Youth Conservation (15.546)
Youth Conservation (Assistance Listing 15.546) is run by the Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $7.8 million in 34 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $229,954 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $45,685. Half of the 34 awards fell between $15,297 and $167,966, and they ranged from $3,913 to $1.9 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$7.8 million
- Grant awards34
- Typical award$45,685
- Awarded in FY 2025$1.5 million
- Size rank1544 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements (discretionary grants)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $1.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $1.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1544th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 10 largest recipients received 101% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.
What the program funds
Promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement, and furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of local youth and young adults in the care and enhancement of public resources.
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
Eligibility for conservation activities is limited to qualified youth or conservation corps that are able to involve youth ages 15-25 in the 17 states west of the Mississippi river. Eligibility for the Intern Program is limited to non-profit organizations other than institutions of higher education that are capable of recruiting qualified youth interns for positions located at Reclamation offices and facilities. A qualified service and conservation corps means any program established by a State, or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization that 1) is capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, in a natural or cultural resource setting; 2) gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training and support services; and 3) provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. This program requires a non-Federal cost-share, through cash or in-kind services, of at least 25% of the total project costs.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range is $17,000 to $672,000 for FY24 Average is $207,846
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2026: No new projects.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Youth Conservation (15.546) awarded$7.8 million across 34 grant awards, an average of $229,954 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Basin Institute | Nevada | 5 | $3.5 million |
| Southern California Mountains Foundation | California | 1 | $1.2 million |
| California Conservation Corps | California | 3 | $863,766 |
| Rocky Mountain Youth Corps | New Mexico | 1 | $819,400 |
| American Conservation Experience | Arizona | 4 | $487,752 |
| Conservation Legacy | Colorado | 10 | $473,435 |
| Montana Conservation Corps, Inc. | Montana | 4 | $247,750 |
| Hispanic Access Foundation | District of Columbia | 4 | $133,407 |
| Grand Canyon Youth Inc | Arizona | 1 | $50,202 |
| Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission | California | 1 | $42,558 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 76% of the money, state and local governments 12%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 28 | $5.9 million | 76% |
| Other | 2 | $972,981 | 12% |
| State and local governments | 4 | $911,766 | 12% |
By state
3 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Nevada, California and Colorado.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 5 | $3.5 million |
| California | 5 | $2.1 million |
| New Mexico | 1 | $819,400 |
| Arizona | 5 | $537,954 |
| Colorado | 10 | $473,435 |
| Montana | 4 | $247,750 |
| District of Columbia | 4 | $119,163 |