Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round
🏛 Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for land conservation projects in the Highlands Region of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Only the Lead State Agency designated by each state's Governor may apply. Eligible applicants may subward funds to counties, municipalities, or other state conservation agencies within the Highlands Region.
The grant supports land acquisition projects where state, county, or municipal entities purchase land from willing sellers. Projects must protect natural resources of high conservation value. Applicants may request up to 50% of total project costs, with a maximum of $2,293,362 per state.
Project periods are typically four years. The earliest project start date is January 1, 2026.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (OMB form for grant applications)
- Project narrative describing conservation goals and land value
- Budget and cost-share documentation
- Evidence of willing seller agreement
- Proof of state/local agency designation or authorization
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.667 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$17,120,240
-
$5,832,538
-
$4,031,500
-
$3,000,000
-
$2,710,000
-
$2,710,000
-
$2,710,000
-
$2,670,000
-
$2,564,650
-
$2,425,000
Top States by Funding
- PA 13 awards $33.2M
- CT 15 awards $24.4M
- NY 12 awards $20.7M
- NJ 9 awards $5.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.667). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $9,700,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $9,700,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,700,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only the Lead State Agency designated by each state's Governor. Current Lead Agencies are Connecticut DEEP, NY Office of Parks/Recreation/Historic Preservation, NJ Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
What types of projects are eligible?
Land acquisition projects where state/county/municipal entities purchase land from willing sellers to conserve high-value natural resources in the Highlands Region.
What is the funding range and cost-share requirement?
Awards range from $25,000 to $2,293,362 per state. Applicants must provide cost-sharing for 50% or more of total project costs.
Can my organization subward these funds?
Yes. Lead State Agencies may subward funds to counties, municipalities, or other state conservation agencies within the Highlands Region.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is October 31, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not a rolling submission.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact your state's Lead Agency early to understand their funding priorities and coordination process.
- Focus on willing seller transactions; forced acquisitions are not eligible for funding.
- Document the high conservation value of target lands using ecological surveys, rarity assessments, or threatened species data.
- Coordinate across counties and municipalities to avoid duplicate requests and maximize regional impact.
- Prepare detailed cost projections and timeline, since project periods are limited to four years.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications from non-designated Lead State Agencies are automatically ineligible. Multiple agencies must coordinate submissions to stay within the per-state funding cap. Proposals lacking clear documentation of land conservation value or willing seller agreements typically fail.
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