Conservation Grants

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (FPW) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit grant-making foundation dedicated to the long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of the Commonwealth’s water resources. Through its Conservation Grants program, FPW provides private matching grant funding to support local and regional organizations engaged in preserving pristine waterways and rehabilitating impaired water bodies. The program prioritizes measurable on-the-ground impact and aligns with FPW’s core mission to ensure clean, healthy water for future generations. Conservation Grants aim to enhance water quality, aquatic habitat, and community-level stewardship throughout Pennsylvania. The program supports both grassroots initiatives and larger-scale efforts by providing financial assistance that enables applicants to leverage state and federal funding, build institutional capacity, and achieve long-term conservation outcomes. Core funding goals include improving water quality and habitat in impaired watersheds, increasing public access to streams, strengthening community stewardship capacity, and advancing land conservation strategies—particularly in critical headwater regions. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that offer tangible environmental improvements and collaborative impact. FPW gives preference to projects that involve partnerships, offer matching support (either in cash or in-kind), or demonstrate increased access to recreational water resources. Proposals must also include measurable goals and a clear path to evaluating outcomes. Organizations are expected to report on project completion and outcomes as part of the funding requirements. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and government entities such as conservation districts. All applicants must demonstrate their tax-exempt status. FPW’s geographic focus is limited to projects within Pennsylvania, although availability of funds may vary by region depending on the cycle. All applications must clearly identify the project region and compliance with any geographic restrictions in effect for the given cycle. The application process includes a required Letter of Intent (LOI), due Friday, March 20, 2026. Organizations whose LOIs are accepted will be invited to submit a full proposal by Friday, April 17, 2026. Awards will be announced following FPW’s fall board meeting scheduled for mid-May 2026. Each cycle, the Foundation typically awards between 15 and 30 grants, with average award amounts ranging from $20,000 to $25,000. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Grants Program Administrator Maggie Anderson ([email protected]) prior to submission for informal conversations to assess project fit and clarify alignment with FPW’s goals. All grantees must complete final reporting as a condition of funding.