Missoula Conservation District is pleased to offer the following grants designed to foster conservation of natural resources within Missoula County.
The next cycle for grant applications will be March 1, 2023 – April 15, 2023. All grant programs below will be open for applications during this cycle.
Conservation Grants
-Conservation Enhancement Grant
-Riparian Planting Mini Grant
-Innovation Conservation Grant
Education Grants
-Education Cost Share Grant
-Education Mini Grant
-Continuing Education Mini Grant
Operations Mini Grant
-Operations Mini Grant
The requirements for each specific grant offering is detailed under each heading below. Applicants should pay specific attention to whether the grant program is available to individuals and/or organizations as this varies by each grant.
Please follow the instructions provided on the grant application form and answer each of the questions. Questions may be directed to Bryan Vogt at bryan.vogt@macdnet.org or 406-880-3526.
Conservation Grants
Conservation Enhancement Grant
This grant has up to a $5,000 award for a landowner or land manager to improve natural resources within Missoula County through on-the-ground restoration practices that provide a public resource benefit. District staff will provide technical assistance and may conduct pre-project site visits to determine eligibility and make project suggestions. Applications must be submitted prior to any work being conducted or purchase of materials as payments of Conservation Enhancement Grants (CEG) are for reimbursement of approved projects only. Applications for completed projects or those already started will not be considered. The grant will reimburse 50%–75% of the total allowable costs of the project, up to a maximum award amount of $5,000. Interested applicants should review the CEG Information Brochure link below for additional information on eligible conservation practices, reimbursement cost-share rates, and other program requirements.
The Conservation Enhancement Grant program will be accepting applications beginning March 1st – April 15th for those interested in implementing projects in the fall of 2023.
Informational Brochure – Read this document before downloading the application
CEG Application Form
CEG Project Budget Spreadsheet – Required attachment (See Example RPG Budget spreadsheets link below for guidance, if needed)
Ranking Criteria – Provided for applicant reference
Riparian Planting Mini Grant
This grant has up to a $1,000 award for a landowner or land manager to purchase native plants or seed as part of an enhancement project that promotes, maintains, and restores riparian areas along stream streams and rivers in Missoula County. Conservation District staff will provide technical assistance, conduct site visits, and determine project eligibility. Applications must be submitted prior to any work being conducted or purchase of materials as payments of Riparian Plant Mini Grants are for reimbursement of approved plantings and seedings only. Applications for completed projects will not be considered. The grant will reimburse up to 75% of the total allowable costs of the project, up to a maximum award amount of $1,000.
The March 1 – April 15, 2023 application cycle is for riparian plantings that are planned for the fall of 2023.
Riparian Planting Mini Grant Application
Riparian Planting Mini Grant Project Budget spreadsheet – Required attachment
Example and Guidance Documents
Example RPG Budget spreadsheets
Native Deciduous Riparian Shrubs and Trees
Healthy Riparian Guidebook
Innovation Conservation Grant
This grant provides a $1,000 – $10,000 award for a project that promotes or supports new, innovative approaches to natural resource conservation and management that align with the mission of the Missoula Conservation District and that benefit a public resource in Missoula County. Projects may be for education, demonstration, or implementation projects or a combination of these approaches. The Innovation Conservation Grant (ICG) is open to organizations with the restriction that a recipient may only receive an ICG award once every three (3) years.
Interested organizations must submit a pre-application by the published deadline. Applicants will be notified if they are selected to submit a full ICG project application following review of all pre-applications.
Innovation Conservation Grant Pre-Application
Education Grants
Education Cost Share Grant
This grant has a $1,000 – $5,000 award to support conservation educational opportunities or the hosting of conservation educational programs/events by businesses or private, nongovernmental organizations (NGO). The funded business or NGO should demonstrate new and innovative approaches to providing conservation programs, education, or outreach in Missoula County for the benefit of public natural resources. The Education Cost Share Grant (ECS) has a 50:50 or 1:1 cash match requirement coming from private (non-government) funds.
Interested businesses or nongovernment organizations must submit a pre-application by the published deadline.. Applicants will be notified if they are selected to submit a full ECS project application following review of all pre-applications.
Education Cost Share Pre-Application
Education Mini Grant
This grant has a $100 – $500 award to support educational opportunities to increase awareness and interest in natural resource management, agricultural science, and conservation issues in Missoula County. The grant program is open to schools and other organizations. There is no applicant match required for this grant program, but matching funds are encouraged. There is a standard application for this grant with four grant cycles offered quarterly over the year, and the limitation of one award per applicant per year.
Education Mini Grant Application
Continuing Education Mini Grant
This grant has up to a $500 award that supports educational opportunities for individuals to participate in programs and events that increase awareness and interest in natural resource management, agricultural science, and conservation issues. Awards must be used for individual attendance and participation in a specific event. The grantee shall return any grant funds that exceed actual costs to attend the event as verified by receipts. There are no match requirements for the applicant.
Continuing Education Mini Grant Application
Operations Mini Grant
This grant has a $100 – $500 award aimed at providing limited operational support funding to entities and organizations who demonstrate a budgetary need and have a conservation mission consistent with that of the District. The Missoula Conservation District has a standard application for this grant with up to four cycles offered quarterly over the year, and no applicant match required.
Operations Mini Grant Application
Grant Submissions
Please submit all completed, signed grant applications in one of the following ways:
- Email the completed, signed form(s) as a single PDF to bryan.vogt@macdnet.org
- Mail or deliver the completed form(s) to:
Missoula Conservation District
3550 Mullan Road, Ste. 106
Missoula, MT 59808