Friends of NACD

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…… Continue reading →

By Jackson Moody, NACD Membership Coordinator The Northwinds 4-H Camp is a four-day residential camp offered to all eight- to 13-year-olds within a five-county area in Northern Pennsylvania. Last summer, McKean County Conservation District received a Friends of NACD grant to support camp operations and development of the next generation of environmental stewards. While this…… Continue reading →

Driving through Cuyahoga County, Ohio, one can easily spot a network of stormwater infrastructure that spans the landscape.  The most recognized feature is the dry detention basin, often a grass depression in the landscape that temporarily holds water and slowly releases it. Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff saw the potential to elevate the ecology…… Continue reading →

By Jackson Moody, NACD Membership and Development Coordinator At our Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, last month, we were thrilled to kick off another year of the Friends of NACD Grant program. Since 2020, this program has awarded up to $2,500 to districts for conservation initiatives. While a wide variety of projects are eligible, the District and Partner Relations Committee emphasizes the desire for…… Continue reading →

Did you know that NACD has a grant program that is available only to our loyal members?   Beginnings of the Programs  Friends of NACD was first launched in 2010 to provide our community with a way to directly invest in locally led conservation. Supporters jumped at the chance to contribute to this new program. In…… Continue reading →

In 2024, the Rio Grande Conservation District (RGCD) in the San Luis Valley of Colorado received a Friends of NACD Grant to implement a forestry project alongside the Center Conservation District. With partner assistance from the Rio Grande Watershed Conservation & Education Initiative (RGWCEI), Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), and NRCS, they held a hands-on…… Continue reading →

In 2024, the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) used a Friends of NACD grant to initiate a community engagement project at their 87-acre property in Dallas, Oregon, named Cornerstone. This grant enabled Polk SWCD to update their brochures and signage, buy tools dedicated to removing invasive species, and engage a broad group of…… Continue reading →

Since its inception in 2017, Urban Greens, a program of Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), has experienced significant growth. However, their mission has remained the same; growing food, growing community, growing with purpose. This mission also remains at the forefront of their work. During the past two growing season Urban Greens partnered with…… Continue reading →

Luta Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in The Northern Mariana Islands created The Cultivating Roots project with support from a Friends of NACD district grant. This project immersed youth on Rota Island, NMI in a transformative experience that blended environmental education with the rich tapestry of Chamorro culture. The project evolved to align with…… Continue reading →

[caption id="attachment_55402" align="alignleft" width="336"] Chairman Hudson meeting with contractors on site for site preparation bidding.[/caption] The Capitol Conservation District recently developed the “Ben Franklin Career & Technical Center” Outdoor Classroom, a one-of-a-kind education program that encompasses aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils, and agriculture through hands-on, exploratory learning in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The project was developed…… Continue reading →