The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) is a grant opportunity from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. It's designed to support projects that address natural resource concerns on farms, ranches, and private forest lands. The program encourages partnerships to implement innovative conservation solutions and improve regional resources. Up to $310 million is available, with a focus on projects that can quickly deliver measurable conservation benefits.
Who it's for: This grant is for a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities, tribal organizations, and businesses. Specifically, it's for those who can partner with the NRCS to address conservation challenges and have the capacity to implement projects quickly.
More details
Likely Disqualifiers
- Failure to submit proposals through the RCPP portal
- Not having a meeting with the state conservationist
- Inability to provide required cost-sharing
- Lack of technical and financial capacity
- Proposals not addressing NRCS-designated Critical Conservation Areas
What You May Need
- Proposal submitted through the RCPP portal
- Level 2 eAuthentication or Login.gov credential
- Meeting with state conservationist
- Completed state conservationist questionnaire
- Cost-sharing plan
- Partnership agreement details
- Project implementation plan
- Documentation of technical and financial capacity
- Participation in RCPP webinars
- Contact information for state RCPP coordinators
Cautions
- Proposals must be submitted by the deadline of August 24, 2026
- Obtaining necessary credentials can take several days
- Cost-sharing is required
- Proposals without state conservationist meetings may score lower
- Limited to 15 AFA awards
Generated from official source details for readability
Eligibility
Eligible Applicant Types
Additional Criteria
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, private and public institutions of higher education, city or township governments, Native American tribal organizations, small businesses, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, state governments, for-profit organizations, independent school districts, special district governments, and county governments. Proposals are accepted from all 50 states, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories in the Pacific Island Areas (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Overview
This grant is for a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities, tribal organizations, and businesses. Specifically, it's for those who can partner with the NRCS to address conservation challenges and have the capacity to implement projects quickly.
Likely Disqualifiers
- Failure to submit proposals through the RCPP portal
- Not having a meeting with the state conservationist
- Inability to provide required cost-sharing
- Lack of technical and financial capacity
- Proposals not addressing NRCS-designated Critical Conservation Areas
Use of Funds
Funds can be used to support projects that leverage federal investments in conservation, implement pay-for-performance approaches, and make large-scale infrastructure investments. These projects should generate conservation benefits for agricultural producers and private forest owners.
Total Program Funding
$310,000,000
Expected Awards
120
Cost Sharing
Required
Important Dates
- Posted
- Jun 23, 2026
- Deadline
- Aug 24, 2026(61 days)
- Archive Date
- Sep 23, 2026
- Last Updated
- Jun 22, 2026
Application Checklist
- Register for a Login.gov or eAuthentication credential
- Schedule and conduct a meeting with the state conservationist
- Complete the state conservationist questionnaire
- Develop a detailed project proposal
- Prepare a cost-sharing plan
- Submit the proposal through the RCPP portal
- Attend RCPP webinars for additional guidance