Grants / Department of Agriculture / Forest Service

USDA-FS-CFP-2023: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program Request for Applications

Closed Closed March 31, 2023 Opportunity USDA-FS-CFP-2023 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (USDA-FS-2026-GLRI-CFP). Status: Closes December 8, 2026 (31 days left). It is in our archive of Forest Service notices from 2023.

• Award ceiling$600,000
• Total funding$6.0 million
• Expected awards14
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, state and local governments and tribes.

• County governments
• 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

More grants for nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) awards averaged $363,061; this notice allows up to $600,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (63% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry staff, requests applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). This is a competitive grant program whereby local governments, qualified nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller. Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester. Tribal applicants must submit applications to the appropriate Tribal government officials. All applications, either hardcopy or electronic, must be received by State Foresters or Tribal governments by March 31, 2023. The purpose of the program is to establish community forests by protecting forest land from conversion to non-forest uses and provide community benefits such as sustainable forest management, environmental benefits including clean air, water, and wildlife habitat; benefits from forest-based educational programs; benefits from serving as models of effective forest stewardship; and recreational benefits secured with public access. Eligible lands for grants funded under this program are private forest that is at least five acres in size, suitable to sustain natural vegetation, and at least 75 percent forested. The lands must also be threatened by conversion to nonforest uses, must not be held in trust by the United States on behalf of any Indian Tribe, must not be Tribal allotment lands, must be offered for sale by a willing seller, and if acquired by an eligible entity, must provide defined community benefits under CFP and allow public access.

Category: Natural Resources.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, USDA-FS-2026-GLRI-CFP, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.