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2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program

Grantor:
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Portal ID:
173910
Status:
Active
Open Date:
6/8/26 09:00
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

This grant program is focused on high-impact forest-health projects that deliver strong, direct benefits to communities, critical infrastructure, or unique natural resources. Examples include constructing or improving fuelbreaks, protecting water supplies, improving safety along ingress/egress routes, and protecting hospitals, schools, giant sequoias, and other high-value resources and assets.

Description:

This Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Grant Program (Program) responds to recent legislation and executive orders addressing California’s wildfire crisis.

In November of 2024, California voters approved Proposition 4, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, commonly known as the “Climate Bond.” In April 2025, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 100 (Gabriel), which allocates $30.9 million from the 2024 Climate Bond to the SNC for the purposes of wildfire prevention and forest resilience, including improving local fire prevention capacity, improving forest health and resilience, and reducing the risk of wildfire spreading into populated areas from wildlands.

This Program seeks to create more resilient forest landscapes and watersheds and reduce wildfire risk. The climate and ecological benefits of forest-restoration treatments are well known. Ecologically sound forest management, including beneficial fire, and community protection are critical in securing the overall well-being of the Sierra-Cascade.

To be eligible to receive a grant award from the SNC under this Program, projects must meet all of the following criteria: Result in a clear, demonstrable, and enduring public benefit; be located within the Sierra-Cascade as defined by current SNC governing legislation; must align with one of the Program priorities identified in the guidelines; be consistent with the SNC mission and program areas as defined in the SNC Strategic Plan; be consistent with the requirements of the funding source and budget provisions; and meet all California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, as applicable.

The SNC proposal process involves concept and full proposal phases. To initiate consideration of a project, an applicant must contact the appropriate SNC Area Representative. If it is determined that the SNC will consider the project, the applicant will receive a concept proposal form and SNC will assist in the development of the project.

After concept proposals are submitted, the evaluation team will review them based on the first three evaluation criteria described in the Guidelines. These criteria are: 1) Public and Natural Resource Benefits and Alignment with Funding and Program Goals, 2) Project Design and Budget, and 3) Landscape Context.

Based on the funding available, top scoring concept proposals may be invited to submit a full proposal. If it is determined that the SNC will consider partnering on the project, the applicant will be asked to submit a full proposal. The SNC will share the full proposal form with the applicant and assist in developing the project.

The SNC may give favorable consideration to projects which: are forest-health projects that result in multiple benefits; involve California Native American tribes; were identified in a collaboratively developed regional plan, such as the Regional Priority Plan; directly benefit SDAC, DAC, or Vulnerable Populations; engage a workforce-development effort; or enable the equitable geographic distribution of SNC resources.

Please review the full grant program guidelines.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Grant funds may be authorized for: Public agencies (any city, county, special district, joint powers authority, state agency, or federal agency); Qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; and eligible tribal entities recognized by the United States and identified within the most current Federal Register, and those listed on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American Tribe. 

 

 

Eligible Geographies:

A project must be located within SNC’s service area. The Sierra-Cascade Region covers nearly 27 million acres and includes all or part of 24 counties in California. Proposition 4 requires that at least 40 percent of the total funds available shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to vulnerable populations or disadvantaged communities. The SNC will follow these requirements for awards under the Program.

Matching Funding Requirement:

While match funding is not required, it is considered in the project evaluation process. 

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
Mar, Jun, Sep 2027
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
Complete by 01/01/30

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$15,904,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

The primary funding source for this grant program is Proposition 4 Climate Bond funding appropriated to SNC under AB 100. Approximately $15,904,000 will be available.

 

 

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advances & Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Grant funds are disbursed for eligible costs on a reimbursement basis or, in certain cases, through advances. There is a 10 percent retention of expenditures. The total retention will be held until all project reports and deliverables have been submitted and approved.  Advances up to 25 percent of the awarded Grant Funds may be considered; larger requests may be considered with adequate justification. 

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Shannon Ciotti, 1-530-906-7345, shannon.ciotti@sierranevada.ca.gov

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