Since 2020,  Friends of NACD has delivered over $115,000 to districts across 27 states and 2 U.S. Territories. These grants have funded career development programs for high school students, novel native plant installations, beekeeping education programs, and everything in between! Friends of NACD grant applications will open on October 13, 2026. We invite districts with innovative and exciting ideas for conservation delivery to apply.

Selectees will receive up to $2,500 to implement their projects. This might not seem like a lot, but past recipients have proven that these small grants can have a big impact in their community.

Current recipient, Kitsap Conservation District is using their grant to enhance operations at their district farm in Poulsbo, WA. With these extra funds, the district has started providing vegetable starts to local community gardens and food banks. So far this year they’ve donated nearly 4,000 starter plants to 10 local organizations.

In 2025, Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District used their grant to partner with the Georgia Association of Water Professionals and hold a “Train the Trainer” workshop for addressing eroding stream banks. Within hours of registration opening, the 42 seats in the workshop filled up!

These are just a few exciting projects that have come to fruition with the help of a Friends of NACD grant. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view all of our past recipients and get ideas for your application.

Applying for a Grant

When applications open on October 13, you will be able to apply for a grant via the application link on the Friends of NACD webpage. There will also be a request for proposals available for download that will include all questions, so you can review the entire application and organize your answers to questions before submitting them.

This grant application process is designed to be simple and easy to understand. It is great for first time grant applicants looking to gain experience with the grant application and administration process. Any district or state association, that has paid membership dues during FY26 and has not received a Friends of NACD grant before is eligible to apply. Please reach out to jackson-moody[at]nacdnet.org if you have questions about your district’s eligibility.

Review and Award Process

After applications close on December 8, members of the NACD District and Partner Relations Committee and Outreach Subcommittee will review and score eligible applications.

The grant recipients will be announced publicly at NACD’s Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV in February, but applicants will be notified of their status before the meeting. Friends of NACD grants have become more competitive in recent years, so if your application is not selected, we encourage you to reapply in subsequent years.

Become a Friend of NACD

Much of the funding for these awards comes from readers just like you!

Friends of NACD grants are supported by individual donations ranging from $35 to $1,500. Individuals that give at the $1,500 level are recognized as Lifetime Friends of NACD in our annual report and at our annual meeting each year. They will also receive a handmade, sterling silver and turquoise pin to wear proudly.

Donations can be made on behalf of other individuals, and donating at the $1,500 level is a perfect way to honor state association presidents, long-time board members, and others that have dedicated their lives to locally led conservation. At our 2026 Summer Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Executive Board members made a contribution to honor our outgoing CEO, Jeremy Peters, and the 15 years he dedicated to working at NACD.

If you’re interested in contributing, you can make a donation here. Please reach out to jackson-moody[at]nacdnet.org if you are interested in making a gift at $1,500 or above.

Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation

In addition to donations from our community, these grants are supported by the Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation (SMGF). Scotts has been a longtime supporter of NACD, starting in 2013 with sponsorship of our Urban and Community Conservation Webinars. In 2025 they expanded their support to include the Friends of NACD program, and we thank them for helping us deliver grants to our members.

Tags: Did You Know?, Friends of NACD