RELEASE: Great Outdoors Foundation Announces Spring 2026 Grant Cycle Awardees
The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded nine projects and programs funding from its spring Conservation Acceleration Fund (CAF) grant cycle. These initiatives will mitigate more than 34 million pounds of lifetime nitrogen from Iowa’s waterways, bringing the CAF’s impact to date to more than 80 million pounds of reduced nitrogen.
Selected projects are located across Iowa, including Boone, Dallas, Hamilton, Johnston, Polk, and Scott counties. Practices include a variety of conservation solutions including bioreactors, cover crops, grasslands, saturated buffers, and wetlands. Additionally, a portion of the grant funds are being used to support holistic interventions such as regenerative agriculture strategies and conservation agronomist trainings.
“From its inception, the Conservation Acceleration Fund has been used to activate high-impact partner projects utilizing best-in-class conservation strategies and innovative solutions,” Hannah Inman, Great Outdoors Foundation CEO, said. “This grant cycle will support incredible organizations who are implementing water quality solutions on the ground, ultimately yielding high returns for the environment and residents alike.”
Project investors, partners, and beneficiaries include:
- 1100 Farm
- Casey’s
- City of Coralville
- City of Waukee
- Dallas County
- Ducks Unlimited
- Five Star Arconic
- Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Iowa Environmental Council
- Iowa Soybean Association
- Iowa State University
- Johnson County
- Land and Water Conservation Fund
- Meta
- Microsoft
- Mississippi River Cities and Town Initiative
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- North Polk Community Schools
- Partners of Scott County Watershed
- Polk County
- Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
- Scott County Regional Authority
- Trust in Food
- S. Fish and Wildlife Service
To learn more about the CAF, visit the Great Outdoors Foundation website, or check out this video series.
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About the Great Outdoors Foundation
The Great Outdoors Foundation exists to advance conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. We are the foremost fundraising professionals in the conservation and outdoor recreation sector. Together, we activate meaningful, accessible initiatives that enhance our environment and improve quality of life. Over the last few years, we have invested more than $250 million in conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, and we’re just getting started.
