The Open Space Institute (OSI) is pleased to announce two new complementary funding opportunities through OSI’s Appalachian Landscapes Project to support conservation efforts across the 18 states of the Appalachian Mountains region. Stretching from Alabama to Maine and into Quebec, the Appalachians are the longest intact north-south migration corridor in the eastern United States, a globally important climate refuge, and the home to 26 million Americans.
These opportunities are made possible with support from The Great Island Foundation, Jane’s Trust Foundation, J.M. Kaplan Fund, Lookout Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation, and Anonymous Foundations, as well as other foundations and individuals.
Funding Opportunities
Catalyst Grants support broad-scale, climate-informed planning to accelerate land protection and stewardship.
Capital Grants support direct acquisition of land or conservation easements to protect biodiversity, enhance climate resilience and landscape connectivity, retain forest carbon, and foster strong benefits for local communities.
Application Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025 for both Capital and Catalyst funding.
Informational Webinar
OSI staff will provide a free informational webinar onWednesday, October 8th at 1:00 pm EDT. The webinar will cover funding guidelines and criteria, as well as review the application process. Please save the date and REGISTER HERE. Once registered you will receive a confirmation email with a unique login link to join the session.
*Note: This session will be recorded. If you cannot attend but want to stay informed, please register so we can be sure to send the recording via a follow up email.
Both grants are supported by OSI’s new Appalachian Landscapes Mapping Resource Center that provides data and resources to target and track land protection across the Appalachian region and amplify the impact of the hundreds of conservation organizations and others working across this critical landscape.
Prospective applicants are also encouraged to reach out directly to appropriate OSI staff with inquiries:
General Inquiries
Yasemin Unal-Rodriguez, yunal-rodriguez@osiny.org
Catalyst Grant Inquiries
Hallie Schwab, hschwab@osiny.org
Capital Grant Inquiries
Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio
Joel Houser, jhouser@osiny.org
Photo: Bob Butters