Contour Lines Tree Planting Grant

Contour Lines Corp, a nonprofit, awards Tree Planting Grants to individuals and institutions in the United States and its territories. The grants are free trees and technical assistance rather than cash. In return, recipients carry out soil-conservation methods such as planting on contour and mulching.

Contour Lines USA began agroforestry pilot projects in 2018. It reports planting 134,600 trees in more than 161 agroforestry systems across 27 states. Typical projects are silvopasture, alley cropping, food forest and riparian buffer plantings, with both small farmers and larger institutions.

• Individuals and institutions in the United States and its territories.

• You must sign and uphold the Contour Lines USA Working Agreement, which commits you to soil-conservation methods such as planting on contour and mulching.

• Under that agreement you procure and operate the equipment to build berms and swales on contour, and you organize a group of 3-5 helpers for on-site work and training days.

This is an in-kind grant, not cash. Contour Lines provides free trees and technical assistance; in return, you carry out soil-conservation methods such as planting on contour and mulching.

Under the Contour Lines USA Working Agreement, Contour Lines supplies the tree seedlings and the training. You plant the trees at a maximum spacing of 3 feet and keep the soil covered with mulch or cover crops. Weeds must be controlled without herbicides or other chemical treatments.

No dollar award, per-tree cap or match requirement is published.

Apply online with the application form on the Contour Lines USA page. Contour Lines is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 planting season and reviews grant applications twice a year.

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