Project Advancement Grant Categories

The Project Advancement Grant Program will award funds that build the capacity of the state’s land trusts and their partners to advance projects towards the goals of 30x30 and NWLCSS in three categories.

1. Transaction, Project Development, and Permitting
2. Organizational Capacity Building
3. Building and Sustaining Partnerships

Eligible entities and partnerships may only submit one application for consideration under this program.

Evaluation Criteria are listed here. Note that categories are described only to provide context for program goals and as funding examples. Applicants may formulate projects that align with multiple categories.

Funding can include staff or consultant time or may fund new positions or partner stipends. Applications that advance land trust projects but do not include partnerships or collaborations are welcome and encouraged.

1.    Transaction, Project Development, and Permitting Grants

Transaction, Project Development, and Permitting Grants will cover costs associated with new conservation easement and fee-acquisition projects that will result in strategic, permanent protection of land that directly contributes to the goals of 30x30 and/or the NWLCSS. Costs may include staff or consultant costs directly tied to completing the project or moving the project toward implementation. Funds are not available for restoration implementation. Priority is given to projects that are located within, or directly benefit, underserved communities and/or support Tribal and Indigenous priorities.

Grant funds are intended to cover indirect transaction costs and may not be used directly for land or easement purchase price. Examples include:

• Project-related staff and/or contractor time and expenses
• Legal fees for option or purchase/sale or easement agreements, deeds, title review, etc.
• Baseline documentation, due diligence, Phase 1, title review and discovery costs
• Any other tangible due diligence item that leads to a successful transaction project
• Land appraisals for fee title or easement acquisitions
• Development of baseline, stewardship, or management plans
• Preparing non-state grant applications for acquisition or easement projects
• Design and installation of public access improvements associated with acquiring a conservation easement or fee property
• Preparing project plans, specifications, and cost estimates that will result in a specific project
• Acquiring permits for specific, future on-the-ground projects
• Analysis required to support and complete CEQA and or NEPA documentation for specific projects
• Performing necessary cultural resources, biological, botanical, aquatic, soil, hydrologic, mineral, wildlife, timber, or other studies/survey/mapping; and/or developing necessary project designs related to a specific site or physical project

2.    Organizational Capacity Building

Organizational Capacity Building Grants support land trust efforts to increase the pace of land conservation in California. Grants should describe specifically how the grant will assist the organization increase or strengthen its capacity for new or additional projects related to 30x30 or NWLCSS. Funding is intended to help land trusts build and sustain organizational capacity and effectiveness and develop and enhance community programs and services. Grant projects should be focused on tangible activities and outcomes and grantees should be able to describe the metrics they will use to measure these outcomes. Examples include:

• Developing or refining baseline documentation
• Developing or refining specific organizational policies or practices related to acquisition or stewardship
• Conservation planning, including integrating climate science into strategic conservation planning and priorities
• Organizational planning such as strategic planning, planning or strategy building for fundraising or grant development, and succession planning
• Developing or expanding a GIS database to support conservation planning
• Merger or strategic collaboration assessments
• Revising templates and policies to include cultural access
• Accessibility assessments and improvements
• New staff onboarding and training
• Organizational development consultant to guide capacity limited land trusts build effective structures and functions

3.    Building and Sustaining Partnerships

Building and Sustaining Partnership Grants include projects that will build and sustain partnerships between land trusts and historically underserved community and/or Native partners and will lead to new conservation projects. Successful projects should advance all partners’ goals and purpose/missions. Letters of Support that demonstrate partner commitment and readiness to participate are required. The partners should submit a joint proposal. Joint proposals should specify how grant resources will be shared and help strengthen and/or formalize the partnership. Priority will be given to projects that are likely to be sustained beyond the grant period. Examples include:

• Establishing and building connections with community-based organizations or Native Tribes or Native-led organizations to develop a specific project
• Planning for Indigenous stewardship of conserved lands, planning or providing cultural access, or planning for ancestral land return processes
• Regional conservation collaboration implementation
• Developing collaborative outreach and communication strategies to landowners, including message development and attitude polling, with a focus on developing new projects
• Collaborative grant writing for a large-scale protection or restoration initiative
• Community outreach and/or listening sessions for a specific project

Grant Guidelines

Resources and FAQs - updated

Webinar Recording & Slides
Download a PDF of the Webinar Slides.

Grant Timeline

*Applications from Native-led land trusts, or applications that include partnerships with underserved community organizations and/or Tribes or Native-led organizations may be submitted at any time. Please contact the Program Director by October 18, 2024 to inform us of your intent to apply. For projects submitted after October 18, 2024, funding is limited and will be provided as applications are received and evaluated.

Contact Information
Karin Winters, Program Director
E-mail:  [email protected]
Phone: 916-497-0272 x2
Book a meeting with Karin