Stewardship Council Community Grants Program
2026 Community Grants Program Now Accepting Proposals
The Stewardship Council has opened its 2026 Community Grants Program. Applications for local projects are due by March 6, 2026. View the 2026 Community Grants RFP. View the 2026 Application (Word / PDF).
Funding through the Community Grants Program supports projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their nationally-recognized biodiversity, scenic and recreational, and historic and cultural values. This grants program aims to engage municipalities and local non-profits (environmental, historical, cultural, educational, recreational) in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Projects funded in past years have included invasive species management, riparian restoration, assessment and engineering plans to reduce erosion and flooding, outreach to riverfront landowners, education through community art projects and shows, as well as riverside trail improvements and signage.
Applications will be accepted for projects within the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers including: Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend in MA; and Brookline and Hollis in NH. Projects in other Nashua River watershed communities that benefit the resource values associated with these three rivers may be considered as well.
Applications are being accepted now through March 6, 2026. Awards will be announced by March 27, 2026.
The Stewardship Council has opened its 2026 Community Grants Program. Applications for local projects are due by March 6, 2026. View the 2026 Community Grants RFP. View the 2026 Application (Word / PDF).
Funding through the Community Grants Program supports projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their nationally-recognized biodiversity, scenic and recreational, and historic and cultural values. This grants program aims to engage municipalities and local non-profits (environmental, historical, cultural, educational, recreational) in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Projects funded in past years have included invasive species management, riparian restoration, assessment and engineering plans to reduce erosion and flooding, outreach to riverfront landowners, education through community art projects and shows, as well as riverside trail improvements and signage.
Applications will be accepted for projects within the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers including: Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend in MA; and Brookline and Hollis in NH. Projects in other Nashua River watershed communities that benefit the resource values associated with these three rivers may be considered as well.
Applications are being accepted now through March 6, 2026. Awards will be announced by March 27, 2026.
About the Community Grants Program
The Stewardship Council provides funds to support projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values (ORRVs) through its Community Grants Program. The grants program aims to engage municipalities and local organizations in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Who is eligible to apply? Eligible entities include municipalities, municipality-affiliated groups, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations from the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). Eligible entities may include but are not limited to conservation commissions, planning boards, water/wastewater departments, libraries, historical commissions, recreation departments, schools (including environmental clubs, art programs, science classes, etc.), historical societies, garden clubs, art associations, houses of worship, regional organizations, local land trusts, and neighborhood groups.
What types of projects are funded? Projects must address one or more of the goals of the Stewardship Plan and protect and/or enhance the ORRVs of biological diversity, historical & cultural, or recreational & scenic resources and/or increase awareness, appropriate use, and appreciation of these resource values. Projects that earned grants in prior years can be viewed on this site.
What is the application cycle? Each year the Stewardship Council develops a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Community Grants Program. The RFP will be made public in early January with an early March application deadline.
Learn more about the Community Grants Program.
The Stewardship Council provides funds to support projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values (ORRVs) through its Community Grants Program. The grants program aims to engage municipalities and local organizations in protecting the rivers’ resources and building strong local stewardship of the rivers in accordance with the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Who is eligible to apply? Eligible entities include municipalities, municipality-affiliated groups, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations from the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). Eligible entities may include but are not limited to conservation commissions, planning boards, water/wastewater departments, libraries, historical commissions, recreation departments, schools (including environmental clubs, art programs, science classes, etc.), historical societies, garden clubs, art associations, houses of worship, regional organizations, local land trusts, and neighborhood groups.
What types of projects are funded? Projects must address one or more of the goals of the Stewardship Plan and protect and/or enhance the ORRVs of biological diversity, historical & cultural, or recreational & scenic resources and/or increase awareness, appropriate use, and appreciation of these resource values. Projects that earned grants in prior years can be viewed on this site.
What is the application cycle? Each year the Stewardship Council develops a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Community Grants Program. The RFP will be made public in early January with an early March application deadline.
Learn more about the Community Grants Program.
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