Across Minnesota, there are a variety of programs offered to residents. Your local conservation district, government, or community may have allocated to reimburse habitat expenses or contribute to costs. It certainly can't hurt to ask!
While exploring the funding resources that may be available to support your habitat project, remember that:
- There is funding and technical support for projects of all sizes, from backyards to big farms, because it all counts!
- State and federal conservation agencies have local offices or representatives. Contact them directly as they can help you sort out qualification and help you develop and find funding for your project.
- The programs and grants listed is a non-exhaustive list of habitat resources for Minnesotans. There may be habitat funds allocated locally. Contact your city council or Parks and Recreation department to find out!
The following is a sample draft of an email for inquiring about local funding programs:
Financial Support Opportunities
Homeowners or Residential Landowners
Lawns to Legumes
Lawns to Legumes is administered by Blue Thumb with the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources. This program offers financial support and educational opportunities for homeowners who are interested in establishing pollinator habitat on their property.
Seed a Legacy Program
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund provides the Seed a Legacy Program helps empower land managers to create high-quality pollinator habitat.
Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program
The Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program is provided by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. This program funds various projects that promote the combination of pollinator habitat projects and youth education.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It offers technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration projects, while coordinating with the US Department of Agriculture to assist in implementing Farm Bill conservation programs.
State Cost-Share Program
Through the State Cost-Share Program (otherwise known as Erosion Control and Water Management Program), landowners or occupiers can apply for funds to cover practices that mitigate erosion or protect water quality. This program is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources to whom program funds are appropriated.
Habitat Friendly Solar Program
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources recognizes solar projects under the Habitat Friendly Solar Program. These solar projects support habitat for pollinators and songbirds, while keeping water management, grazing habitat, and soil health in mind.
Private or Corporate Land
Lawns to Legumes: Pollinator Pathways Grant Program
The Pollinator Pathways grant program, funded by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, promotes native plantings that establish key corridors for at-risk pollinators.
Seed a Legacy Program
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund provides the Seed a Legacy Program helps empower land managers to create high-quality pollinator habitat.
Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program
The Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program is provided by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. This program funds various projects that promote the combination of pollinator habitat projects and youth education.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It offers technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration projects, while coordinating with the US Department of Agriculture to assist in implementing Farm Bill conservation programs.
State Cost-Share Program
Through the State Cost-Share Program (otherwise known as Erosion Control and Water Management Program), landowners or occupiers can apply for funds to cover practices that mitigate erosion or protect water quality. This program is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources to whom program funds are appropriated.
Habitat Friendly Solar Program
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources recognizes solar projects under the Habitat Friendly Solar Program. These solar projects support habitat for pollinators and songbirds, while keeping water management, grazing habitat, and soil health in mind.
Living Snow Fences Program
The Minnesota Department of Transportation offers the Living Snow Fences Program to promote the creation of living snow fences, which help maintain clear roadways while also increasing pollinator habitat.
Public Land
Lawns to Legumes: Pollinator Pathways Grant Program
The Pollinator Pathways grant program, funded by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, promotes native plantings that establish key corridors for at-risk pollinators.
Seed a Legacy Program
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund provides the Seed a Legacy Program helps empower land managers to create high-quality pollinator habitat.
Habitat Friendly Solar Program
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources recognizes solar projects under the Habitat Friendly Solar Program. These solar projects support habitat for pollinators and songbirds, while keeping water management, grazing habitat, and soil health in mind.
Schools & Youth Organizations
Lawns to Legumes
Lawns to Legumes is administered by Blue Thumb with the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources. This program offers financial support and educational opportunities for homeowners who are interested in establishing pollinator habitat on their property.
Lawns to Legumes: Pollinator Pathways Grant Program
The Pollinator Pathways grant program, funded by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources, promotes native plantings that establish key corridors for at-risk pollinators.
Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program
The Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program is provided by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. This program funds various projects that promote the combination of pollinator habitat projects and youth education.
State Cost-Share Program
Through the State Cost-Share Program (otherwise known as Erosion Control and Water Management Program), landowners or occupiers can apply for funds to cover practices that mitigate erosion or protect water quality. This program is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources to whom program funds are appropriated.
Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant
Wild Ones offers seed grants through the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program to better engage youth directly in planning, planting, and caring for native plant gardens.
Agricultural Land
Seed a Legacy Program
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund provides the Seed a Legacy Program helps empower land managers to create high-quality pollinator habitat.
Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program
The Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program is provided by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. This program funds various projects that promote the combination of pollinator habitat projects and youth education.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It offers technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration projects, while coordinating with the US Department of Agriculture to assist in implementing Farm Bill conservation programs.
State Cost-Share Program
Through the State Cost-Share Program (otherwise known as Erosion Control and Water Management Program), landowners or occupiers can apply for funds to cover practices that mitigate erosion or protect water quality. This program is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources to whom program funds are appropriated.
Habitat Friendly Solar Program
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources recognizes solar projects under the Habitat Friendly Solar Program. These solar projects support habitat for pollinators and songbirds, while keeping water management, grazing habitat, and soil health in mind.
Living Snow Fences Program
The Minnesota Department of Transportation offers the Living Snow Fences Program to promote the creation of living snow fences, which help maintain clear roadways while also increasing pollinator habitat.
Conservation Reserve Program
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payments and cost-share assistance in exchange for participants removing highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive agricultural land from production, and for planting and maintaining beneficial plant species on that land.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is operated by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) umbrella. Participants who can implement CRP practices that will impact high-priority conservation issues such as conserving wetlands or endangered species may be eligible for the increased rental payments and longer enrollment contracts that CREP offers.
Conservation Stewardship Program
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is the largest conservation program in the country. This program rewards agricultural landowners and land managers who have already implemented conservation and sustainable agricultural practices by helping them increase their efforts, and by paying them to implement further successful conservation practices.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program helps keep lands in family hands, remove marginal cropland from production, provide income, and preserve wildlife. The program, offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), provides technical support and financial compensation for conserving environmentally important lands like wetlands or subprime farmland via the purchase of a conservation easement.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the flagship conservation program of the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), provides agricultural producers technical assistance and financial assistance for eligible conservation projects, including advanced payments for underserved farmers.
Natural Resource Organizations
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It offers technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration projects, while coordinating with the US Department of Agriculture to assist in implementing Farm Bill conservation programs.
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Conservation Fund
The Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Conservation Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supports large-scale (500+ acres) restoration projects with a focus on technical assistance projects supporting increased landowner participation in habitat restoration.
Conservation Partners Legacy
The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and is funded by Minnesotans via the Outdoor Heritage Fund. It provides matching funds in the form of reimbursements for projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and other habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program
The Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program (HELP) is administered by the Minnesota Board and Water & Soil Resources and provides support and funding for targeted establishment or enhancement of high-diversity pollinator habitat in key conservation or natural areas.