Matching Awards Program 2025

The National Forest Foundation (NFF), a leading nonprofit dedicated to the stewardship and enjoyment of the United States’ National Forests, administers the Matching Awards Program (MAP) as its flagship grant initiative. The program is supported by federal funds through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and is detailed under Federal Assistance Listing 10.682. MAP: Connecting People to Forests, the latest iteration of the program, reflects NFF’s updated strategic vision and focus on equitable access, environmental stewardship, and deep community involvement with public lands. This round of funding, Round 2 of 2025, is designed to enhance community participation through in-person engagement and active conservation work on or near National Forest System lands. MAP aims to fund projects that involve both community engagement and stewardship. Community engagement must be in-person and can include a wide range of activities such as field trips, ecological ceremonies, volunteer cleanups, or educational workshops. In addition, all projects must include stewardship elements that provide tangible or informational benefits to the National Forest System, such as trail maintenance, invasive species control, or environmental monitoring. Emphasis is placed on reaching underserved communities and fostering long-term relationships with public lands. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments or organizations, or universities. Projects led by other types of organizations may qualify if they use a fiscal sponsor. Projects must occur on U.S. National Forests or Grasslands or directly adjacent public lands that benefit these systems. A strict 1:1 nonfederal cash match is required, and in-kind contributions or federal funds cannot be counted toward this match. All compliance requirements, such as NEPA and other environmental clearances, must be completed at the time of application. Applications are due June 27, 2025, with an informational webinar held on June 4, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm MDT. Project start dates are expected in September or October 2025, and performance periods can extend up to 18 months. There is no strict cap or floor on award amounts, though new applicants are encouraged to request $30,000 or less. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the relevant U.S. Forest Service offices to ensure awareness and preliminary support for their proposals. Formal letters of support are not needed at the time of application but must be secured before funding can be awarded. Applicants must complete a pre-application eligibility quiz to access the full application form and are encouraged to use supporting resources such as application tips and budget guidance. Proposals are reviewed by a committee of NFF staff, board members, and U.S. Forest Service representatives, with evaluation based on criteria including the strength of engagement, potential to expand public lands beneficiaries, stewardship impact, long-term community engagement, and overall feasibility. Contact for the program is Renán Zambrano, Conservation Awards Coordinator, reachable at 210.917.4719 or via email at grants@nationalforests.org.