Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program

The Conservation Innovation Grants Classic Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation technologies and approaches that align with agricultural production across the United States. The program operates under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program authority and focuses on supporting projects that demonstrate, evaluate, and transfer conservation innovations to agricultural producers. The agency’s goal is to accelerate the adoption of effective conservation practices that improve natural resource outcomes while maintaining or enhancing agricultural productivity. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research that introduce new or improved conservation methods. Projects must demonstrate measurable environmental and agricultural benefits and be scalable beyond a single operation. Funded initiatives are expected to produce tangible outputs such as technical manuals, guides, and tools that can be used broadly within the private agricultural sector. The program emphasizes innovation that has already been sufficiently studied and shows a high likelihood of success in real-world applications. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately 15000000 dollars, with individual awards ranging from 250000 to 2000000 dollars. Projects are expected to last between one and three years, with an anticipated start date around September 2026. A mandatory cost-sharing requirement applies, requiring at least 50 percent of total project costs to be provided through non-federal sources. These contributions may include cash, services, materials, equipment, or third-party in-kind support, and must be documented within the application. Failure to meet this cost-share requirement renders applications ineligible. Eligibility for the program is broad but limited to non-federal entities and individuals based in the United States. Federal agencies, foreign organizations, and foreign public entities are not eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by a single entity, although subrecipients and partners may participate in project execution. Projects must involve Environmental Quality Incentives Program eligible producers or qualifying community colleges conducting demonstrations on their land. Additional requirements apply to participating producers, including compliance with conservation provisions and income limitations. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as the SF-424 form, a detailed project narrative, budget forms, and supporting attachments. The project narrative must address elements such as goals, objectives, methodology, evaluation, deliverables, and technology transfer plans. Applications are reviewed through a competitive merit-based process using a 100-point scoring system that evaluates innovation, project design, management capability, and potential impact. Review panels assess both technical merit and risk factors before final award decisions are made by agency leadership. The application deadline is July 27, 2026, by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. A webinar for prospective applicants is scheduled for June 18, 2026, to provide additional guidance. The agency anticipates making award selections in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2026, with award execution expected during the same period. Applicants must ensure compliance with all submission requirements and maintain active registration in federal systems such as SAM. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to designated agency contacts via email or phone.

Ensure innovation is clearly defined and measurable with strong evaluation metrics; align project with priority areas and demonstrate scalability beyond a single operation; provide detailed methodology and technology transfer plan