RESTORE Colorado Program (Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and the Environment)

The RESTORE Colorado Program, standing for Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and the Environment, is a collaborative funding initiative focused on supporting large-scale habitat restoration and stewardship efforts across both public and private lands in Colorado. This program is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), which also manages the application and grant administration process. The program’s funders include a diverse coalition of public and private partners: the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Gates Family Foundation, OXY, Chevron, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. RESTORE Colorado was developed in response to the difficulty of piecing together funding for large-scale conservation projects. By unifying resources from multiple sources, the program streamlines access to capital through a single grant application. This model supports initiatives that aim to deliver multi-benefit outcomes, including improved ecosystem health, enhanced wildlife resilience, and community stewardship. The blend of federal, state, and private funding also provides increased flexibility, allowing grantees to complete projects more efficiently and effectively. For the 2025 cycle, approximately $4.5 million in funding is projected to be available. The program’s funding priorities include watershed resilience, encompassing wetlands, riparian areas, and upland habitats such as forests. Additional targeted landscapes include eastern Colorado grasslands, sagebrush rangelands, and big game winter range and migration corridors. These focus areas reflect a strategic intent to address critical conservation challenges across Colorado’s diverse ecological regions. Entities eligible to apply for RESTORE Colorado funding include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state agencies and political subdivisions, local and municipal governments, Tribes, and educational institutions. Businesses and unincorporated individuals are not eligible to apply. All applications are submitted to NFWF, and project selection is made collaboratively by all funding partners involved. The timeline for the 2025 funding cycle is as follows: the Request for Proposals (RFP) is expected to be released in August 2025, and funding decisions will be announced in December 2025. While the exact application due date is still to be determined, applicants should prepare accordingly for a fall deadline. For additional support and application submission, interested parties are directed to work through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The GOCO office, located at 1900 Grant St., Suite 725, Denver, CO 80203, is available for inquiries and support, and can be reached at 303.226.4500.