2027 Urban Forestry Grants Now Open

Posted on by janness

By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099

newly planted trees

Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

As of July 1, 2026, cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in – or conducting their projects in – Wisconsin can apply for a regular or startup 2027 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry grant.

Regular Urban Forestry grants range from $1,000 to $25,000 and grant recipients must match each grant dollar for dollar. These grants fund projects that improve a community’s capacity to manage its trees (e.g., management plans, ordinances, staff training, tree board development, inventories and public education) and projects that help conserve, protect, expand or improve the urban forest resource (e.g., planting, hazard tree removal, pest control). Funded projects will support Wisconsin’s Trillion Trees commitment to plant 1 million trees in urban areas by 2030. These grants do not subsidize routine forestry activities.

Startup Urban Forestry grants range from $1,000 to $5,000, and grant recipients must match each grant dollar for dollar. These grants are available for communities that want to start or restart a community forestry program.

Regular and startup grants are awarded to projects aligning with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy and its benefits.

The application deadline is Oct. 1, 2026. For more information, visit the DNR’s Urban Forestry Grants webpage.

To assist you with the grant application process, we will be offering virtual office hours.

What to expect:

  • Drop-in format: There will be no formal presentation. Just show up whenever you can during the designated times to get your questions answered.
  • Individual/small group support: Connect directly with the Urban Forestry grant manager.
  • Immediate feedback: Get your questions answered on the spot. If you have a more complex query, someone from the Urban Forestry Team will follow up with you individually.

How to join:
Click on the Microsoft Teams meeting link below during any of the following sessions.

When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the following dates:
July 27
Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Sept. 14 & 28

Join the Microsoft Teams meeting.
Meeting ID: 235 260 271 456 320; Passcode: L3jE2mu6
or
Join by phone
+1 608-571-2209; Phone conference ID: 357492779#

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