Grants & Scholarship
Missoula Conservation District is pleased to offer the following grants designed to foster conservation of natural resources within Missoula County. All grant applications must align with the Missoula CD Strategic Plan to be eligible for funding. Specific information and application materials for each grant are available below.
Questions may be directed to Bryan Vogt, Conservation Program Specialist, at bvogt@missoulacd.org or 406-880-3526.
Please review all information below thoroughly as criteria and forms have been updated from prior application periods.
| Funding Opportunity | Eligible Applicants | Application Periods | Awarded Project Can Start Work | Award Limits |
| Conservation Implementation Grant | -Landowners -Land Managers |
Sept 1 – Oct 15, 2025 | Spring 2026
|
$5,000 |
| Education Cost Share Grant | -Schools -Public Entities -Organizations -Businesses |
Sept 1 – Oct 15, 2025
|
Usually 1 – 2 months following approval | $5,000 |
| Education Mini Grant | -Schools -Organizations |
Rolling Deadline – Reviewed at monthly Board meetings | Usually 1 week following approval | $500 |
| Conservation Training Mini Grant | -Individuals | Rolling Deadline – Reviewed at monthly Board meetings | Usually 1 week following approval | $500 |
| Operations Mini Grant | -Organizations
|
Rolling Deadline – Reviewed at monthly Board meetings | Usually 1 week following approval | $500 |
| New this year! Conservation Scholarship |
In development but anticipate offering to: -Graduating HS Senior -Current College Student |
Spring 2026 | Planning to award at the June 2026 MCD Board meeting | TBD |
All grant application forms in the sections below download as a Word or Excel document.
Please check your Downloads folder once clicking on an application form you are interested in to open and edit it.
New Requirement for this cycle:
To be eligible for grant funding each project or activity must align the Missoula Conservation District’s current strategic plan. Please click on the following link to review this document:
Missoula CD Strategic Plan
The following mini grants are offered on an ongoing basis and reviewed at monthly Board meetings.
Education Mini Grant
This competitive grant provides up to a $500 award to schools and other organizations to plan and host educational programs or events that increase awareness and interest in natural resource management, regenerative agricultural practices, and conservation issues in Missoula County. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed monthly. There are no match requirements for the Education Mini Grant, but showing matching funds from other sources is encouraged and may make the application more competitive and likely to receive funding. Successful applicants may receive one Education Mini Grant award per year.
Education Mini Grant Application form
Conservation Training Mini Grant
This competitive grant provides up to a $500 award for private individuals to participate in programs and events that increase awareness and interest in natural resource management, regenerative agricultural practices, and conservation issues with relevance to Missoula County. This grant is intended for landowners, land managers, and students. Individuals being paid by their employer to attend an event for training or continuing education purposes are not eligible to apply. Awards must be used for individual attendance and participation in a specific event and may not exceed the actual costs of attending the event. Recipients shall return any grant funds that exceed actual costs to attend the event as verified by receipts. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed monthly. Successful applicants may receive one Conservation Training Mini Grant award per year.
Continuing Education Mini Grant Application form
Operations Mini Grant
This competitive grant provides up to a $500 award for limited operational support to entities and organizations who have a conservation mission consistent with that of the CD, who operate in Missoula County, and who demonstrate a budgetary need. There are no match requirements for the Operations Mini Grant, but showing matching funds from other sources is encouraged and may make the application more competitive and likely to receive funding. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed monthly. Successful applicants may receive one Operations Mini Grant award per year.
Operations Mini Grant Application form
Coming in early 2026!
Conservation Scholarship
The Missoula Conservation District is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity in development for students from Missoula County. It is anticipated that up to two scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2026, one to a Missoula County high school senior who will be attending an accredited college or university to study natural resources, conservation, or a related field. Another scholarship is intended for a current college or university student who attended high school in Missoula County as is actively pursuing a degree in natural resources, conservation, or a related field.
Check back in early 2026 for additional details!
The following two grants are our large grants that are currently closed.
The open cycle for large grants is September 1 – October 15.
Conservation Implementation Grant – the application period is currently closed
This competitive grant reimburses landowners or land managers 50%-75% of the total allowable costs of an approved on-the-ground conservation project, up to a maximum award of $5,000. Projects must be in Missoula County, align with the CD’s strategic plan and goals, and provide a public resource benefit.
Prior to applying, landowners must schedule a site visit with CD staff to discuss their project ideas and funding eligibility. The application period is September 1 – October 15 and awarded projects may begin work the following spring. Pre-application site visits may be scheduled at any time of the year prior to the application period.
Payments of Conservation Implementation Grants (CI) are for reimbursement of approved projects only. Applications must be submitted prior to any work being conducted or the purchase of materials. 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 completed project, 75% for approved riparian and instream practices and 50% for approved upland practices, up to a maximum reimbursement award amount of $5,000.
Conservation Implementation Application form – the application period is currently closed
MCD Project Budget spreadsheet – required attachment
Education Cost Share Grant – the application period is currently closed
This competitive grant provides a $1,000 – $5,000 award to support conservation education programs, events, or demonstrations hosted by schools, organizations, public entities, and businesses that increase awareness in natural resource management, regenerative agricultural practices, and conservation issues in Missoula County. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate new and innovative approaches to providing these opportunities.
Before applying, interested applicants must discuss their project idea with CD staff to determine funding eligibility and match requirements prior to the application period that runs September 1 – October 15.
Education Cost Share Grants (ECS) require a 1:1 or 50% match to any awarded grant funds. Applicants other than public schools must provide this as Cash Match in the form of non-government (i.e., private) funding. These applicants are encouraged to show in-kind contributions as part of the overall project costs but cannot count them towards the match requirement. Public schools, colleges, and universities may provide the required 1:1 match as either cash match from any public or private sources or in-kind match (e.g., staff time or materials). Successful applicants may receive one ECS award per year.
Education Cost Share Application form – the application period is currently closed
MCD Project Budget spreadsheet – required attachment
How to submit an application:
All grant application forms in the sections above download as a Word or Excel document.
Please check your Downloads folder once clicking on an application form you are interested in to open and edit it.
Please submit all completed, signed applications in one of the following ways:
- Email the completed, signed form(s) to bvogt@missoulacd.org
- Mail or deliver the completed form(s) to:
Missoula Conservation District
1075 South Avenue W, Suite #3
Missoula, MT 59801
All application materials must be received by the posted deadline, regardless of the grant submission method. Confirmation receipt of the grant application materials is the responsibility of the applicant.
Questions?
Questions may be directed to Bryan Vogt, Conservation Program Specialist, at bvogt@missoulacd.org or 406-880-3526.
Public Information Disclosure
All Missoula Conservation District grant applications, grant documents, and grant reports (including photos, video recordings, presentations, and social media content) are considered public information and may be posted on the CD’s website, social media accounts, or otherwise made available to the public.