Registration Required to Apply

The first step of the application process is registering by clicking the yellow rectangle to the left of this message. Registrants must be approved by staff, so please allow up to 24 hours for this process to be completed. For additional instructions on how to register, click here.

The Virginia Outdoors Foundation

Forest CORE Fund

Grant Round Open: November 12, 2025

VOF is excited to open the FY26 Grant Round of the Forest CORE Fund (FCF). This will be the final round of this grant opportunity. The purpose of the Forest CORE Fund is to permanently protect large tracts of forest with high ecological value.
 

Click on View Current Funding Opportunities in the bottom left of this screen to access more information about the program.

Please note: VOF will host a one-hour Forest CORE Fund Workshop Webinar on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. using Microsoft Teams. The webinar will address key program requirements and criteria, provide guidance on material to submit with the application, and share tips on navigating the grant portal. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Funds Available: 

• $4,000,000 for projects that result in forest preservation, restoration, and enhancement.

Eligible Applicants:

• State and federal agencies
• Localities, public bodies, park authorities, planning district commissions, regional public access authorities, tribal councils, and soil and water conservation districts.
• Charitable corporations, associations, or trusts declared exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U. S. C. A. §501 (c) (3).

Area of Eligibility:

• Counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Campbell, Carroll, Charlotte, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Floyd, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Smyth, Tazewell, and Wythe as well as those towns and cities within their boundaries (See Map of Eligible Area: Reasonable Proximity)

Application Method:

• Applicants must register and submit applications through this grant portal. 
• A PDF version of the application is available for reference only.
• Contact grant staff at grants@vof.org if other accommodations are needed.

Application Deadline:

•  Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 14, 2026. 

Grant Timeline:

• November 19, 2025                 Grant Workshop Webinar, 1:00 pm.
• January 14, 2026                     Application submission deadline, 5:00 pm.
• March 12, 2026                       Board of Trustees meeting; grant awards announced.
• April 13, 2026                         Project start date.
• October 16, 2028                    Project completion date.
   

Resources:

• The first step of the application process is registering by clicking the yellow rectangle to the left of this message. Registrants must be approved by VOF staff, so please allow up to 24 hours for this process to be completed. For additional instructions on how to register, click here. 

• Click here to register for a Forest CORE Fund Workshop Webinar on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. using Microsoft Teams. The webinar will address key program requirements and criteria, provide guidance on material to submit with the application, and share tips on navigating the grant portal. Registration is required.

• To view reference application material, click on the name below:

  • FCF Application (for reference only)
• Contact grant staff at grants@vof.org if additional assistance is needed.
   
• More information, including resource material and a  email list sign-up form, may be found at the VOF website.

Preservation Trust Fund

Fall 2025 Grant Round Closed

The fall 2025 round of Preservation Trust Fund (PTF) has closed. Grant awards were announced at the September 25, 2025 meeting of the VOF Board of Trustees. All applicants were notified of the Board’s decision regardless of their award status. 

Upcoming Opportunities:

• January 2026         FY26 Preservation Trust Fund Grant Round Opens
• June 2026              FY27 Preservation Trust Fund Grant Round Opens

More information, including resource material and an email list sign-up form, may be found at the VOF Website. Contact grants@vof.org with questions.

Get Outdoors (GO) Fund

VOF is pausing the Get Outdoors Fund program for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). No grant rounds will be offered this year. Inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Get Outdoors Fund was started in 2020 to serve more Virginians and help them get outdoors. VOF is proud to have funded 119 projects totaling $2.3 million. Click here to read about many of the projects.