The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) administers the Land Capital Grant Program (LCG), a funding initiative launched in 2025 to support land trusts in securing critical conservation lands. Backed by the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, this private grant initiative builds upon CLCC’s history of conservation support through complementary programs such as the Transaction Assistance Grant Program and the Climate Smart Land Stewardship Program.
The LCG program aims to close funding gaps that might prevent or delay the protection of valuable conservation lands. It provides financial assistance specifically for the acquisition of land or conservation easements intended for permanent protection. Grant funds must be used exclusively for acquisition costs, and related transactional expenses are supported under separate funding.
Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with missions dedicated to land conservation within Connecticut and current CLCC membership are eligible to apply. Projects must be located in Connecticut or, in the case of multi-state efforts, predominantly within the state. The acquisition must involve permanent protection and close within 12 months of the award.
Applications are accepted by invitation only, following a required consultation with Yaw Darko, Director of Grants and Programs at CLCC. The program operates on a bimonthly review cycle with application deadlines falling on the first of every other month beginning in March 2025. The upcoming submission date is July 1, 2025, with a funding announcement by August 31, 2025, and a project closing deadline of August 31, 2026.
Evaluation criteria include biodiversity value, habitat connectivity, climate resilience, contributions to water quality, and the extent and inclusivity of public access. CLCC references data from The Nature Conservancy and the CT ECO Map Viewer to assess project sites on these metrics.
Interested applicants must contact Yaw Darko by phone at 860-852-5512 to determine project eligibility and begin the invitation process.
Projects must align with conservation goals, demonstrate urgency, leverage existing funds, and close within 12 months
