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BWSR offers a variety of competitive grant programs. These funds may be appropriated through the Clean Water Fund, Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, the general fund, or direct appropriations.

When funding opportunities are available through BWSR, opportunities to submit competitive requests will be listed on this page.

Funding opportunities for BWSR formula grant programs utilizing a Request for Interest (RFI) can be found here Request Formula Grant Funds 

FY 2027 Clean Water Fund Projects and Practices Grant Program

The FY 2027 Clean Water Fund (CWF) Projects and Practices Grants Request For Proposals (RFP) is now open, and includes two programs: 1) Projects and Practices, and 2) Projects and Practices Drinking Water. 

Eligible Organizations:

  • Local governments (counties, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and soil and water conservation districts or local government joint power boards) working under a current State approved and locally adopted local water management plan, comprehensive watershed management plan or soil and water conservation district comprehensive plan.
  • Municipalities are eligible if they: 1) have a water plan that has been approved by a watershed district or a watershed management organization as provided under Minn. Stat. 103B.235; or 2) adopted an approved comprehensive watershed management plan developed under Minn. Stat. 103B.801.
  • Counties in the seven-county metropolitan area are eligible if they have adopted a county groundwater plan under Minn Stat. 103B.255 or county comprehensive plan that has been approved by the Metropolitan Council under Minn. Stat. Chapter 473.
  • DRINKING WATER PROJECTS & PRACTICES GRANT ONLY: Eligible entities include those listed in a) and c) above, as well as, municipalities if they have a state approved Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) approved source water (drinking water) protection plan such as a wellhead protection plan, wellhead protection action plan or surface water intake protection plan (public water suppliers and rural water systems defined by Minn. Stat. 116A.01 Public Water Systems).

How to Apply: Applications must be submitted via eLINK, BWSR’s grants management system. Only grant requests greater than or equal to $30,000 will be considered.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, no later than 4:30 pm CST. Late applications, or applications not submitted via eLINK, will not be considered.

Resources:

Bridging Conservation

The purpose of the Bridging Conservation Grant Program to promote conservation to non-native English-speaking communities by creating new or expanding existing outreach and education programs. The term “non-native English-speaking communities” refers to communities whose first and/or primary language is not English.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their Board Conservationist or Mandy Duong, Organizational Development & DEI Coordinator, at mandy.duong@state.mn.us for additional information on this program and for assistance in submitting an application.

 

Eligible Org. Types:

Nonprofit organizations, Cities, Counties, Local Government Joint Power Boards, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Townships, Watershed Districts, Watershed Management Organizations, Tribal Governments and Commissions or Consortiums representing Tribal Governments, and Public/Charter Schools (K-12)

 

The Bridging Conservation informational webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 25 from 1-2PM via Teams. To join, please register here.

 

How to Apply: Funding request applications must be submitted via eLINK, BWSR’s grants management system.

Application deadline: Funding request applications must be submitted in eLINK no later than 4:30pm on Thursday, April 2nd, 2026. 

Resources:

Performance Review and Assistance Program Grant

The Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) provides grants to local governments who seek to improve efficiency and effectiveness in delivering and executing organizational goals and objectives. Local government units do not need to be the subject of a previous PRAP performance review to apply for these funds, but with limited funding, priority is given to recommended activities or strategies from previous reviews. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their Board Conservationist and Don Bajumpaa, PRAP Coordinator, at don.bajumpaa@state.mn.us for additional information on this program and for assistance in submitting an application. 

 

Eligible Org. Types: Counties, Joint Powers Boards, MASWCD Technical Service Areas, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Districts and Watershed Management Organizations

 

How to Apply: Funding request applications must be submitted via eLINK, BWSR’s grants management system. 

 

Application Deadline: Applications are submitted through eLINK on an on-going basis as funding is available. BWSR will process funding requests on a monthly basis - due on the last business day of the month.

 

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