The Conservation Partners Program 2025 is a competitive funding initiative administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with various federal and corporate entities. These include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), The J.M. Smucker Co., General Mills, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. The program aims to foster regenerative agriculture and conservation practices on private working lands through technical assistance to farmers and ranchers.
This program funds projects that provide local, technical support for developing conservation plans and implementing practices to improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. While direct financial assistance to producers is not allowed, the grant encourages the use of Farm Bill programs like EQIP and CSP. Grant funds are meant to enhance the capacity for conservation planning and execution, particularly in reducing backlogs related to these federal programs.
Grants range between $200,000 and $1,000,000, with an average around $500,000. Projects must start no earlier than October 1, 2025, and must be completed within 36 months. A strong preference is given to large-scale efforts with significant acreage impact. Matching funds are not mandatory but offering them strengthens an application's competitiveness. Match sources must be non-federal and can include cash, volunteer time, donated services, and indirect costs.
The program is geographically targeted, focusing on four priority regions: the Great Plains, Upper Mississippi River Basin, Great Lakes Basin, and Western Grazing Lands. Each region has specific conservation strategies and objectives aligned with local ecological and agricultural needs. The required application metrics include job creation, conservation planning, producer participation, and ecological outcomes. Additional nutrient management metrics are mandatory for projects within the Great Lakes Basin.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local and state government entities, tribal organizations, and educational institutions. For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible. Application must be submitted online via NFWF’s Easygrants system by July 15, 2025. A webinar for applicants will be held on May 22, 2025. Awards will be announced in December 2025. Applicants are encouraged to consult NRCS State Conservationists during project planning and must comply with all relevant federal requirements and environmental laws.
Questions regarding the program should be directed to Greg Pilchak (greg.pilchak@nfwf.org, 202-938-0640) or Minna Wong (minna.wong@nfwf.org, 202-595-2657). Technical issues with the Easygrants portal can be addressed by the Easygrants Helpdesk.
