# Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/usda-fs-2026-cfp-community-forest-and-open-space-conservation-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363348

> Forest Service offered grants of up to $600,000 (at least $1) to nonprofits, state and local governments and tribes. It expected to make $5.0 million in total. Applications closed on October 13, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | USDA-FS-2026-CFP |
| Agency | Forest Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | October 13, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $600,000 |
| Award floor | $1 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $5.0 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.689 |

## Who can apply

- City or township governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Eligible local governments are any municipal government, county government, or other local government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions. Eligible Indian Tribes are federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. Qualified nonprofit organizations eligible for this opportunity are organizations that are consistent with Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operates in accordance with one or more of the conservation purposes.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, State, Private & Tribal Forestry, is requesting applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). CFP is a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to Indian Tribes, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land. The purpose of the program is to establish community forests by protecting forestland from conversion to non-forest uses and provide community benefits including public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs. Public access is required for all projects. Applications are not submitted electronically via Grants.gov. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity and supporting documents (including scoring guidance and FAQs) are available under the 'Related Documents' tab of this listing and can be downloaded. To apply, interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester where the property is located. Tribal applicants must submit applications to equivalent Tribal government officials. All applications must be received by State Foresters or Tribal governments by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. All applicants must also send an e-mail to SM.FS.CFP@usda.gov to confirm that an application has been submitted. State Foresters or Tribal government officials must forward applications to the appropriate Forest Service Regional office or International Institute of Tropical Forestry by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Projects must conform to laws and authorities in Section 7A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act ([16 U.S.C. 2103d] Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program) as amended.

## Questions people ask

### Is USDA-FS-2026-CFP still open?

No. It closed on October 13, 2026.

### Who can apply for Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program?

Forest Service accepted applications from nonprofits, state and local governments and tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program?

Closed October 13, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $600,000 each. About $5.0 million in total.

### Who has won Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Great Peninsula Conservancy, Whidbey-Camano Land Trust, Hudson Taconic Lands, Inc. The program made 67 awards worth $24.3 million in that time.