ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Environmental Trust and its partners are now accepting applications for the 2026 Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants program, offering about $357,000 in funding for environmental projects. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1, 2025, and awards will be announced in March 2026.
The grants are designed to support volunteer groups, nonprofits, communities, and land trusts in their efforts to advance environmental education, community stewardship, and natural resource protection.
“I never cease to be amazed by the high quality of the projects and their meaningful impacts in Maryland’s communities,” said Maryland Environmental Trust Director John Turgeon. “It’s a great example of how well-placed resources can build capacity, unlock innovation, and create new opportunities that inspire and engage our communities.”
The Chesapeake Bay Trust administers the application process. “This grant program empowers people of all ages from varied spaces to lead environmental projects for their communities,” said Dr. Jana Davis, the trust’s president.
The program, which has been in place since 1967, is funded by the Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Department of Natural Resources; the Maryland Department of Transportation; and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Available Grants
The following grants are available for the 2026 cycle:
- Community Stewardship Grants: Up to $5,000 for schools, nonprofits, and other community organizations that engage members in environmental education and stewardship. A total of $47,000 is available for this category.
- Land Trust Assistance Grants: Up to $10,000 for Maryland land trusts to increase capacity and support programming. A total of $55,000 is available.
- Aileen Hughes Grant: Up to $5,000 for an individual from a Maryland land trust who has shown outstanding leadership in a conservation project. $5,000 is available.
- Tree Planting on Agricultural Land Grants: Up to $50,000 for nonprofits to implement reforestation or afforestation projects on agricultural land, supporting Maryland’s goal of planting 5 million trees by 2031. This is the largest pool of funding, with $250,000 available.
Last year, the program awarded 20 grants totaling over $238,000 for projects in nine Maryland counties and Baltimore City.
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