Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Sand County Foundation

Apply through Sand County Foundation. See the program announcement for details on funded groups and award cycles.

Sand County Foundation

The Farmer-Led Fund&#x2004;for Watershed Improvement provides grants to farmer-led groups (not individual farmers) to design and deliver local conservation incentives, technical assistance, and events for their members. A recent cycle awarded roughly $680,000 across nine Wisconsin farmer-led groups. The fund is supported by a $13.8 million USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award to Sand County Foundation. Participating groups use the funding to promote practices such as cover crops, pasture reseeding, invasive-species removal, reduced tillage, and biochar. Benefit to individual producers is indirect, delivered through their local group.



The Farmer-Led Fund for Watershed Improvement provides grants to farmer-led groups (not individual farmers) to design and deliver local conservation incentives, technical assistance, and events for their members. A recent cycle awarded roughly $680,000 across nine Wisconsin farmer-led groups. The fund is supported by a $13.8 million USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award to Sand County Foundation. Participating groups use the funding to promote practices such as cover crops, pasture reseeding, invasive-species removal, reduced tillage, and biochar. Benefit to individual producers is indirect, delivered through their local group.

Farmer-led conservation groups and organizations operating in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Applicants are groups, not individual farmers.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Sand County Foundation awards grants to farmer-led watershed groups

Regenerative

Soil Health

Water Management

Conservation

Carbon Capture

Grants to farmer-led groups; a recent cycle awarded ~$680,000 across nine Wisconsin groups. Funded through a $13.8M USDA NRCS RCPP award. Award amounts to a single group are not individually published.

Ranchers apply directly through Sand County Foundation's rancher inquiry form. The program is actively enrolling. Contact: Briana Schnelle, bschnelle@sandcountyfoundation.org.

Briana Schnelle

Grassland Conservation Initiative eligibility contact

The&#x2004;Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is a Sand County Foundation program that helps ranchers implement conservation on working grazing land. Sand County grazing specialists work directly with ranchers to build "shovel-ready" conservation plans (compatible with federal programs such as EQIP and CSP) and provide cost-share and technical assistance for regenerative grazing, habitat restoration, and water and soil conservation. The initiative spans 15 states with a goal of improving 1 million acres of grassland, and is funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).



The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative is a Sand County Foundation program that helps ranchers implement conservation on working grazing land. Sand County grazing specialists work directly with ranchers to build "shovel-ready" conservation plans (compatible with federal programs such as EQIP and CSP) and provide cost-share and technical assistance for regenerative grazing, habitat restoration, and water and soil conservation. The initiative spans 15 states with a goal of improving 1 million acres of grassland, and is funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

Ranchers operating working ranchland in the 15 participating states: California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Air Quality

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Certified Organic

Reduced Tillage

Cost-share plus free technical assistance and conservation planning for regenerative grazing, habitat restoration, and water/soil conservation practices on working ranchland.

To apply, go to this page, click the link for your state and follow the application instructions.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program recognizes agricultural landowners actively committed to a land ethic. Sand County Foundation, national sponsor American Farmland Trust and several prominent state conservation partners present the prestigious honor, which consists of $10,000 and a crystal award, in settings that showcase the landowners’ achievements among their peers.

The Leopold Conservation Award is a productive investment in private lands conservation. It recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by private landowners, inspires countless&#x2004;other landowners by example and provides a prominent platform by which agricultural community leaders are recognized as conservation ambassadors to citizens outside of agriculture. Finally, the program builds bridges between agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry and academia to advance the cause of private lands conservation. Watch this **[video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFGpKXzxHL4)** to learn more about the Leopold Conservation Award.


**The Leopold Award is adiminstered separately in each state, with slightly different application details and deadlines in the beginning of the calendar year.**



The Leopold Conservation Award Program recognizes agricultural landowners actively committed to a land ethic. Sand County Foundation, national sponsor American Farmland Trust and several prominent state conservation partners present the prestigious honor, which consists of $10,000 and a crystal award, in settings that showcase the landowners’ achievements among their peers.
The Leopold Conservation Award is a productive investment in private lands conservation. It recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by private landowners, inspires countless other landowners by example and provides a prominent platform by which agricultural community leaders are recognized as conservation ambassadors to citizens outside of agriculture. Finally, the program builds bridges between agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry and academia to advance the cause of private lands conservation. Watch this video to learn more about the Leopold Conservation Award.

The Leopold Award is adiminstered separately in each state, with slightly different application details and deadlines in the beginning of the calendar year.

Although the specifics within each category may vary slightly from state to state, these are the base criteria that are used by an independent panel of agricultural professionals in each state to evaluate each application for the Leopold Conservation Award.
CONSERVATION ETHIC
The award seeks landowners who have voluntarily exceeded the minimum obligations of regulation to enhance and conserve natural resources.
RESILIENCE
The award seeks landowners who have used business and conservation methods to make their operation productive into the future.
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION
The award seeks nominees who have shared their conservation ethic and techniques with others insider and outside of agriculture, through community service, leadership roles and media outreach.
INNOVATION AND ADAPTABILITY
The award seeks landowners who have taken risks by utilizing or experimenting with new techniques to adapt a change (consumers, markets, weather, regulations, etc.).
ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY
The award seeks landowners with farms, ranches and forests that work with natural systems (soil, water, plants and wildlife, etc.) and benefits others.

- The Award
- Application Info
- Year In Review
- Award Recipients
- 2021 Symposium

Local Food

Farmers Market

Education

A one-time cash award with no cost-share, match, or contract. Sand County Foundation states the award "comes with $10,000": "An independent panel of agriculture and conservation leaders evaluates applications for the award, which comes with $10,000."

There is nothing to repay and no project budget to build — this is recognition for existing stewardship, not project funding. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust "present Leopold Conservation Awards in 28 states," and you can "Nominate yourself or another landowner." Judging is on conservation achievement in soil health, water resources and wildlife habitat on working land, evaluated by "an independent panel of agricultural and conservation professionals in each state." No application fee, reporting requirement, or practice commitment is published.

List of Sand County Foundation Funding Opportunities