{"id":19969,"date":"2026-01-07T10:23:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/?p=19969"},"modified":"2026-01-07T10:23:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:23:04","slug":"cornell-lab-land-trust-small-grant-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/cornell-lab-land-trust-small-grant-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Cornell Lab of Ornithology\u2019s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Announces Opening of Small Grant Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Apply now for funds to support conservation on private and public lands<\/em><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>January 7, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ithaca, NY\u2014<\/em>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<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/\"> Cornell Lab of Ornithology\u2019s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"article-list alignright right list-style card-four \"><h2 class=\"article-list-header\">More Cornell Lab News<\/h2><ul><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/news\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter-720x527.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter-768x563.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter-480x352.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/YellowBelliedSapsucker_StevenHunter.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/news\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">News Room<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Sara Barker, program leader for the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. \u201cOver the past nine years, the small grant program has awarded more than $1.6 million to 102 projects involving more than 600 partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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, \u201cThis support not only advances our restoration goals but also helps us strengthen our relationships in the region and demonstrate what\u2019s possible when dedicated stewardship and strategic investment come together.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Black Swamp Conservancy in Ohio, funding supported both community building and monitoring. Scarlet Rice, Land Steward at Black Swamp Conservancy, said, \u201cThis funding strengthens both our conservation outcomes and our connection with the local community. By involving volunteers, visitors, and aspiring conservationists in our fieldwork, we\u2019re building a deeper appreciation for the land and the birds that depend on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cConservation 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,\u201d said Barker.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/request-for-proposals\/\"> Request for Proposals<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/grant-faqs\/\"> FAQs<\/a> on the website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visit the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative website to read about<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/past-small-grant-awardees\/\"> projects that have been funded in the past<\/a>, explore<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/small-grant-example-activities\/\"> small grant example activities<\/a>, and learn more about<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/request-for-proposals\/\"> how proposals will be evaluated<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Questions about the grant program can be directed to Sara Barker, Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative program leader, sb65@cornell.edu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Funding for this small grant program comes from generous donations to the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>###<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <a href=\"http:\/\/birds.cornell.edu\">birds.cornell.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MediaContact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, <a href=\"mailto:klb274@cornell.edu\">klb274@cornell.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Editors<\/strong>:<a href=\"https:\/\/cornell.box.com\/s\/yarzbqmvsniav6kb1fdiiqt2u4cy9qsv\"> Download images<\/a>. The use of this material is protected by copyright. Use is permitted only within stories about the content of this release. Redistribution or any other use is prohibited without express written permission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the copyright owner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apply now for funds to support conservation on private and public lands from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology&#8217;s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":19970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"wds_primary_category":19,"wds_primary_project":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"project":[],"content-format":[],"class_list":["post-19969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19969"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19969\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19969"},{"taxonomy":"project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project?post=19969"},{"taxonomy":"content-format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-format?post=19969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}