Late fall is a great time to start planning for your native planting, rain garden, or other sustainable landscaping project. If you live in Minnesota, there are many funding opportunities to support your work! Minnesota residents can apply for a Lawns to Legumes grant, a $400 reimbursement for creating pollinator habitat with native plants. Apply for a Spring 2026 grant by November 30, 2025. Beyond Lawns to Legumes, there may also be local funding available to you.
For many local grants, information and applications for 2026 funding opportunities are open now or will be available soon. Below, we’ve updated our annual list of local grant opportunities from Blue Thumb partners and others, including soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) and watershed districts.
Why get funding through your local SWCD or watershed district? Grants from local agencies are typically less competitive and offer higher dollar amounts than the Lawns to Legumes program. SWCD and watershed district staff are also knowledgeable about project challenges and strategies specific to your area, and may offer free site visits and personalized support for your project.
Additionally, each spring, a number of Minnesota SWCDs host native tree and shrub sales, and some have native garden kits available to order. So don’t forget to check out your local SWCD website! Many SWCDs participate in the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources’ State Cost-Share program, so if you don’t see your county here, find your SWCD and visit their website. Additionally, our Lawns to Legumes Native Plant Nurseries and Retailers page lists sources for native plants across Minnesota.
Keep in mind that the list of funding opportunities below is not exhaustive. Refer to organization websites for full grant information. To see grant opportunities from Blue Thumb partners, visit our Partner Grants page.
Does your Minnesota organization offer residential funding for planting projects and is not on this list? Contact us to be added!
Minnesota Grants for Native Plantings (in alphabetical order)
Benton Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Benton County
- Cost Share Program
- Staff at Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District can assist with urban or residential projects such as native shoreline plantings and rain gardens. They can provide technical guidance as well as assist with possible funding and cost-share.
Blue Earth Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Blue Earth County (Mankato area)
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- Landowners can request financial and technical assistance for the implementation of approved conservation practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion and reducing sedimentation.
- This program provides up to 75 percent or a flat rate of the total eligible costs of a practice.
Capitol Region Watershed District
Geographical Region: Parts of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and Saint Paul. View range map here.
- Clean Water Project Grants
- Clean Water Project Grants provide technical and financial assistance to residents, non-profits, schools, businesses, and public agencies within Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) to build projects that prevent stormwater pollution from entering our lakes and the Mississippi River.
- For residential, public agencies and non-profits, CRWD can reimburse 95% of eligible project costs, up to the grant award amount. For businesses and other for-profit organizations: CRWD can reimburse 75% of eligible project costs, up to the grant award amount.
- Clean Water Project Grant awards range from $500 – $200,000 and applications are accepted year-round.
Carver County Water Management Organization
Geographical Region: Carver County
- Improving Water Quality Program
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- This program provides financial assistance for projects that protect and restore the lakes and streams. Common projects include rain gardens, shoreline restorations, native plantings, water retention and water reuse systems and more.
- The program will cover 75% of eligible costs up to a maximum reimbursement of $5000.
- Applications are accepted year round for review and will be prioritized by the date the application was received.
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- Pollinator Habitat Program
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- This program offers funding to convert landscapes into pollinator habitat.
- Private landowners can receive a maximum of $5,000 (or $2 per square foot) for projects at least 250 square feet in size.
- Applications are accepted throughout the year depending on available funding.
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- Shoreline Habitat Program
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- This program offers cost share funding to help homeowners build healthy shorelines that preserve water quality in their lake.
- Private landowners can receive a maximum of $2,500 (or $2 per square foot of new habitat) for projects at least 250 square feet in size and minimum 10’ buffer width.
Cass Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Cass County
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- Cost-sharing dollars are available to Cass County landowners for a variety of conservation projects, including Private Forest Management Plans, Shoreland/Pollinator habitat improvement, and Stormwater/Erosion control.
- There is also funding available on a watershed basis through the Leech Lake River and Pine River watersheds.
- Eligible practices must meet technical specifications and be maintained by the landowner for a minimum effective life of 10 years.
Chippewa Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Chippewa County (Montevideo, MN area)
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- A variety of cost-share programs are available to help landowners pay for installing best management conservation practices. SWCD staff work with landowners to access funding through federal, state and local programs. See website for a list of commonly approved cost share practices.
Chisago Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Chisago County
- Cost Share Programs
- Lakeshore Buffers: The SWCD staff can provide technical assistance on what plants to choose for your site and design help. In some cases, financial assistance may be available.
- Rain Gardens: The SWCD has completed Urban Subwatershed Retrofit Assessments in Center City, Lindstrom, and Chisago City to help prioritize the most important areas for implementing BMPs. Some grant funding may be available for BMP installation within these subwatersheds. Check with the SWCD to see if your location is within a priority area.
Dakota Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Dakota County
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- Dakota County residents who complete the Introduction to Clean Water class and the Design Course can apply for a $250 grant towards the installation of their garden project (paid upon completion). The grant award includes on-site visits and technical assistance. This program can be used to fund smaller school and church gardens, as well as single and multi-residential properties.
- Dakota County residency is not required to participate in the classes and workshops; however, grants are only available for Dakota County residents and Ramsey County residents within the Lower Mississippi River Watershed which includes the west side of the City of Saint Paul. Sign up to be notified when classes open here.
Faribault Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Faribault County
- Cost Share Program
- Through the Cost Share Program, landowners can request financial and technical assistance for the implementation of approved conservation practices that protect and improve water quality. The program provides up to 75% or a flat rate of the total eligible costs of a practice.
Hennepin County
Geographical region: Hennepin County
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- Good Steward Grants are primarily for smaller projects that improve water quality, enhance natural areas and promote environmental stewardship to the community. A typical grant amount is $10,000 to $20,000, with a maximum amount of $25,000.
- All landowners are eligible to apply, including individuals, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, local government agencies, and businesses.
- Typical projects include constructing rain gardens, stabilizing stream banks, restoring native vegetation, installing vegetated filter strips or implementing other best management projects.
- Hennepin County also offers Opportunity Grants for larger projects seeking to leverage multiple funding sources with grant amounts ranging from $25,000-$50,000.
- Visit Hennepin County’s website for more information on funding for rural and agricultural landowners.
Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Isanti County
- Cost Share Program
- Presently, the SWCD can offer technical assistance and sometimes financial assistance to landowners on natural resource conservation practices such as lakeshore restoration design using native vegetation, rain garden, and other rainwater runoff control practices.
Itasca Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Itasca County
- Cost Share Program
- Funding is available to landowners to offset the costs of installing conservation practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion, reducing sedimentation, and keeping systems healthy. This program can provide landowners up to 75 percent of the total cost.
Kandiyohi Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Kandiyohi County
- Cost Share Program
- Through the State Cost Share Program, landowners can request financial and technical assistance from their local SWCD for the implementation of BWSR-approved conservation practices. This program provides up to 75 percent of the total eligible costs of a practice, including rain gardens and shoreline restoration projects.
Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Koochiching
- Cost Share Program
- The purpose of this program is to help local landowners offset the costs of installing conservation practices that protect and improve water quality by controlling soil erosion and reducing sedimentation. Approved construction practices include activities that control nutrient runoff; stabilize critical eroding areas; divert runoff to protect and improve water quality; reduce wind erosion; control gully, rill, or sheet erosion; protect shoreland from erosion; control stormwater runoff; or protect surface water and ground water quality.
Lake Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographic Region: Lake County
- Cost Share Program
- Through the cost-share program, landowners can request financial and technical assistance from Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District for implementation of conservation practices that protect and improve water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams. Cost-share projects share the cost of systems or practices for erosion control, sedimentation control, or water quality improvements.
City of Minneapolis
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- You can reduce your stormwater utility fee by up to 45% if you live in a Minneapolis Green Zone, up to 35% if you live outside a Green Zone.
- You are eligible for quality stormwater credits if you install a rain garden, pervious pavement, green roof, or stormwater reuse (rain barrels are not eligible) according to Best Management Practices (BMPs). Practices must be implemented on your property, not in the right-of-way, and treat stormwater runoff from impervious areas on your own property. The application period is open from May 1st through October 1st each year.
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Geographical region: Twin Cities metro area including Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, Lauderdale, Minneapolis, St. Anthony Village and St. Paul. See range map here.
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- Community Grants are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000. No matching funds are required.
- Eligible applicants include nonprofits, officially recognized neighborhood groups, business and professional associations, schools, and local units of government.
- Deadline: Friday, December 12, 2025, by 4:30 p.m. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the MWMO to discuss ideas and ask questions in advance of applying.
- Planning Grants are also available to assist organizations to plan and prepare documentation for a project that will be implemented in the near future. Planning Grants help fund the planning process for detailed projects that help improve water quality through construction, education, outreach, or other creative ways.
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Geographical region: District cities include Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Richfield. See range map here.
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- Cost share grants for projects that prevent stormwater pollution or to projects that restore native plant and wildlife habitat. Examples of projects include rain gardens, shoreline buffers, permeable pavers, chloride reduction projects, native plantings, and habitat restoration projects.
- Grant funds are available to residents, associations, nonprofits, schools, businesses, and cities for projects located within the boundaries of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District.
- Maximum grant award for residential habitat restoration projects or native plantings is $3,750, see website for maximum awards for other project types. Applications for 2026 projects will be reviewed in January 2026.
Pelican River Watershed District
Geographical Region: Becker and Otter Tail Counties, MN
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- Pelican River Watershed District provides cost share financial assistance for low-cost projects to promote efforts that protect and improve water and natural resources. Cost share funds can be used by public or private landowners within the District for implementing projects that assist in one or all of the following:
- Protect or restore quality of lakes and rivers
- Protect or restore native plant communities and wildlife habitats with emphasis on lakes
- Priority will be given to shore land and streambank restoration projects
- Innovative approaches to treat stormwater at the source
- Funding is a 75% match of eligible expenses with a maximum level of $1,000 for single family homes, $2,000 for condo and apartment complexes, and $3,000 for organizations.
- Applications are accepted year round from organizations/individuals for one cost-share grant per year.
- Pelican River Watershed District provides cost share financial assistance for low-cost projects to promote efforts that protect and improve water and natural resources. Cost share funds can be used by public or private landowners within the District for implementing projects that assist in one or all of the following:
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
Geographical region: Eastern Ramsey County and western Washington County, including some or all of White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Maplewood, Landfall, North St. Paul, St. Paul, Oakdale, Woodbury, Roseville, and Shoreview. See range map here.
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- Stewardship Grants are provided to install and maintain a variety of best management practices. These are designed to filter and reduce runoff, protect groundwater, restore native ecosystems, prevent flooding and lessen the effects of drought. Common types of projects include rain gardens, native landscaping, shoreland restoration, and pervious pavement.
- Grants offered up to $15,000 for homeowners or $100,000 for commercial, church, school, association, or government entities. Funding covers 50-100 percent of the project, depending on type and location. Completed applications can be submitted anytime for review — schedule a site consult with program staff to start the process.
Renville Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Renville County
- Cost Share Programs
- Soil Health Cost Share: The Renville SWCD is offering incentive payments to producers utilizing soil health practices up to $100,000.00 per practice, per 1-year contract.
- Central MN River Watershed Project (CMRWP) Cost Share: Per-acre funding for agricultural practices protecting water quality.
Rice Creek Watershed District
Geographical region: The RCWD is approximately 185 square miles of urban and rural land in Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. See range map here.
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- The Mini-Grants Program provides a reimbursement grant (up to $500) to individuals to make a difference in their local communities by planting native plants, installing rain gardens, installing rain barrels, doing educational events, and more!
- All land or home owners in the district are eligible. This includes residents, churches, schools, communities, and businesses.
- The application for 2026 funding opens in January 2026.
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- For larger projects that will result in improved water quality such as rain gardens, shoreline restorations, wetland restorations, and more.
- All land or home owners in the district are eligible. This includes residents, churches, schools, communities, and businesses. RCWD may fund 25-50% of total project costs up to a maximum of $10,000 depending on benefits to water resources. If a project is highly beneficial to water resources RCWD may fund 75% of eligible materials and contracted labor up to a maximum of $10,000.
Richfield Bloomington Watershed Management Organization
Geographical region: The Richfield-Bloomington Watershed is located in the central portion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul seven county metropolitan area and includes parts of Richfield and Bloomington. See range map here.
- RBWMO Residential Grant Program
- For installing residential rain gardens. Successful applicants will receive assistance from Metro Blooms, including a design consultation, complete rain garden design, and excavation and mulching of the rain garden. Participants are responsible for 50% of the site consultation fee (75$), and purchasing the plants for their rain garden.
- Applications will be reviewed regularly until available funding is exhausted. Up to 12 applications can be funded in 2025-26.
City of Rochester
Geographical Region: Rochester, MN
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- The City of Rochester offers grants to establish pollinator habitat and water stewardship gardens. A limited number of grants will be available each year. Eligible expenses include the cost for design, plants, mulch, soil amendments, and related materials. Residents, community organizations, and schools may apply.
- Applications are accepted from October 1 through December 31 for gardens to be installed during the following year’s growing season. If you believe your project aligns with the criteria, sign up for a site visit. Once a site visit has been completed and the project is confirmed to meet the eligibility criteria, you will be provided with the application materials.
Scott Soil & Water Conservation District and Scott Watershed Management Organization
Geographical Region: Scott County
- Cost Share & Incentive Program
- The Scott Watershed Management Organization (WMO) Cost Share Program was created to provide funds to landowners for the implementation of conservation practices that protect and improve water quality in rivers, lakes, streams, and other valuable water resources in the Scott WMO. Landowners, citizen groups, and local units of government can request financial and technical assistance from the Scott WMO and the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) through the cost share program for implementation of conservation practices.
- Applications are taken on a continuous basis. Eligible practices are listed on the website.
Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Sherburne County
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- Sherburne County’s native prairie incentive program helps landowners in establishing diverse native prairie. The program reimburses 75% of seed cost, on a maximum of 10 acres (minimum of 1/2 acre). SWCD technical staff can assist with site prep and seed mix recommendations.
- Program participants are asked to maintain prairie for a minimum of 10 years and allow SWCD on‐site inspections as requested (up to 1x per year).
- Request more information or schedule a meeting by filling out the form on the website.
Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commissions
Geographical region: East-Central Hennepin County, Minnesota. Shingle Creek member cities are Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth, and Robbinsdale. West Mississippi member cities include Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Maple Grove, and Osseo.
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- The Watersheds’ Partnership Cost Share program provides financial and technical assistance to private property owners who are looking to protect and improve water quality and native habitat. Funding requests may range from $10,000 to $50,000.
- Types of projects funded include rain gardens, bioinfiltration/filtration features that filter surface runoff, conversion of impervious surface to turf grass or native plants, and more.
- Eligibility: You must apply through your City Engineer and the project will be reviewed for funding assistance by the Watershed Commission at their monthly meeting. If awarded, awardees must obtain all necessary permits for the work and enter into an operations and maintenance agreement with the city (if applicable). Projects are reimbursable after completion.
Stearns Soil and Water Conservation District
Geographical region: Stearns County
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- By choosing to plant a pollinator habitat with the Stearns County SWCD, landowners are provided with free seed and technical assistance to ensure proper site preparation and seeding as well as successful establishment.
- 10 year contract length, $300 (flat rate) will be paid per acre. The seeding must be completed between May 15-June 30 or after November 1.
- Eligibility: Landowners in Stearns County, Private, public, and corporate lands. Minimum project size is 2 acres
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- Assistance with technical information, design, cost share, and implementation of your project. See webpage for contact information.
City of St. Louis Park
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- St. Louis Park’s Rainwater Rewards program offers financial assistance to residents that complete stormwater management projects on their property.
- The city offers two different ways to complete your rainwater rewards project:
- Rain Garden Lottery: Rain gardens are designed and built for homeowners by Metro Blooms and Conservation Corps of Minnesota.
- Rainwater rewards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) program: Projects are designed and built by the homeowner with or without help from professional designers and contractors
- Residential landowners may submit applications year-round until funds are gone. An application must be approved by the city prior to starting any work. Projects started or completed when submitted are not eligible for funding.
- The application process is currently suspended and will resume in 2026.
Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization
Geographical Region: Northeast metro area (northern Ramsey County and a small portion of Anoka County). See range map here.
- Landscape Grant
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- VLAWMO Landscape Grants support installing a water quality improvement project, or Best Management Practice (BMP), that will benefit our lakes, streams, and wetlands. Grants include Landscape Level 1 Grant (Maximum $5,000, $7,500 for curb cut raingardens), Soil Health Grant (Maximum $1,000, $1,250 if within priority zone), Landscape Level 2 Grant (large-scale projects).
- Site visits must be scheduled prior to submitting an application for any of the grant programs. Applications will not be considered prior to the completion of a site visit with VLAWMO staff.
- Applications will be accepted until grant funding is depleted on a first come, first served basis. Consult with staff for application assistance.
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- Rain Barrel Grant
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- The Rain Barrel Grant Program funds up to two rain barrels per property. VLAWMO will reimburse 50% of the cost, up to $100 for each rain barrel. The total reimbursement cannot be more than $200.
Watonwan River Watershed Network
Geographical Region: includes Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, and Watonwan counties (South Central MN)
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- As part of Watonwan River Watershed’s 2023-2026 Implementation Grant, cost-share funds are available for eligible practices including agricultural practices, shoreland protection, urban practices (rain gardens, vegetated swales), and urban forestry (tree planting).
- Call your local SWCD office to find out more.
Washington Conservation District
Geographical Region: Washington County
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- Washington Conservation District (WCD) can connect you with cost share, grant, and loan programs that protect land and water in Washington County. They can also help you navigate the Rural Preserve Property Tax Program (RPPTP).
- All eight watershed management organizations within Washington County offer grants for water quality improvement projects such as rain gardens, shoreline restoration, habitat improvement, and stormwater management. Contact the WCD staff or your local watershed management organization to learn what funds are available.
Wilkin Soil & Water Conservation District
Geographical Region: Wilkin County
- Cost Share Program
- The State Cost-Share Program assists landowners financially with the installation of soil and water conservation practices that are designed for an effective life of not less than ten years and meet one of the eligible practices which are eligible for cost share up to 75 percent.