North Carolina Land and Water Fund

The North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF), housed within the Division of Land and Water Stewardship in the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, plays a pivotal role in the conservation and enhancement of the state's natural and cultural heritage. Established to support the acquisition, preservation, and restoration of North Carolina’s critical lands and waters, the Fund delivers grants through structured annual and triannual cycles. Its mission supports not only environmental sustainability but also public health, recreation, and cultural resource protection. The NCLWF’s Regular Grant Cycle supports four key program areas: Acquisition, Restoration, Innovative Stormwater, and Planning. These grants are typically awarded once per year and aim to conserve land and water resources, enhance water quality, and develop strategic plans to mitigate stormwater impacts. The Regular Cycle opens annually on January 15, when updated funding manuals and application forms become available on the Fund’s official website. Applicants are expected to update their materials accordingly and submit their applications via the provided online webform. This platform allows applicants to create login credentials, enabling them to save and return to their applications as needed. Applications for the Regular Cycle must be submitted by March 1 at 11:59 PM ET. In July, updates regarding landowner status and match security must be provided. The anticipated date for funding decisions, made by the NCLWF Board of Trustees, is October 1. These decisions are informed by application reviews conducted by Field Representatives and Program Managers, who assess project sites, develop scopes of work, and assign scores using the NCLWF Application Rating System. However, final funding decisions may not directly correlate with the application scores, as the Board takes additional factors into consideration. The NCLWF also operates a Donation Mini-Grant (DMG) Program, with three submission deadlines each year: January 15, April 15, and August 15. These smaller-scale grants are tailored for conservation donations and projects requiring less funding and a quicker turnaround. Application forms and manuals for both the Regular Cycle and DMG Program are publicly accessible on the Fund’s website. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult the NCLWF Field Representatives to assess the eligibility of their project concepts before initiating the application process. Eligibility for NCLWF grants is restricted to specific types of organizations. State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit corporations whose primary mission involves conservation, preservation, and restoration of North Carolina’s natural and cultural resources are eligible to apply. Private individuals, for-profit organizations, and entities not primarily focused on conservation are excluded. All applicants must follow the instructions in the annual funding manual, which contains critical guidance, including the full application process, rating criteria, frequently asked questions, and example forms. The NCLWF’s approach emphasizes transparency, strategic conservation outcomes, and community engagement. Application materials are released annually in mid-January, and applicants are advised to subscribe to the Fund’s email list to receive timely updates. While no pre-application registration is required, early consultation with field staff is recommended. Final awards are announced following the October meeting, with score summaries made available in advance to assist applicants in understanding their standing. The Fund’s office is located at the Nature Research Center in Raleigh, and they can be contacted by phone at (919) 707-9400.

Early contact with Field Representatives is advised; scores inform but do not guarantee funding; matching details due by July 7.