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Conservation Futures application process
Apply for Conservation Futures funding to add parks and open spaces to your community
The application round for 2027 funding will open November 3, 2025. Applications will be due February 9, 2026.
CFT grants are used to buy or conserve sites that will be used as parks and open spaces - for example, urban greenspaces and parks, natural areas, sites for habitat and stream restoration, forests, community gardens, farms, and trails. These open spaces may be used for passive recreation. We may be able to partner on green stormwater acquisitions or create parks near affordable housing. CFT grants can be made to local governmental agencies and eligible nature conservancy or historic preservation nonprofits (please visit our nonprofit page for more information; our entry point for nonprofits is during the summer prior to the grant round to ensure adequate time to review organizational capacity and financial readiness).
In communities that have been under-served with open space investments, CFT funding may be able to cover 100% of the acquisition costs for some projects. Please visit the match waiver page for details.
Application materials:
- CFT Application Guidance - please read for guidance on maps & submittal process
- Projects Applying for Acquisition and Site Stabilization Cost Funding: download both of the following documents - documents will be posted by November 2025:
- CFT application for 2027 funding (Microsoft Word)
- CFT funding request table (Microsoft Excel)
- Projects Applying for Site Stabilization Cost (SSC) Funding Only: download both of the following documents - documents will be posted by November 2025:
- CFT application for 2027 funding – site stabilization costs (SSC) only (Microsoft Word)
- CFT funding request table – site stabilization costs (SSC) only (Microsoft Excel)
Additional references:
- Schedule
- Conservation Futures program manual
- Application evaluation criteria and general conditions
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Match waiver information
- Nonprofit applicants
- View examples of recent applications
- Conservation Futures flyer
- Project implementation guidance: workshop recording and slides
Applicant Support
General project support
Please contact Ingrid Lundin or set up time to meet at this Microsoft Bookings Page to discuss your project. We encourage early conversations, particularly for first-time applicants; nonprofits; match waiver requests; land match projects; projects with areas not eligible for CFT.
Workshops
Attend a Conservation Futures Application Workshop to learn how Conservation Futures funding can help buy parks and open spaces for your community. Workshops are held on Zoom and advanced registration is required. Get the workshop handout.
- Workshop #1 (for first-time applicants): Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (10-11:30 am) Registration link
- Workshop #2 (for returning applicants): Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (2-3pm) Registration link
- Workshop #3 (for first-time applicants): Wednesday, December 3, 2025 (1-2:30 pm) Registration link
If you can’t join one of these sessions, you can view a recording of a first-time applicant workshop:
- Workshop recording (see workshop handout)
- Workshop recording (taller para solicitantes, subtítulos en Español) (folleto en Español)
Technical assistance
We have consultants who can provide free grant-writing technical assistance to applicants. To request help, please email Ingrid Lundin as early as possible and no later than January 9, 2026.
Translations
Email Ingrid Lundin with requests for interpretation and translation.