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The Conservation Fund

Annual Giving
$52.8M
Grant Range
$8K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

The Conservation Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $52,790,311 (2024)
  • Total Revenue: $373,233,308 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $919,448,710 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $8,000 - $25,000 (CNEF program)
  • Decision Time: 1-2 months (application to decision)
  • Geographic Focus: National (primary grant program focuses on rural North Carolina)
  • Number of Awards: 165 grants awarded (2024)

Contact Details

Main Office: The Conservation Fund 1655 N. Fort Myer Dr., Suite 1300 Arlington, VA 22209

Phone: 703-525-6300

Email:

Website: www.conservationfund.org

Grant Program Information: www.conservationfund.org/our-priorities/resilient-communities/resourceful-communities/grants/

Overview

The Conservation Fund was founded in 1985 by Pat Noonan, former head of the Nature Conservancy, on a then-radical idea: that the environmental movement and business can work together to help our country prosper—environmentally, economically and socially. With total assets of $919.4 million and annual giving of $52.8 million across 165 awards in 2024, The Conservation Fund operates with a unique dual charter to pursue environmental preservation and economic development. Since founding, they have conserved over 8.5 million acres of land valued at upwards of $7.2 billion in all 50 states. The organization operates without a traditional endowment and maintains a no-frills budget structure. Under CEO Larry Selzer's leadership since his appointment, the organization has achieved five consecutive years of record revenues, with 2024 revenues up 13% year over year. The organization distinguishes itself as "the nation's only environmental organization chartered for both conservation and economic development," with approximately 200 full-time staff working across offices in multiple states.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) - Primary Public Grant Program

  • Grant Range: $8,000 - $12,000 (typical awards)
  • Application Method: Annual grant cycle with online applications
  • Focus: Community-based triple bottom line projects (environmental, social justice, and economic benefits)
  • Geographic Focus: Rural North Carolina communities
  • Established: 2001

Faith & Food Coalitions Grant

  • Grant Amount: Up to $25,000
  • Eligibility: Groups of three or more rural churches and/or faith-based organizations improving access to fresh and local food
  • Special Focus: A portion of CNEF funds available to help rural United Methodist Churches strengthen food ministries

Note on Broader Grant-Making: The Conservation Fund distributed $52.8 million in grants in 2024 (165 awards), significantly beyond the CNEF program. These larger grants support land conservation, heritage preservation, and environmental projects nationwide, but are typically awarded through trustee discretion, partnerships, and strategic initiatives rather than a public application process.

Priority Areas (CNEF Program)

Funded Project Types:

  • Ecotourism and heritage tourism initiatives
  • Youth conservation programs and environmental job skills training
  • Farmers markets and sustainable agriculture projects
  • Alternative energy production
  • Food access initiatives serving vulnerable populations
  • Community-based conservation efforts
  • Projects supporting Indigenous communities and tribal lands

Triple Bottom Line Requirement: All funded projects must demonstrate benefits across three dimensions:

  1. Environmental: Conservation, sustainability, climate adaptation
  2. Social Justice: Equity, community empowerment, cultural preservation
  3. Economic: Job creation, local business development, economic vitality

What They Don't Fund (CNEF Program)

  • Individuals
  • For-profit entities (LLCs)
  • Nonprofit organizations with budgets exceeding $300,000
  • Organizations in the following North Carolina counties: Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Orange, and Wake Counties (these are primarily urban areas excluded from rural focus)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Chair: Daniel R. Tishman

Vice Chair: Paul E. Hagen

Governance Committee Chair: Julie G. Barker

Board Members:

  • David P. Bozeman
  • Dr. Ingrid C. Burke
  • Todd J. Carter
  • J. Storey Charbonnet
  • Charles R. Cherington
  • Kimberlee R. Cornett
  • Jennifer L. Hernandez
  • Shameek Konar
  • Thruston B. Morton
  • Kevyn D. Orr
  • Dr. Jill L. Long Thompson
  • David M. Turk
  • Richard W. Wagner
  • James M. Whitehurst

Senior Leadership

President and CEO: Lawrence A. Selzer

  • Compensation (2024): $740,139
  • Key Quote: "We don't litigate, and we are not an advocacy group. What we are is the most effective group in the country at getting projects done on the ground."
  • Leadership Philosophy: Emphasizes that The Conservation Fund's "dual-purpose mission—conservation and economic development—makes us uniquely able to work with business and our public agency partners to bring environmental protection and economic vitality together."

Executive Team:

  • John Gilbert - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  • Holly Cannon - Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Senior Vice Presidents:

  • Brian Dangler - Senior Vice President
  • Mark Elsbree - Senior Vice President, Western Region
  • Monica Garrison - Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Finance
  • Jeffrey Liebert - Senior Vice President, Capital Investments
  • Kelly Reed - Senior Vice President, Government Relations
  • Matthew Sexton - Senior Vice President, Eastern Region
  • Francis Slingsby - Senior Vice President, Energy Transition and Corporate Sustainability
  • Evan Smith - Senior Vice President, Conservation Ventures

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply (CNEF Program)

Pre-Application Requirement: Applicants are required to speak with a Resourceful Communities staff member about their proposal before applying. This is a mandatory step to discuss project ideas and ensure alignment with program priorities.

Application Submission:

  • Applications must be completed and submitted online
  • Sample Word version of the CNEF Application is available for download (for review purposes only)
  • Final submission must be through the online portal

Application Support Resources:

  • Sample budgets available in Word and Excel formats
  • Triple Bottom Line guidance documents
  • Fiscal agent information (for non-nonprofit applicants working with a fiscal sponsor)
  • Application webinars offered for both new and returning applicants

Contact for Pre-Application Consultation: smallgrants@conservationfund.org

Decision Timeline

Annual Grant Cycle (Based on 2024-2025 Cycle):

  • Application Opens: Early January (January 3, 2025 for current cycle)
  • Application Review: March
  • Decisions Made & Awardees Notified: April
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 3 months from application deadline to notification

Decision-Making Process: Resourceful Communities Program (RCP) staff review applications and make award decisions.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, based on available data:

  • 165 awards made in 2024
  • 166 awards made in 2023

The program operates an annual grant cycle, suggesting competitive selection from a larger applicant pool. The requirement for pre-application consultation helps ensure applicants have strong alignment before investing time in full applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly documented in public materials. Organizations should inquire during pre-application consultation about reapplication policies if they have previously applied.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Factor: Pre-Application Consultation

The required conversation with Resourceful Communities staff before applying is not merely procedural—it's a critical success factor. This consultation allows staff to:

  • Assess project alignment with current priorities
  • Provide guidance on strengthening proposals
  • Clarify expectations around the triple bottom line framework
  • Advise on budget development and in-kind support documentation

Organizations should use this conversation strategically to test ideas and gather specific feedback.

Triple Bottom Line Framework

CNEF applications are evaluated on their ability to demonstrate benefits across all three dimensions:

  1. Environmental Benefits: Projects must show clear conservation, sustainability, or climate adaptation outcomes
  2. Social Justice Benefits: Equity considerations, community empowerment, and serving vulnerable populations are essential
  3. Economic Benefits: Local job creation, business development, or economic vitality must be evident

Successful applications don't just check these boxes—they demonstrate deep integration of all three elements. Question #6 of the CNEF application specifically addresses this framework, and applicants should study the program's Triple Bottom Line guidance carefully.

Budget and Financial Considerations

  • Include In-Kind Support: Applicants should document all non-cash support or in-kind contributions to demonstrate community investment and project leverage
  • Budget Templates: Use the provided sample budgets to ensure proper formatting and inclusion of required elements
  • Right-Sizing: The typical grant range of $8,000-$12,000 suggests projects should be appropriately scoped to this funding level

Community-Driven Approach

CEO Larry Selzer emphasizes getting "projects done on the ground." Successful applications likely demonstrate:

  • Strong community engagement and leadership
  • Practical, implementable project plans
  • Clear outcomes that can be achieved with seed funding
  • Grassroots organizing and local ownership

Example Projects That Have Succeeded

Based on documented awards:

  • Coharie Tribe: Extended small grants to equip tribal youth with environmental job skills and helped remove beaver dams and debris, reopening river for fishing, traditional ceremonies, and kayaking
  • Food Access Projects: Community groups and small farmers developing innovative food projects serving vulnerable populations
  • Faith-Based Food Security: Rural church coalitions improving access to fresh and local food

Organizational Eligibility Sweet Spot

The eligibility criteria reveal their target: small, grassroots organizations in rural communities. Organizations with budgets under $300,000 in rural NC counties (excluding major urban areas) are the ideal applicants. Community organizations without 501(c)(3) status can apply with a fiscal agent, indicating openness to emerging grassroots efforts.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application consultation is mandatory—use it strategically: This conversation is your opportunity to test your idea, get feedback, and understand current priorities before investing time in a full application. Come prepared with a clear project concept.

  2. Triple bottom line integration is non-negotiable: Don't treat environmental, social justice, and economic benefits as separate checkboxes. The strongest applications show how these three dimensions are deeply integrated in the project design.

  3. Think grassroots and community-driven: With typical awards of $8,000-$12,000, successful projects are appropriately scoped seed funding initiatives that demonstrate strong community ownership and practical implementation plans.

  4. Document in-kind support and community investment: Showing that the community is already invested through volunteer time, donated resources, or other in-kind contributions strengthens applications by demonstrating local commitment and project leverage.

  5. Rural focus is genuine: The exclusion of eight major urban NC counties and the $300K budget cap reveal a genuine commitment to supporting small, rural, grassroots organizations. Urban organizations and larger nonprofits should look elsewhere.

  6. Attend the application webinar: The Conservation Fund offers webinars for applicants—this is valuable intelligence gathering about what reviewers prioritize and common mistakes to avoid.

  7. The organization values practical results over advocacy: As CEO Selzer states, "We don't litigate, and we are not an advocacy group...we are the most effective group in the country at getting projects done on the ground." Emphasize concrete outcomes, implementation plans, and measurable impact.

References

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