Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Announces Opening of Small Grant Program

Apply now for funds to support conservation on private and public lands

January 7, 2026

Ithaca, NY—Land trusts in the United States and their partners are invited to apply for funds to support conservation on private and public lands from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. This program provides financial support to projects that improve bird habitat on private and protected lands and that work to build partnerships for birds and conservation.

“The Land Trust program at the Cornell Lab is focused on supporting conservation action on private lands and building partnerships with land trusts to support birds and people,” said Sara Barker, program leader for the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. “Over the past nine years, the small grant program has awarded more than $1.6 million to 102 projects involving more than 600 partners.”

This year, the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative will award six grants of $10,000 each to build capacity and partnership in support of conservation actions and eight grants of $25,000 each for management and restoration projects on private or public lands to support bird conservation.

In 2025 awards went to 14 land trusts to work on projects ranging from building community awareness to restoring habitats for birds. In Texas, funding from the Cornell Lab helped Native Prairies Association of Texas restore and enhance habitat for grassland birds at Maddin Prairie Preserve. Clare Fields, the land manager at Native Prairies Association of Texas said, “This support not only advances our restoration goals but also helps us strengthen our relationships in the region and demonstrate what’s possible when dedicated stewardship and strategic investment come together.” 

At Black Swamp Conservancy in Ohio, funding supported both community building and monitoring. Scarlet Rice, Land Steward at Black Swamp Conservancy, said, “This funding strengthens both our conservation outcomes and our connection with the local community. By involving volunteers, visitors, and aspiring conservationists in our fieldwork, we’re building a deeper appreciation for the land and the birds that depend on it.”

“Conservation requires collective action and thus we are thrilled to work with land trusts across the U.S. to accelerate private land conservation at community, regional, and national scales,” said Barker.  

The deadline for proposals is March 1, 2026. Awarded grants will be distributed at the end of May 2026. To learn more and apply for a grant, please visit the Request for Proposals and FAQs on the website. 

Visit the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative website to read about projects that have been funded in the past, explore small grant example activities, and learn more about how proposals will be evaluated.

Questions about the grant program can be directed to Sara Barker, Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative program leader, sb65@cornell.edu.

Funding for this small grant program comes from generous donations to the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.

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About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to the understanding and protection of birds, wildlife, and our shared planet through research, education, participatory science, and conservation. birds.cornell.edu

MediaContact:

Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, klb274@cornell.edu

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