Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Classic for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026
🏛 Natural Resources Conservation Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to address conservation challenges. Eligible applicants include producer groups, local/state government, Indian tribes, farmer cooperatives, water districts, municipal water entities, universities, conservation organizations, and conservation districts. Projects must focus on on-farm, watershed, or regional natural resource concerns. All 50 states, Caribbean territories, and Pacific Island territories are eligible.
Applicants must form partnerships with NRCS to co-invest in conservation projects. Partners provide value-added contributions beyond NRCS funding. Projects can serve multiple states or focus on NRCS-designated Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs). The program prioritizes collaboration and equity in service delivery.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
Funding Opportunity Title: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Classic for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPP-Classic-26-NOFO0001450
Assistance Listing: 10.932, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
Due Date: NRCS must receive proposals by 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2026.
Note: The RCPP Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA) FY 2026 notices of
funding opportunity (NOFO) will run concurrently. For information on AFA proposals please see Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPP-AFA-26-NOFO0001451.
The RCPP promotes the coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through the RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that provide solutions to conservation challenges thereby measurably improving the resource concerns they seek to address. RCPP promotes collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and various communities, which is paramount to achieving equity in NRCS programs and services.
Partners use this notice to propose projects that improve natural resources in one or more states or focus on priority concerns in NRCS-designated Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs). NRCS works with these partners to plan and carry out projects on farms, ranches and private forest land. Through the program, NRCS can provide funding to support both partners and producers. Proposals are selected through a competitive process based on their impact, the partner’s contributions, and how well the partnership is managed.
Up to $310 million is available for RCPP projects through this announcement and the FY 2026 AFA announcement using the Working Families Tax Cut Act, Public Law 119-21 funding. Proposals are accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories in the Pacific Island Areas (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Up to $30 million of the total available funding is being made available specifically for
NRCS to enter into programmatic partnership agreements with Indian tribes. This set aside will be shared by this announcement and the FY 2026 AFA.
Submissions: Proposals must be submitted through the RCPP portal. See section E of this announcement for information on using the RCPP portal to submit proposals. Access to the RCPP portal requires a level 2 eAuthentication credential or a Login.gov credential.
Obtaining a new Login.gov credential involves multiple steps and can take several days to complete. Instructions are posted on the How to Apply to RCPP web page listed below.
For More Information: Applicants must contact the appropriate State Conservationists and state RCPP coordinators prior to submitting a proposal. NRCS will use a State Conservationist questionnaire to guide the conversations in alignment with program requirements and state level agency needs. Proposals submitted without the benefit of the lead partner meeting with the State Conservationist to discuss how their project can meet agency needs and program requirements through a completed questionnaire risk receiving reduced ranking scores. Without having this meeting, potential partners will not be able to answer one or more of the questions within program rules and NRCS needs.
A list of state RCPP coordinators (as of the date of this announcement’s posting) is on the How to Apply to RCPP page.
Applicants can also email the RCPP inbox (rcpp@usda.gov) with any questions about the announcement. The RCPP website is also a great source of current information about the program.
Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in one or more of the webinars below to learn about the program and how to apply.
2026 RCPP NOFO Applicant Resources This webinar will provide general information for applicants submitting proposals for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Please refer to the RCPP website for more information. Regional Conservation Partnership Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)
RCPP NOFO Applicant Webinar – June 30, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
RCPP NOFO Applicant Easement Webinar – July 9, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Information on all webinars will be posted to the How to Apply to RCPP page.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proposal narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- Partnership agreement or letter of commitment from NRCS
- Documentation of partner contributions (cash match and in-kind support)
- Project timeline and work plan
- Resource concern assessment
- Monitoring and evaluation plan
Program contact
- 👤 Tessa Garcia Grants Management Specialist
- 📧 rcpp@usda.gov
- 📞 651-602-7919
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.932 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$12,900,000
-
$12,130,985
-
$9,287,622
-
$5,131,058
-
$3,661,990
-
$3,000,000
-
$2,260,000
-
$1,530,600
-
$1,310,000
-
$1,200,000
Top States by Funding
- MI 1 awards $12.9M
- UT 4 awards $12.6M
- MO 1 awards $5.1M
- OR 6 awards $4.1M
- NE 2 awards $3.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.932). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $545,414,000 | |
| 2025 | $670,077,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,343,238,000 |
FAQ
Who can submit an RCPP proposal?
Agricultural groups, government entities, Indian tribes, cooperatives, water districts, universities, and conservation organizations with experience working on agricultural conservation issues. Your organization must have an established track record with producers or conservation work.
What kind of projects are funded?
On-farm and watershed-scale conservation projects that address soil erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat, forest management, or other natural resource concerns on agricultural or private forest land. Projects can be single-state or multi-state.
How much can we request?
Awards range from $250,000 to $10,000,000. Total funding available is $310 million for FY 2026. $30 million is set aside for tribal partnerships. Competitiveness increases with larger requests unless impact justifies the amount.
What deadline should we plan for?
Proposals must be submitted by 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2026. Plan for 3-4 months of preparation time. You'll need a Login.gov account, which takes several days to obtain.
How important is partner contribution?
Partner contributions are a major evaluation factor. You must demonstrate what your organization brings beyond NRCS funding. Stronger matching and in-kind contributions improve competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Plan early: Login.gov credential setup takes several days. Start the account process 6-8 weeks before the deadline.
- Document your track record: Show past experience working with producers on conservation issues. NRCS will assess your organization's history.
- Quantify partner contributions: Be specific about funds, staff, equipment, or expertise your partners will provide. This strengthens your competitive position.
- Align with Critical Conservation Areas: Projects in NRCS-designated CCAs are more competitive. Check which CCAs exist in your region.
- Build strong partnerships: RCPP emphasizes collaboration. Show that your coalition includes diverse partners with complementary roles.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting last-minute proposals without testing the portal. RCPP portal access requires eAuthentication credentials that take time to set up. Underestimating partner contributions. Reviewers evaluate matching funds and in-kind support as major scoring factors. Lack of clear conservation outcomes. Proposals without measurable, specific goals for soil health, water quality, or habitat tend to score lower.
Similar grants
- OPEN Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 — Natural Resources Conservation Service
- OPEN 2026 Natural Community Conservation Planning Local Assistance Grant Program — Department of Fish and Wildlife (California)
- OPEN CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS (CIG) CLASSIC PROGRAM — Natural Resources Conservation Service
- OPEN Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026 — Natural Resources Conservation Service
- OPEN Fiscal Year 2026 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program – Region 5 — Department of Homeland Security - FEMA