Biodiversity Conservation Grant

The Biodiversity Conservation Grant, offered by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) with support from Toyota Motor North America, provides targeted funding for pollinator habitat enhancement projects on public lands across the United States. The program aims to directly support shovel-ready conservation activities that will benefit pollinator species like bees, butterflies, bats, and other important contributors to ecological diversity. With a total of $200,000 available, and individual grants up to $75,000, the initiative underscores the importance of public land restoration and community engagement in biodiversity efforts. Applicants must demonstrate readiness to begin project implementation within three months of award disbursement and must impact a minimum of 500 acres with direct conservation actions. Qualifying actions include invasive species removal, native planting, prescribed burns, and similar restoration measures that contribute meaningfully to the support of pollinator species. Importantly, the acreage counted must reflect plots with direct project activities funded through this grant or the applicant’s unrestricted budget; acreage supported by other external funders is excluded unless proportionally adjusted. Projects must take place on public lands, defined broadly to include federal, state, and local lands, as well as community-accessible green spaces and urban parks. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, federally recognized tribes, and government agencies at the local, state, or federal levels. For-profit entities and individuals are ineligible. Proposals that include educational and volunteer components, as well as strategies to maintain habitat improvements beyond the grant term, are strongly favored in the evaluation process. Emphasis is also placed on scientific restoration methods, organizational reliability, partnership diversity, and alignment with NEEF’s public engagement mission. The application process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI), which is a required step to be considered for full proposal submission. In the 2025 cycle, the LOI opened on February 1 and closed on March 1. Selected finalists were invited to submit full applications by April 1, with a final deadline of May 1. Funding was awarded in June, and the grant period spanned from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Two progress reports are required: an interim report by December 31 and a final report by July 15. Funding is distributed in full at the start of the grant period, and while projects may extend beyond the one-year window, measurable milestones must occur within it. NEEF explicitly encourages collaboration among organizations to meet the acreage requirement and urges applicants to include intentional, year-round community engagement activities such as volunteer days, signage, educational hikes, and interpretive programming. Notably, Toyota manufacturing plant locations are highlighted as optional areas of interest for volunteer engagement, although this is not a required element for selection. Organizations are also expected to articulate long-term sustainability strategies, including data collection, educational dissemination, and ongoing stewardship. Prospective applicants are advised to consult NEEF’s FAQ and glossary resources and direct any questions to the official grants administration email. The grant is expected to recur annually, with the next cycle likely opening in February 2026 based on prior patterns. Interested parties are encouraged to prepare early and monitor the NEEF website for announcements related to the upcoming opportunity.

Emphasize direct conservation over 500 acres; include community engagement and sustainability; co-applying to meet acreage minimum encouraged