RMEF provides financial support to eligible hunting heritage and conservation outreach activities and programs through our State Grant Program while financial support for eligible habitat enhancement, wildlife management and research projects is provided through our Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Grant Program.
Both grant programs leverage dollars raised by volunteer committees and generous donors across the country with partner dollars to amplify our on-the-ground impact for elk, other wildlife, and their habitat and to ensure the future of our hunting heritage.
Learn More About State Grants
Learn More About PAC Grants
Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach
State Grant Program
RMEF provides grants for hunting heritage and conservation outreach activities that teach people about our hunting heritage and engage people in hunting and other outdoor pursuits through the State Grant Program. Hunters and anglers were among the first crusaders for conservation and remain today’s most important conservation supporters and leaders. The State Grant Program supports ‘Hunting is Conservation’ and recognizes the importance of maintaining and supporting our hunting heritage. Examples of programs and activities supported include outdoor skills programs or events, hunter or conservation outreach, mentored hunts, and more.
RMEF funds the following projects, programs and activities through the State Grant Program:
- Projects that educate members and the general public about wildlife habitat conservation, the value of hunting, hunting ethics and/or wildlife management.
- Scholarships to natural history or outdoor skills programs, such as Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, youth bow hunter camps, etc.
- Outdoor skills programs including shooting, survival, and hunting and fishing skills.
- Teaching tools for youth educators (note: RMEF Elk Trunks are funded through a separate grant process).
- Mentored hunt programs, hunter and bowhunter education classes and materials.
- Shooting sports programs, firearms*, targets, ammo and other shooting range supplies, development of shooting ranges and/or essential associated amenities.
*Firearms purchases will only be funded for non-personal use by qualified organizations and must be in compliance with all local, state and federal laws.
We support organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(C) entity, federal, state or local government entities, and state-recognized nonprofit organizations. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. RMEF does not make grants to individuals.
For more information applying for funding through the State Grant Program, please contact our Regional Director in your State. Their contact information is available through the State Chapter Contacts dropdown.
Idaho Mentored Hunt
Ten teenagers had their wildlife/conservation essays selected in a contest and took part in a mentored hunt. RMEF provided funding and volunteer support.
Minnesota HS Clay Target League
RMEF co-sponsored the 2021 Minnesota High School Clay Target League State Trap Championships featuring 6,500 students from 293 high schools.
Mississippi Hunter’s Harvest
RMEF funding assisted program that supplies families suffering from food insecurity with a dependable source of organic, packaged venison.
Habitat Enhancement, Wildlife Management and Research
Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Grant Program
RMEF provides grants for habitat enhancement, wildlife management and research projects in states with wild, free-ranging elk herds (28 states) across the country through the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Grant Program. RMEF funds science-based projects that provide a direct benefit to elk and other wildlife, enhance their habitat, and/or collect necessary information to better manage elk populations.
RMEF supports projects in alignment with the State Wildlife Agency's elk management plan that fall within the following project categories through the PAC Grant Program:
- Habitat enhancement projects such as prescribed burns, thinning, water developments, seeding, fertilizations, aspen restoration, noxious weed treatments, etc.
- Wildlife management projects that directly affect elk populations such as disease surveillance, wildlife-friendly fencing, road management, etc.
- Research projects that scientifically expand the body of knowledge regarding elk, their habitat, elk movement, interactions, etc.
We support organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(C) entity, federal, state or local government entities, and state-recognized nonprofit organizations. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. RMEF does not make grants to individuals.
For more information applying for funding through the PAC Grant Program, please contact our Regional Director in your State. Their contact information is available through the State Chapter Contacts dropdown.