Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
About This Grant
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, local government entities, and nonprofit organizations that are qualified to acquire and manage land may apply for up to $1,000,000 for the fee simple acquisition of private forest land in portions of the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin. Projects submitted for funding consideration must be forested properties at least five acres in size that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses and that provide community benefits including economic, environmental, educational, and recreational benefits. An additional focus of this opportunity is to protect, enhance and increase resilience of habitats necessary for sustaining native aquatic and terrestrial species important to the Lake Superior ecosystem. Competitive proposals will be those that demonstrate exceptional public benefits, meaningful community engagement, and strategic contributions to terrestrial habitat connectivity within the defined Terrestrial Habitat Connectivity Pilot Area.For additional information and requirements, please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity document linked in both the "Related Documents" tab and the "Instructions" link located in the "Package" tab.
Grant Summary
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is a Forest Service grant providing up to $1M for municipality. Applications are due 2026-12-08 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
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Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $1M
2026-12-08
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program from Forest Service, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to Forest Service before the deadline.
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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program?
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is offered by Forest Service and is generally open to municipality. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provide?
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provides up to $1M per award from Forest Service. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program deadline?
Applications for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program are due 2026-12-08 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, Forest Service, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program?
To apply for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from Forest Service.