Nature in the City funds projects that bring natural spaces into neighborhoods and communities. Applications for the 2026 Implementation Grant are now open.
Donor Name: City of Fort Collins
State: Colorado
City: Fort Collins
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/20/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Projects within the Fort Collins City Limits and the Growth Management Area are eligible and encouraged to apply. Top priorities for funding will be projects that demonstrate strong alignment with Nature in the City program goals.
Make it Happen: Implementation grants help fund the installation of community projects that bring more wildlife habitat and access to nature into them. Implementation grants can be small projects for natural spaces that need improved habitat or larger projects that create neighborhood buy-in, inspire stewardship, as well as provide habitat and access to nature. Implementation grant funds are for “shovel-ready” projects that already have approved plans.
Goals
Nature in the City‘s vision is a connected open space network accessible to the entire community that provides a variety of experiences and functional habitat for people, plants, and wildlife. The grants program seeks projects that help achieve one or more Nature in the City program goals:
- Connectivity across high quality natural spaces through enhancement of urban lands that provide diverse social and ecological opportunities.
- Access to nature by ensuring every resident can easily experience nature from they live, work and play.
- Stewardship of the naturalized landscape by shifting the urban landscape aesthetic to more diverse forms that support healthy environments for people and wildlife.
Categories
- Small-scale Projects
- Small-scale projects are intended for areas that already support one or more Nature in the City goals but need funding support to enhance work towards those goals and meet new goals.
- Medium-scale Projects
- Medium-scale projects must address at least two of the three Nature in the City goals: creating or enhancing habitat, providing better access to nature, or inspiring stewardship and connection to nature by providing diverse engagement opportunities for our community. Priority will be given to projects that seek to integrate native plantings and nature features into public spaces and/or provide safe routes to nature for neighborhoods that don’t have access.
- Large-scale Project
- Large-scale projects must clearly demonstrate they will further all three Nature in the City’s goals. Projects working to complete a significant landscaping conversion effort that increases native habitat and access to nature are a good fit.
- Residential Projects
- Note, Nature in the City supports individual residential projects through the Xeriscape Incentive Program and encourages you to participate in that program if you want to do a project on an individual lot. As such, Nature in the City Implementation Grants will not support individual residential properties (i.e. front or backyard conversions).
- Planning Projects
- If your community still needs initial support for early project outcomes such as identification of project priorities through community engagement and meetings, work with a landscape architect to draft a landscape plan, or work through the City’s minor amendment process, a Planning Grant may be a good resource
Funding Information
- Small-scale projects – up to $5,000 in support
- Medium-scale projects – $5,000 to $25,000 in support
- Large-scale projects – $25,000 to $60,000 in support
Types of Projects Qualify
Nature in the City can fund a wide variety of on the ground projects. Get creative with it! Some ideas include:
- Native-habitat gardens
- Nature play areas
- Outdoor classrooms/gathering spaces
- Mini habitat/pollinator restorations with native plants
- Turf conversions to native habitat
- Habitat enhancements to your existing green space
- Native plants
- Your unique ideas
Eligibility Criteria
- Home Owner Associations
- Faith-based organizations
- Businesses
- Non-profits
- Affordable housing communities
- Mobile-home communities
- Schools
- Apartment Complexes
- Committed community members with creative project ideas
For more information visit Nature in the City.
