RNRF Grant Program

The RNRF grant program is designed to support projects that advance the mission of RNRF and its member organizations. Below, you'll find detailed information about the purpose of our grants, the types of grants we offer, eligibility requirements, and the guiding principles.

Purpose of the Grants

The RNRF Grant Program aims to fund initiatives that foster collaboration and bridge the gap between research, evidence-based practices, and implementation. Our goal is to support projects that engage community partners and stakeholders and contribute to the interconnected environmental, social, and economic systems. By providing these grants, we hope to advance the mission of RNRF and its member organizations, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes.

See Request for Proposals for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Focus Areas

Eligible projects must address at least one of the following focus areas:

Air Quality & Atmospheric Sciences
Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation
Ecosystem, Soil, and Land Remediation
Recycling, Circular Materials and Waste Systems
Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure
Water Quantity and Quality

Grant Opportunities

RNRF offers two grant opportunities. Grant proposal submissions are managed through the Common Grant Application. This brief video provides a tutorial on how to use the Common Grant Application. All applications are due May 15, 2026.

Planning and Small Grants – Up to $50,000
Planning grants are available to support potential collaborators to carry out the initial discussion and investigation to conceptualize a collaborative project and the methods needed to implement the project. Small grants support targeted projects that are limited in scope and budget.

To begin the application process for planning and small grants, please create an account in the Common Grant Application. If you already have an account, please log in here.

Implementation/Collaboration Grants
Implementation/Collaboration Grants provide up to $200,000 for projects lasting up to 36 months. These grants support the implementation of research and evidence-based practices and encourage collaboration.

To begin the application process for an implementation/collaboration grant, please create an account in the Common Grant Application. If you already have an account, please log in here.

Eligibility Requirements – Please refer to the RFP for complete details

To be eligible for an RNRF grant, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Organizational Status: The lead/prime applicant must be one of the following:

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated in the United States or its territories
A tax-exempt institution of higher education in the United States or its territories
A federally recognized tribal government or tribal college

Note: Fiscal Agents / Fiscal Sponsors: RNRF does not permit the use of fiscal agents or fiscal sponsors. The prime applicant organization must meet all eligibility requirements and serve as the direct recipient and administrator of grant funds

Collaborative Structure: Projects must demonstrate multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together expertise from different fields to address challenges in renewable natural resources.

For this grant program, the prime applicant is the organization submitting the proposal and serving as the primary point of contact. Collaboration partners are the other organizations or key contributors supporting the project (including any partner leads/key contacts).

Planning and Small Grants – Must involve at least three multidisciplinary collaborators (including the prime applicant organization). The collaboration partners do not need to be identified at the time of application, but the applicant must be able to describe the ideal partner.
Implementation/Collaboration Grants – Must involve at least three multidisciplinary collaborators (including the prime applicant organization). At the time of the LOI submission, at least one of the collaborating partners must be identified

RNRF Member Affiliation: At least one project lead or partner lead/key personnel must be a current member of an RNRF Member Organization. Proof of active membership must be included with the Letter of Inquiry.  Letters of Inquiry that do not include proof of membership will not be considered.

Key Dates

Letter of Inquiry (LOI) due: May 15, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT
Invitations for full proposal: week of June 15, 2026
Full proposals due (by invitation only): July 24, 2026
Announcement date: estimated mid-October 2026

Guiding Principles

Our guiding principles serve as the foundational values that shape how funding decisions are made. These principles ensure that projects align with the program’s purpose, priorities, and ethical standards. The seven guiding principles are:

Supports or Advances Renewable Natural Resources: Build collaborations across researchers and communities to extend the life of renewable resources, increase their use, enhance capacity for resource management, or implement monitoring and corrective actions as needed.
Community Engagement: Eligible applicants will describe their methodology for engaging communities. The approach will ensure that sustainable natural resource management aligns with community input and is adaptable based on feedback.
Community Stewardship/Benefits: Projects must demonstrate how they will provide meaningful, lasting benefits to the impacted community, either directly or indirectly impacted. Unlike community engagement, which refers to participatory processes and relationship-building, community stewardship and benefits focus on outcomes.
Scientific Rigor/Evidence-based and Ethics: Eligible projects must be grounded in current scientific knowledge or established best practices, with a strong emphasis on translating research into meaningful action. Projects should demonstrate the ability to conduct thorough impact assessments, engage in community consultation, or implement effective mitigation strategies, all while integrating ethical standards throughout every phase of the project.
Interconnectedness/Systems Approach: Eligible applicants should be able to demonstrate or acknowledge how their project fits into the larger, complex, and interconnected system, recognizing the environmental, social, and economic relationships that exist within it.
Advances the Understanding of Renewable Natural Resources: Projects funded through the RNRF Grant Program should contribute to deepening knowledge, awareness, or practical understanding of renewable natural resources.
Broader Potential or Future Use: Projects will be recognized for their broader potential, such as their ability to scale, adapt, be replicated, or potential for future usability.

We look forward to supporting your innovative and impactful projects through the RNRF Grant Program.