Regional Conservation Partnership Program (10.932)
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (Assistance Listing 10.932) is run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $64.4 million in 48 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.3 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $431,099. Half of the 48 awards fell between $94,839 and $1.0 million, and they ranged from $7,750 to $12.1 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$64.4 million
- Grant awards48
- Typical award$431,099
- Awarded in FY 2025$10,289
- Size rank949 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $24.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $10,289 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 949th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 65% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 22 states and territories.
What the program funds
To further the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil, water (including sources of drinking water and groundwater), wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale based on Partner lead strategies and goals. To encourage eligible partners to cooperate with producers in implementing projects that will result in the adoption, installation, and maintenance of eligible activities that affect multiple agricultural or nonindustrial private forest operations on a local, regional, State, or multistate basis. To encourage the flexible and streamlined delivery of conservation assistance to producers through partnership agreements. To engage producers and eligible partners in conservation projects to achieve greater conservation outcomes and benefits for producers than would otherwise be achieved.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
An agricultural or silvicultural producer association or other group of producers, a state or unit of local government, an Indian tribe, a farmer cooperative, a water district, irrigation district, acequia, rural water district or association, or other organization with specific water delivery authority to agricultural producers, municipal water or wastewater treatment entity, Institution of Higher Education, an organization or entity with an established history of working cooperatively with producers on ag land, an entity, such as Indian tribe, State government, local government or a nongovernmental organization that has a farmland or grassland protection program that purchases agricultural land easements, and a Conservation District.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Technical assistance is provided for conservation planning, design and implementation of conservation practices for eligible participants and in limited situations for overall project management. Financial assistance is provided to producers for implementation of conservation activities.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. RCPP lead partners propose and deliver partner contributions as a part of their project. More details are available in the NOFO, including match requirements for some RCPP activities.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines for proposals for partnership agreements identified in applicable notices of availability of funding. Deadlines for producer applications under a partnership agreement identified in the partnership agreement and posted by the partner and NRCS on applicable websites and through other publications.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
The 2018 Farm Bill authorizes $300 million annually for RCPP. The IRA authorized additional $4.95 billion in funding from FY 2023-2026. While the range of financial assistance offered can vary, in recent years the minimum project award has been $250,000 and the maximum award has been $25 million. For FY 2024 RCPP, the average award amount was $13.54 million to be expended over 5 years. RCPP funding is not obligated upfront, so the obligation amounts posted above will not align with the amount awarded in a given fiscal year.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: An award was issued to restore streambanks and establish riparian buffers in western North Carolina to improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, promote sustainable agriculture, sequester carbon and build strong community partnerships to ensure long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits for the region.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (10.932) awarded $64.4 million across 48 grant awards, an average of $1.3 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 32% of the money, businesses 16% and nonprofits 15%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 6 | $23.9 million | 37% |
| State and local governments | 17 | $20.5 million | 32% |
| Businesses | 2 | $10.5 million | 16% |
| Nonprofits | 22 | $9.4 million | 15% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $174,868 | 0.3% |
By state
8 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 11 | $27.8 million |
| Utah | 2 | $12.6 million |
| Illinois | 1 | $9.3 million |
| Oregon | 7 | $4.4 million |
| Nebraska | 2 | $2.9 million |
| Virginia | 6 | $1.8 million |
| Maine | 1 | $1.8 million |
| Alaska | 1 | $1.1 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $950,000 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $900,000 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $651,351 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $462,198 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $300,000 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $275,500 |
| Wyoming | 2 | $248,900 |
| North Carolina | 1 | $149,509 |
| Washington | 1 | $79,355 |
| Florida | 1 | $50,000 |
| Texas | 1 | $33,400 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $30,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $10,950 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $7,750 |