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Funding Opportunity: FY2026 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
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Attention: Municipal, County, other local government, tribal governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations. This land acquisition grant just came in!

 Export to Your Calendar 8/26/2026 to 10/13/2026
When: Due October 13
Through 11:59 PM
Where: Funding Opportunity
United States
Contact: Trust for Public Land
SM.FS.CFP@usda.gov

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Trust for Public Land and the US Forest Service are excited to share that the FY2026 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is now open and will be accepting applications through October 13, 2026! Please see below for more information.

The Community Forest Program offers a valuable opportunity for communities to conserve forestland that supports recreation, protects water and wildlife resources, and provides educational and economic benefits. The full NOFO and supporting materials, including scoring guidance and FAQs, are available on Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-2026-CFP) and can be downloaded from the Related Documents tab. Additional information about the program is available on the Community Forest Program website.

Key Program Highlights:

  • Eligible applicants: local governments, tribal governments, and qualified nonprofits.

  • Projects must involve full fee title acquisition (conservation easements are not eligible).

  • Lands to be acquired must be 75% forested, privately owned, and under threat of conversion.

  • Program funds up to 50% of eligible project costs (minimum 1:1 non-federal match required).

  • Applicants may request up to $600,000 for acquisition and associated project costs, such as due diligence and community forest plan development.

  • Public access is required, and the project must be a minimum of 5 acres.

Please note that applicants must submit applications directly to their State Forester or equivalent Tribal official by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. All applicants must also send an e-mail to SM.FS.CFP@usda.gov to confirm that an application has been submitted. State and Tribal officials must forward submitted applications to the Forest Service for review by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Applications are not accepted as electronic submissions on Grants.gov.

If you have questions about the NOFO, are considering a proposal, or would like to discuss eligibility, please reach out to your regional CFP coordinator or submit your queries to the CFP shared mailbox at SM.FS.CFP@usda.gov.

If you are actively working on or beginning a community forest project and would like to receive guidance or support on land acquisition, governance, stakeholder engagement, or stewardship planning, please don't hesitate to reach out to a TPL staff member.


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