First Projects from Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative Generate Nearly $42 Million to Support Wildlife and Regenerative Agriculture
Six initial grantees selected for the newly formed Initiative, helping beef ranchers support wildlife, improve soil health, and conserve water
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 7, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced an initial award of $32.8 million in grants under the new Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, supported by funding from McDonald’s USA, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and several key McDonald’s USA beef and beverage suppliers.
Nearly $42 million in total conservation impact will be generated through this first round of awards from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, achieved by leveraging an additional $9.1 million in matching contributions from grantees. This initial investment will advance voluntary conservation practices benefiting both wildlife and ranchers across nearly 2.5 million acres of U.S. grasslands.
Launched in 2025, this landmark seven-year initiative aims to invest more than $200 million to benefit America’s iconic grasslands, cattle ranching communities and wildlife populations that depend on healthy soils, productive habitats and plentiful water. Through this initiative, grants will promote and accelerate wildlife conservation efforts across 4 million acres of grazing lands within the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast and Southeast.
The six grants announced today to American Bird Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Mule Deer Foundation, National Audubon Society, Sand County Foundation, and University of Missouri are the first to be awarded through this historic investment.
These initial six grantees are expected to work with more than 750 private cattle ranch operations across 26 states to implement conservation activities including:
- Developing and implementing improved grazing management plans
- Installing grazing infrastructure such as wildlife-friendly fencing and watering systems
- Restoring grasslands through reseeding of native plants, prescribed burning and removal of invasive vegetation
- Conserving water and recharging aquifers by improving water control structures and restoring wet meadows and streambanks
Such conservation practices are designed to support ranchers in sustaining healthy, resilient cattle herds while also providing the diversity of high-quality habitats needed by wildlife species that depend on healthy grasslands. Many participating ranchers will build on their existing efforts and achieve meaningful gains in operational efficiencies made possible through the financial and technical support offered by the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative.
“Today is a great day for America’s wildlife, its ranching communities and its beef supply chain,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “This first round of grants from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative shows what can happen when corporations, federal agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners join forces to support both wildlife conservation and economic prosperity. This initiative is just getting started. We are confident it will play a leading role in grasslands conservation across the nation for years to come.”
McDonald’s USA suppliers participating in the initiative include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company. On behalf of McDonald’s USA, Cultivo (now integrating Kateri) and Carbon Yield will provide independent monitoring and quantification of any improvements to soil health.
In its role within the initiative, NFWF will manage and invest funding to advance voluntary conservation efforts by ranchers. NFWF collaborates with NRCS and other funding partners across America’s grasslands to identify impactful, landscape-scale projects that will generate the greatest possible benefits to both wildlife populations and the productivity of vital U.S. ranch lands.
Ranchers interested in participating are encouraged to reach out directly to grantees. Contact information can be found here, and a detailed list of the grants announced today is available here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org.
About McDonald’s USA
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, and follow us on social: X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
About the Natural Resources Conservation Service
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
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