Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative awards $32.8 million
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced $32.8 million in grants through its Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, a program launched in 2025 with support from McDonald’s USA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and private industry partners.
The initial round of funding is expected to generate nearly $42 million in total conservation impact, including $9.1 million in matching contributions from grant recipients. Projects funded in this round will support conservation practices across nearly 2.5 million acres of grasslands.
Grants received
Six organizations received grants: American Bird Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Mule Deer Foundation, National Audubon Society, Sand County Foundation, and the University of Missouri. The recipients are expected to work with more than 750 private cattle operations in 26 states.
“NFWF’s initiative will provide critical support for ranchers and expand the Resilient Grazing Network to advance regenerative grazing in the southern Great Plains and Pacific Northwest,” said Sarah Fulton-Smith, Texas regional director for American Farmland Trust. “The Resilient Grazing Network is led by experienced ranchers and supported by grazing specialists and local partners that provide the practical, real-world support that land stewards are looking for in adopting regenerative practices. Together, we can help ranchers steward their land in ways that are profitable and protect their soil, water and wildlife.”
Funding uses
Planned activities include grazing management planning, installation of fencing and watering systems, reseeding native grasses, prescribed burning, invasive species removal, and water conservation efforts such as restoring wetlands and streambanks.
The initiative is designed to support ranchers while improving wildlife habitat and soil and water resources. Participating producers are expected to build on existing conservation efforts with financial and technical assistance provided through the program.
Investment and intentions
The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is a seven-year effort with a goal of investing more than $200 million in grasslands across multiple regions, including the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast, and Southeast. The program aims to benefit up to 4 million acres of grazing land.
McDonald’s USA suppliers involved in the initiative include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI and The Coca-Cola Company. Cultivo and Carbon Yield will provide independent monitoring of soil health outcomes.
NFWF will manage the funding and work with NRCS and other partners to identify projects intended to support both wildlife habitat and ranch productivity.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
