Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) Grants

Montana's Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) is a state-funded competitive grant for projects that enhance, restore or rehabilitate degraded wildlife habitat, including range improvement and drought resilience, noxious weed work, water enhancement and reducing wildlife-livestock disease transmission. Ranchers take part through an eligible applicant, such as a conservation district, grazing association, irrigation district, weed district, nonprofit or agency, which applies on their behalf; projects that span several private and public ownerships and offer public access rank higher. The 2026 window ran May 18 to June 19.

• Entities with capacity to administer grants: 'state, federal, and tribal agencies', 'a municipal or county agency', 'conservation districts', '501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or other organizations', 'irrigation districts', 'grazing associations', 'noxious weed management districts', and 'other entities FWP considers appropriate'.

• Project must create habitat uplift/net conservation gain for species of conservation need, enhance ecologically important habitat, and report progress.

Reimbursement grants up to five years; ranking favors multiple funding partners, collaboration across ownerships and public access.

Published amounts: 'Up to $2M of Habitat Legacy funds are available annually for new WHIP projects. Grants, which are paid in the form of reimbursed expenses, may be up to five years in duration.' 'Grant funds may not be used to acquire perpetual easements or lands in fee title.'

Apply through Montana WebGrants (https://funding.mt.gov/index.do) during the annual window; reviewed and ranked by the WHIP Advisory Council.

Deadline text on the page: '2026 Funding Opportunity May 18 - June 19'