The Conservation Partnership Grant, offered by the Division of Conservation Services within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, supports the acquisition of conservation land by nonprofit organizations. The purpose of the grant is to fund the purchase of land intended for conservation or recreation purposes, ensuring the long-term protection of natural spaces across the state.
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit entities whose mission is to protect land in perpetuity. The FY26 grant round is currently open, and applications must be submitted online by Tuesday, July 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Required application materials include a project narrative, project budget, project location maps, a letter of commitment from an entity willing to hold the conservation restriction, appropriate appraisals if purchasing land, supporting documentation from local and state open space plans, documentation of relevant stewardship program enrollments (if applicable), Articles of Incorporation and 501(c)(3) status, and an average climate resiliency score based on The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient Land map.
Applications are reviewed based on a Conservation Partnership Rating System, and most awards are announced approximately 120 days after the application deadline. If selected for an award, applicants must submit further documentation to finalize the contract. Funding is intended to strengthen climate resiliency and conservation efforts across Massachusetts by prioritizing high-value conservation lands.
For further information, applicants are directed to download the FY26 Grant Round BID Package and the FY26 Conservation Partnership Rating System. Questions can be directed to Melissa Cryan via phone at (857) 274-7173 or email at Melissa.Cryan@mass.gov. The grant is a key initiative to support the Commonwealth's ongoing commitment to environmental preservation and climate change resilience.
