The RMEF Grant Program lies at the core of advancing our mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.
RMEF established the program in 1986 to provide financial and logistical support to projects that align with our priorities and goals. Grant funds raised by RMEF members, volunteers and generous donors from across the country translate into significantly more conservation accomplishment when matched with partner funds. The RMEF Grant Program also aims to build recognition for RMEF's work, grow engagement, and boost local fundraising efforts.
Since awarding our first grant in 1986 for a habitat project – a 1,100-acre prescribed burn in a place fittingly named Elk Creek on Montana’s Kootenai National Forest, RMEF supported more than 14,800 projects in 49 states that directly contributed to advancing our mission. The grant program, in part, supplied funding for most of these projects. In 2024 alone, RMEF funded 535 projects, totaling more than $11.2 million that leveraged more than $70 million in partner funding for projects spread across 42 states.
Governed by clear guidelines and criteria, the RMEF Grant Program seeks to foster meaningful collaborations and long-term impacts in the conservation of natural resources and outdoor traditions. Grant project partners include federal, state, local, and tribal wildlife and land management agencies, private landowners and local stakeholders, sportsmen and women, and conservation organizations, universities, foundations and the outdoor industry. Eligible projects primarily focus on habitat stewardship, land conservation and access, wildlife management, and hunting heritage.
We support organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)3 entity, federal, state, local, or tribal government entities, sportsmen’s organizations, or educational institutions. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. RMEF does not offer grants to individuals.
Habitat Stewardship
Wildlife Management & Research
Land Conservation & Access
Hunting Heritage
Habitat Stewardship
RMEF supplies grants for habitat enhancement projects in states with wild, free-ranging elk herds across the country, funding science-based projects that provide a direct benefit to elk and other wildlife to enhance their habitat (food, water, cover and space). Quality habitat is essential to ensuring the future of elk, mule deer and other wildlife. RMEF and its partners direct financial support to carry out prescribed burning, forest thinning, noxious weed treatments, the establishment of wildlife water developments, and other projects to enhance wildlife habitat.
RMEF's 2025 priorities include addressing crucial big game habitat and migration corridors, promoting wildfire restoration in the West, and supporting eastern elk herds.
Wildlife Management and Research
RMEF provides grants for wildlife management and research projects in states with wild, free-ranging elk herds across the country, funding work that directly affects elk populations such as disease surveillance, wildlife-friendly fencing, road management and research that scientifically expands the body of knowledge regarding elk, their habitat, movement, interactions and more.
RMEF's 2025 priorities include addressing crucial big game habitat, migration corridors, and promoting wildlife-friendly fencing, as well as research about migration corridors and critical habitat, impacts of recreation on wildlife, eastern elk habitat improvements, and big game population trajectories.
Land Conservation and Access
RMEF works with partners to conserve and protect quality elk range, migration corridors, and calving areas while seeking to open or improve public access opportunities. Conservation tools include land acquisitions, exchanges, voluntary conservation agreements (conservation easements) and other means. Focusing on public access lies at the heart of RMEF's mission. Since 1984, RMEF opened or improved public access to more than 1.6 million acres of elk habitat across the country for hunting, fishing, hiking and other forms of outdoor recreation.
RMEF's 2025 priorities include conserving big game winter range and migratory corridors, creating new or improved public access, and connecting landscapes through public access and land conservation efforts.
Hunting Heritage
Ensuring the future of our hunting heritage is also a vital part of RMEF’s work. Hunters and anglers were among the first crusaders for conservation and remain today's most important conservation supporters and leaders. RMEF supplies grants for hunting heritage and conservation education programs to help people of all ages learn more about hunting's link to conservation and engage them in hunting and other outdoor pursuits. Outdoor skills programs or events, hunter or conservation outreach, mentored hunts, and other activities receive support from RMEF's hunting heritage efforts.
GRANT PROGRAM QUESTIONS
Contact grants@rmef.org
The RMEF Grant Program recently conducted an assessment of our grant system, and we are excited to launch a new online grant portal for increased efficiency and improved grantee experience. RMEF grants will now be offered in two cycles each year, with the launch of the new platform anticipated in early spring of 2025.