Monmouth Audubon Bird Conservation Grant

The Monmouth County Audubon Society (MCAS) offers annual grants to support bird conservation through habitat enhancement within Monmouth County, New Jersey. Aimed at furthering the Society’s mission to protect native bird species and their natural environments, this initiative provides funding for small-scale, local projects that offer direct ecological benefits to birds. The grant is designed as a one-year, reimbursement-based funding opportunity to assist nonprofits and municipal environmental commissions with implementing conservation solutions at the community level. The Monmouth Audubon Bird Conservation Grant Program will distribute up to $3,000 in total funding in 2026. Applicants may request between $150 and $1,500 per proposal. Organizations may submit multiple applications and receive more than one grant during a cycle. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations as well as municipal environmental commissions within Monmouth County that have been established by ordinance. Environmental commissions must be officially recognized by their municipalities to qualify. Projects funded under this program must focus on enhancing bird habitat. Common project types include installing nesting platforms for species such as osprey, creating native plant hummingbird gardens, and constructing nest boxes for a range of bird species including purple martins, tree swallows, Eastern bluebirds, American kestrels, wood ducks, and owls. Additional eligible activities include planting native shrubs and trees that serve as food sources or nesting sites for birds. All funded work must occur within Monmouth County. Eligible expenses for reimbursement include the cost of materials and fees for professional services. The program does not cover the cost of travel or labor performed by local volunteers, officials, municipal employees, or the applicant’s staff. Proposals must be no more than two pages (excluding attachments) and must include contact information, organizational credentials, project description, methods, goals, budget, timeline, and for nonprofits, IRS nonprofit determination letters and board resolutions. Environmental commissions must provide a letter of endorsement from a municipal official. Applications must be submitted via email to MCAS by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 15, 2026. Each application will be reviewed by a technical committee, with award notifications sent by February 1, 2026. Selected grantees have one year from the project start date to complete all activities and submit a final report, including at least three photographs or graphics for MCAS’s use. The grant is disbursed in full after final documentation is reviewed and approved. For further information, applicants can contact Rob Fanning at MCASConservationGrant@yahoo.com.

Include required permits and ensure clarity on geographic eligibility. Concise proposals with complete documentation and optional stakeholder letters are encouraged.