The Montana Forest Collaboration Network (MFCN) has funding to help local forest collaborative partners develop the capacity necessary to accelerate the pace and scale of forest management in order to reduce wildland fire hazards, improve forest health, and enhance economic productivity on Montana’s forested lands. The purpose of this funding is to further collaboration and coordination in the state, and to advance the goals and strategies outlined in the Montana Forest Action Plan among forest collaborative groups that enable planning and implementation of cross-boundary forest projects in the state.

Up to $8,000 may be awarded to each recipient. Matching funds are required, equal to the total grant amount x 20% (e.g. If requesting $5,000, matching funds must equal or exceed $1,000, for a total project cost of $6,000). Match may be cash or in-kind but may ONLY come from non federal funding sources.

For more information about match funding, including how to leverage in-kind match funding, watch the April 2022 Montana Watershed Coordination Council Conservation Conversation on Match and Leveraged Funding for Grants. You can also download the match tracking spreadsheet and find additional resources on MWCC's Conservation Conversations page, under "Past Conservation Conversations."

Proposals are due by 5 pm on Monday, February 10, 2025. We will notify applicants of funding decisions by the first week in March, 2025. 75% of the award amount will be available once both MFCN and the grant recipient sign a funding agreement. 25% of the award amount will be reserved for disbursement after receipt of a final grant report showing all tasks and deliverables completed.

Grant recipients must complete and submit a final report on all funded project work by Tuesday, March 31st, 2026. Extensions of these deadlines will not be possible. For additional details, please see the grant Timeline below.

Purpose

The purpose of this funding is to fill critical capacity gaps in collaborative forest 

 restoration efforts. Outcomes include:

• Increased footprint of active forest management
• Reduction of wildfire risk to communities
• Increased participation and support for collaborative forest planning and project implementation
• Improved communications between communities, stakeholders, and agencies working on forest management activities
• Increased coordination between the  public, partners, and governmental agencies.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must engage in forest management using collaborative processes and be recognized by MFCN as a collaborative effort. Additionally, applicants  are encouraged to have a representative of an affected county commission that is engaged with a federal forest project.

Examples of Eligible Projects:

The following are merely examples and not inclusive of all potentially eligible projects. MFCN encourages innovative approaches to furthering collaboration between stakeholders to advance forest management in Montana. Examples of eligible activities include:

• Local government’s engagement in federal forest projects
• Coordination of cross-boundary forest management projects
• Support for collaborative efforts (e.g., staff support and other activities that are critical for furthering collaboration)
• Professional facilitation
• Attendance at training or events that pertain to forest management or collaboration
• Stakeholder engagement and outreach
• Coordination within Montana for the purposes of advancing the goals and strategies outlined in the Montana Forest Action Plan.

Restrictions

This money cannot be used for the following:

• Political lobbying
• Purchase of equipment
• Projects not directly related to furthering collaborative forest management or advancing outcomes within the Montana Forest Action Plan.
• Food

What is Required of Organizations that Receive Funding?

Organizations that receive funding will be required to:

• Complete their project on or before March 31st, 2026. No extensions possible. 
• Submit a brief final report on project outcomes, activities, deliverables, budget, and publicity on or before March 31st, 2026. No extensions possible.
• Be willing to share materials or stories developed from funded activities with MFCN to build capacity statewide

Timeline

• February 10, 2025 - Funding proposals due
• Week of March 3, 2025 - Applicants notified of funding status
• Week of March 17, 2025 - Draft funding agreements sent to grant recipients for signature
• Upon signature of funding agreement by all parties - 75% of funding distributed to grant recipients
• March 31, 2026 - All activities, tasks, and deliverables outlined in funding agreements complete. No extensions possible.
• March 31, 2026 - Final grant reports due. Remaining 25% of award amounts distributed within 30 days of final report acceptance. No extensions possible.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted through the online platform Submittable. If you are new to Submittable, you can click here to learn more about how to create a free account and fill out an application form (“submission”) via this platform.

Submit your proposal for funding by 5 pm on Monday, February 10th via this online form.

Organization Search

Before you begin your application, the application form will ask for your organization’s EIN (Tax ID) or UEI (registration number in SAM.gov). Please enter the number for the organization that will manage and be fiscally responsible for this grant. This may be your own organization or your organization’s fiscal sponsor.

Use the following spreadsheets for the Tasks, Deliverables, and Timeline and Project Budget uploads in this application form.

You may use this Word document of the application form for convenience, but final proposals must be submitted via the online application form.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Steve Kimball, DNRC Local Government Forest Advisor, to discuss proposal ideas or to ask questions. Email Steve@blackfootchallenge.org or call (406) 210-5691.

The MWCC Watershed Fund has funding to help Montana’s local watershed conservation organizations build their capacity to reduce and prevent nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through professional development opportunities directly related to this work. Funded opportunities must involve training to reduce and prevent NPS pollution in accordance with the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan and/or to support implementation of DEQ-accepted Watershed Restoration Plans (WRPs). This funding is provided in partnership with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Read the full 2025 Professional Development Support Funding page for more information.

Local watershed conservation organization personnel, including staff, board members, and Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) members, may use these small grants to attend trainings, conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Awards of up to $700 may support registration fees, lodging, and travel expenses, but may not cover meals or per diem. $3,000 in total funding is available.

Funding requests must be submitted at least 14 days before the training or event start date.

Funding is available on a rolling basis throughout 2025 until funds are expended. Awards are typically $500 or less, but the Watershed Fund considers financial need and the reality that some of our watershed conservation partners in more remote parts of Montana may have higher travel costs to some events. If more than one person from your organization will be attending the same event, please fill out only one request form covering costs for everyone attending. Funding is disbursed on a reimbursement basis, after the person who attended the event fills out a reimbursement form explaining how the opportunity will help their organization reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution.

Purpose

The purpose of this funding is to help local watershed organizations build their capacity to reduce and prevent NPS pollution in accordance with the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan. This includes helping personnel acquire skills and knowledge relevant to:

• Reducing and preventing NPS pollution in their watersheds
• Building long-term capacity to implement DEQ-accepted WRPs.

Eligibility

Watershed conservation organizations that are supporting local communities to advance community-based, locally led conservation using the Watershed Approach to conservation are eligible. This includes watershed groups; conservation districts; irrigation districts; water quality districts; non-profits; forest collaboratives; and Tribal government agencies. Federal agencies, state agencies, individuals, and for-profit entities are not eligible.

Funds may support relevant professional development opportunities for watershed organization staff, board members, and BSWC members, but funding may only go directly to the organization, not to individuals.

What is Covered?

Awards may cover registration fees, lodging, and travel costs on a reimbursement basis, including mileage reimbursement at the current state mileage rate ($0.70 for 2025), vehicle rental fees, or alternative transportation. The Watershed Fund does not pay for meal costs or per diem. Award amounts are typically $500 or less, but we consider financial need and the reality that some of our watershed conservation partners in more remote parts of Montana may have higher travel costs to some events..

There is no match requirement for this Professional Development Support, but the Watershed Fund encourages cost-saving measures including seeking event scholarships, carpooling, alternative transportation, and shared lodging.

Requirements

To receive reimbursement, awardees must fill out a short reimbursement form detailing:

• What skills and knowledge they gained from the professional development opportunity
• How they will apply what they learned to reduce and prevent NPS pollution in their watershed
• How they will apply what they learned to implement their local WRP, if applicable

Those who are awarded funding must provide receipts for registration fees, lodging, and other expenses to be reimbursed under this funding. Documentation of mileage costs is not required.

How to Apply

Submit your funding request via this online Professional Development Support Request form. If more than one person from your organization will be attending the same professional development opportunity, please fill out only one request form for everyone attending, including all anticipated costs.

The documents below are included for your convenience, and for cutting and pasting from if you’d like. Do not use them to apply for professional development support or to request reimbursement. All funding requests must be submitted via this online form. If your request is approved, the MWCC Watershed Fund will send you an electronic reimbursement form.

Word Version of this Funding Request for Proposals

Word Version of Funding Request Form

Word Version of Reimbursement Form

If you are new to Submittable, you can click here to learn more about how to set up a free account and submit a funding request using this platform.
 

Questions?

Please contact Executive Director Amy Seaman with any questions

director@mtwatersheds.org // (406) 475-1420