Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors received a grant from Alliant Energy to support its mission of connecting Wisconsin youth with outdoor mentors for hunting, fishing, and conservation experiences. The funding will help remove barriers to participation and build the next generation of conservationists.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for the Josh the Otter Water Safety Grant Program from May 18 through June 18, 2026. The program supports nonprofit organizations educating children and communities about water safety and preventing childhood drowning through educational programming and resources like life jacket loaner stations.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded $18,500 to shooting sport organizations in South Dakota, including 4-H, Boy Scouts of America, and scholastic trap teams. The grants support youth through WTU's Staying on Target Program, promoting shooting sports and hunting traditions.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for approximately $1 million in wildlife habitat improvement grants through June 25. The program, funded by hunting and fishing license sales, prioritizes grassland and savanna habitat restoration projects. Eligible applicants include local, state, federal, and tribal governments, as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is increasing Local Sportsmen's Group grant funding to $100,000, a $25,000 boost since 2007. The grants support organizations providing mentored projects for recruiting and developing new hunters and anglers, with applications due June 14, 2026.
The Mule Deer Foundation received $320,265 from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement a juniper reduction project across 1,046 acres in Modoc National Forest. The restoration effort will restore sagebrush habitat, improve wildlife corridors, and reduce wildfire risk for mule deer, pronghorn, and greater sage-grouse.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $13,535 to the Spring Grove Lions High School Clay Target Club in Minnesota through its Staying on Target Program. The co-ed team, established in 2016, serves students from 6th grade through high school seniors and competes in trap and 5 stand disciplines.
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors received a grant from Weatherby Foundation International to support its mission of connecting youth with outdoor mentors for hunting, fishing, and conservation experiences. The partnership reflects shared values in ethical hunting, wildlife conservation, and outdoor education for future generations.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources awarded $1.7 million in Indiana Trails Program grants to five communities, supporting nearly $3.3 million in total trail development investment. Recipients include Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Department, City of Fort Wayne, Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department, Hancock County, and Town of North Judson, with construction potentially beginning summer 2025.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting applications for 2026 Recreational Trails Program grants from May 4 through August 21. The program provides reimbursable grants with an 80% match component for motorized and non-motorized trail projects, with eligible applicants including municipalities, natural resources districts, and tribal entities.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is pursuing grant funding to repair Winchester Dam, classified as a high-hazard structure by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Estimated rehabilitation costs range from $2.8 million to $3.6 million, with water levels at Winchester Lake currently restricted to a 40-inch drawdown.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $334,536 to over 130 organizations in Michigan for outdoor education, habitat enhancement, and hunting preservation through its 47 state chapters. The funds supported the Preserving the Hunting Tradition Program, which expands hunting opportunities for youth, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $442,384 to over 150 organizations in Ohio for outdoor education, habitat enhancement, and hunting preservation. Funds supported the Preserving the Hunting Tradition program and shooting sports groups including NASP, 4-H shooting sports, and clay target teams.
The Mule Deer Foundation received a $4 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative to support conservation on working lands across the Great Plains. The program, supported by McDonald's USA and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will advance regenerative grazing practices, soil health, and wildlife habitat restoration on ranchlands.
Salt River Project awarded the Mule Deer Foundation $500,000 to expand forest restoration in Prescott National Forest's Upper Verde Watershed Project. The funding will support approximately 1,200 additional acres of forest restoration treatments in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $841,768 to mission-related projects in Q1 2026, supporting its four pillar programs: Outdoor Education, Hunting Preservation, Habitat Enhancement, and Shooting Sports Advancement. The DEER Program and Preserving the Hunting Tradition Program received the largest allocations.
USA Archery received a USFWS Multi-State Conservation Grant to lead a nationwide initiative increasing target archery participation before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The project, partnering with state fish and wildlife agencies, will develop recruitment and retention strategies with research support from Responsive Management, an internationally recognized social science research firm.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded a grant to Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors to expand mentored hunting opportunities for youth across America. The partnership will help the organization, founded in 2002, reach more young hunters and conservationists while operating across eight states with plans for further expansion in 2026.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) donated $50,000 to the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) to combat misinformation and protect hunting rights. OHA will use funds for education projects opposing IP 28, a ballot proposal that would eliminate hunting in Oregon, while promoting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Whitetails Unlimited granted $46,561 to mission-related projects in Georgia, supporting outdoor education, habitat enhancement, and hunting preservation through its 12 Georgia chapters. The organization's Staying on Target Program helps youth gain shooting sports experience to preserve the hunting tradition.