More Funding Sources

Below are some links to other grant sources. Note: All of these links exit the DNR website.

These links are provided as an information service only. The Department is not responsible for the contents of these off-site pages referenced. Since the department is not responsible for the availability of these outside resources or their contents you should direct any concerns of the external links to its site administrator or Webmaster.

Grants.Gov - This site allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies.

Ducks Unlimited Matching Aid to Restore States Habitat (MARSH) - Ducks Unlimited program providing up to 50% matching funds to public and private cooperators for long-term projects benefiting waterfowl.

Earthwatch Institute Grants - up to $130,000 to fund volunteer-based projects involving monitoring of water quality and other environmental factors, and/or test innovative watershed protection techniques.

Fish America Foundation Grants - awards averaging $7,500 for fisheries and habitat improvement projects and $15,000 for research projects related to fisheries and habitat improvement.

Hardwood Forestry Fund - provides grants to purchase and plant seedlings on public lands being converted to hardwood forest, harvested sites lacking desired natural regeneration, and forest land damaged by wildfire, flood, wind, or ice storms.

Kodak American Greenway Awards (The Conservation Fund) - grants of up to $2,500 to help fund planning and development of community greenspace.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant Programs - both large and small scale grants to fund a wide range of protection and enhancement projects.

National Park Service Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) grants - up to 70% ($1,000,000 max) of the cost of projects rehabilitating existing indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and/or demonstrating innovative ways to enhance park and recreational opportunities at the neighborhood level. Available to "physically or economically distressed" neighborhoods or communities.

National Wild Turkey Federation - funds projects to enhance habitat for wild turkeys and to promote associated outdoor recreational opportunities.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Standard grant program - up to 50% match ($1,000,000) encourages partnerships, through 10-year agreements, among public and private entities to conserve and manage wetlands for migratory bird use.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Small Grants - provides up to 50% matching (up to $50,000) for acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or restoration of wetlands.

NRCS Farmland Protection Program (FPP) - provides up to 50% of the purchase cost for easements of 30 years duration or longer on eligible farmland keeps productive farmland in agricultural use. Available to states, tribes, local governments and non-profits.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - provides funding for land purchases, easements and other projects designed to enhance elk habitat and promote wildlife conservation.

Ruffled Grouse Society Management Area Program (MAP) - funding for projects designed to improve habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock, including forestry practice consultation.

Turner Foundation Grants - supporting advocacy efforts and providing staff resources for the promotion of conservation and preservation practices.

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) - 50% to 75% federal funding for studies, planning, outreach, wetland restoration, greenway and buffer acquisition, access enhancement, contaminated site clean-up, stormwater control and other projects designed to protect and restore coastal resources on Wisconsin Great Lakes shorelines.

Additional Resources

Catalog of Community Assistance - Lists scores of state aids and technical services offered by various state agencies.

Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance - a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government.

Clean Water - UW Extension - Educational and informative websites on natural resource topics, watershed projects, grants and proposal writing for environmental, agriculture, and watershed projects.

The Conservation Fund - forges partnerships to preserve our nation's outdoor heritage. It has protected more than three million acres of America's outdoor heritage.

Gathering Waters - links to Wisconsin land trusts - valuable partners as they are eligible for grant programs not available to local units of government.

Grants.gov - link to single, comprehensive web site that will contain information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs.

Land Trust Alliance - links to land trusts across the country and affiliated resources. Includes Wisconsin land trust contacts.

The Nature Conservancy - Together with our members and conservation partners, the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy has protected almost 62,000 acres of critical natural lands in Wisconsin.

People and Land Grants - a Kellogg Foundation program funding citizen education and leadership development projects that promote environmentally sustainable and economically viable land use.

River Alliance of Wisconsin - provides information and assistance, matching communities and non-profits with sources of funding for projects benefiting Wisconsin rivers.

Trust for Public Lands - a national non-profit that helps communities identify lands in need of protection that offer opportunities for public use. TPL rarely offers funding, but will help communities find sources of funding and otherwise assist in the land acquisition.

UW Madison Grant Information Center - providing information on grant programs and advice on how to pursue grants effectively.

UW Stevens Point Virtual Reference Desk - providing links to other grant resources.

Miscellaneous Grant Programs to Explore

AGSTAR Fund for Rural America - In late 2001 Mankato-based AgStar Financial Services established a corporate giving program aimed at supporting agricultural and rural initiatives and enhancing the quality of life and future opportunities for rural residents and their communities. The fund's trustees also established four key areas of support: education, technologic, environment and quality of life.

Boat USA Foundation, Clean Water Grants - up to $2,000 for projects promoting clean water and responsible boating.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Grants - funding to support Non-Government Organization capacity building, environmental policy development and site-based conservation efforts.

Earthwatch Insatiate Watershed Grants - grants ranging from $7,000 to $130,000 are available on an ongoing basis through the Institute's Center for Field Research for projects relating to watershed management. Funding is for field-based projects in any country that address a variety of questions and issues, including water quality monitoring, market approaches to watershed problems, restoration, endangered species, and basic and applied research. Projects must be scientifically based and involve volunteers.

WEEB Grant Program - The WEEB grant program has been expanded to include a new "School Forest" component. The WEEB continues to administer the previously available forestry education grant program, Focus on Energy grant program general environmental education program and a mini-grant program.

Federal Commons - grant information related to environmental quality and natural resources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - information on Grant Programs Administered by EPA.

TGCI, The Grantmanship Center - the world's leader in grant information.