The Foundation’s largest grant cycle to date includes investment in rangeland health, expands accessible recreation, and gets more families, veterans and young Americans out on public lands as volunteers to support the public lands we all love.
WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG, 6 2026 – The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announced its commitment to funding 34 new projects across nine states. These investments expand recreation access, improve rangeland health, and encourage shared stewardship and volunteerism across BLM-managed lands and waters.
This round of grant-making commits nearly $9 million in total impact through federal and state funding, as well as charitable donations. A number of these investments help young Americans get outside and volunteer on public lands. In Arizona, youth crews will learn life skills while improving the recreation experience at the Black Canyon Corridor OHV area, installing signs that help visitors navigate safely and stay on designated routes. Others expand access for visitors of all abilities through ADA/ABA improvements to trails, facilities, and recreation sites. In Montana, a new accessible trail and shade structure will welcome visitors to the Glendive Short Pines OHV Area, and trail enhancements near Billings will open riding to adaptive mountain bikers and ruggedized wheelchair users.
The Foundation raises money to help the BLM manage America’s public lands for multiple uses, and these investments reflect the many ways Americans enjoy their public lands. They engage youth corps to train the next generation of stewards, strengthen working rangelands, and help public lands, and the communities that depend on these places, hold up against drought and wildfire.
“The BLM cares for some of America’s hardest working lands, from the rangelands and wild rivers to the trails and campgrounds millions of Americans love,” said I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. “We have to take care of what we have. When private partners and local communities work together with the BLM, these lands and waters get the care they deserve, keeping public lands healthy and accessible for generations to enjoy. We are thankful to our growing number of supporters for making this work possible.”
The 34 projects add to the Foundation’s larger body of work supporting public lands and local communities across the country. Since 2024, the Foundation has:
- Leveraged more than $20 million in federal and non-federal funding toward projects that support the BLM and local communities.
- Directed $2 million to projects that connect youth with public lands through volunteer service and youth corps crews.
- Directed $2 million to projects that improve accessibility (ADA/ABA) at BLM recreation areas for families, veterans, people with disabilities, and youth.
- Improved stewardship of more than 400,000 acres of rangeland with virtual fencing.
- Restored more than 6,000 acres for wildlife and drought resilience.
- Improved more than 640 miles of trails for all types of recreation.
- Enhanced more than 30 recreation sites with new signage, restrooms, parking, and more.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR AMERICA’S PUBLIC LANDS
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and stewardship of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future. To learn more, visit americaslands.org.
The Foundation funds projects that solve real-world problems for local communities and public lands. To date, the Foundation has leveraged more than $20 million in 88 on-the-ground projects across the country. Support for these investments is made possible by federal and state funding, as well as the generous backing of charitable partners and donors.
