potential to inform conservation decisions (such as land protection; land stewardship; or related activities), in the near term. If the project does not cover a broad geographic region (e.g., county scale or larger), the applicant should demonstrate how the project serves as a model or demonstration or will influence the way the organization operates.
Audience
The plan seeks to inform the actions of an identified audience (such as a land trust or organization, Tribe, landowners, municipalities, public agency partners, etc.) that has the resources and commitment to achieve the goals of the project.
Methods and use of science
The proposal identifies information sources that will be used in the project and articulates clear steps or methods to achieve outcomes.
Feasibility
The project team has the capacity, expertise and commitment to complete the project. The project is likely to succeed within the proposed timeframe. The applicant demonstrates ability to make effective use of technical support, if requested.
Community benefit
The applicant demonstrates how the project will strengthen climate resilience in communities facing climate threats and/or address the inequitable burdens of climate impacts.
Learn more about applying
The Alliance and Open Space Institute want to help make sure you're able to build the best application possible. Click here to view the recording of the online information session held on April 10th.
Program staff will also offer three virtual “office hours” sessions, where applicants can ask questions and receive feedback on project proposals. Register here to schedule a 20-minute individual consultation with program staff on one of the dates listed below.
• Office Hours Session 1: April 23, 1-3 PM Eastern
• Office Hours Session 2: April 25, 2-4 PM Eastern
• Office Hours Session 3: April 30, 1-3 PM Eastern
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please do not hesitate to reach out via phone or email.
Learn more about how these resources were created in the webinar recording below.
