Midpen Gives Grants to Seven Local Organizations
Published August 6, 2026
Midpen recently awarded $313,983 in funding as part of our 2025 Grantmaking Program. The program, which began in 2019, supports academic and nonprofit institutions in sustaining and growing the conservation field through research, education, stewardship and connection.
“Midpen’s Grantmaking Program reflects our belief that meaningful change happens when we invest in the people and organizations who are making a difference on the ground,” said Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz. “By empowering community-led initiatives, we’re both funding projects and strengthening the whole of our community to support a more equitable, sustainable and connected Bay Area.”
The Grantmaking Program allocates funding to project proposals in three priority areas:
- Applied science - advancing scientific understanding of natural processes and/or promoting environmental stewardship
- Network and partnership support - cultivating, sustaining, and growing conservation networks
- Access, interpretation and education - educating and promoting open space protection
Hidden Villa and the HEAL Project received a grant for access, interpretation and education projects that will connect school-aged youth with open space through land stewardship opportunities and provide educational nature-based learning about the connection between food, environmental health and open space.
University of California Santa Cruz and University of Nevada Reno received grants for applied science projects will provide insight into invasive species management methods and the effectiveness of virtual fencing on agricultural lands.
Arriba South Coast, Grassroots Ecology and the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation received grants for network and partnership support projects that will connect people to open space and strengthen the understanding of Indigenous land stewardship practices through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building.
By building and strengthening these project opportunities and partnerships, the Grantmaking Program facilitates Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Grant proposal agreements are expected to be executed in the summer of 2026 and will conclude by the summer of 2028.
Learn more at openspace.org/grants.