The Biden-Harris administration, in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and various partners, has announced $122.4 million in grants through the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC). These 61 new grants will support conservation projects across 42 states, 19 Tribal Nations, and three U.S. territories. The initiative aims to generate at least $8.7 million in matching contributions, resulting in a total conservation impact of $131.1 million.
Approximately 42 percent of the 2024 ATBC funding is allocated to projects led by Indigenous communities and organizations. This represents another year of record funding for Tribally led projects within a single grant program at NFWF.
America the Beautiful was launched by President Biden in 2021 with the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Over four years, more than 45 million acres have been conserved under this initiative.
ATBC grants focus on conserving wildlife habitats and ecosystems while improving community resilience and access to nature. These efforts align with President Biden’s environmental justice goals. The competitive grant awards are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law among other sources.
“President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative has been truly transformative,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. She emphasized that these investments advance engagement with Tribes and elevate Indigenous Knowledge for environmental benefits.
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory noted that “the America the Beautiful Challenge is advancing President Biden’s ongoing commitment” to conservation efforts nationwide.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted that “over the past three years, the America the Beautiful Challenge has served as a marker” for protecting natural treasures through partnerships with various stakeholders.
Brendan Owens from the Department of Defense stated that “by allocating over $6 million in DoD Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funding,” military readiness is strengthened while reducing wildfire risks.
The ATBC was established to streamline access to funds for landscape-scale conservation projects across the nation. In its third year, it received pre-proposals requesting $677 million but could only address about 18 percent due to high demand.
Projects supported by these grants aim to address priority conservation needs, enhance carbon storage, engage communities including underserved ones, connect people with nature, safeguard ecosystems through resilience-focused solutions, and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge.
Erik Stegman from Native Americans in Philanthropy emphasized that “Indigenous knowledge and leadership are at the heart” of addressing biodiversity challenges through collaborative public-private solutions unlocking significant resources for Tribal conservation projects.
A complete list of grants made through ATBC is available online along with details about applicant eligibility and submission requirements on NFWF's webpage.
