LANSING, MI — The Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) has been awarded a $1.5 million, three-year capacity-building grant from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation to strengthen statewide conservation leadership, coordination, and delivery across Michigan.

Beginning in 2026, the investment will allow MACD to significantly expand its ability to support Conservation Districts throughout the state by building the systems, training, and infrastructure districts need to focus more time and resources on conservation outcomes that protect Michigan’s land, water, and Great Lakes.

“This investment allows us to build what Conservation Districts have been asking for: stronger systems, clearer support, and statewide coordination that matches the scale of Michigan’s conservation needs,” said Rivka Hodgkinson, Executive Director of MACD. “By strengthening MACD’s capacity, we are strengthening every Conservation District. This means districts can spend less time reinventing administrative processes and more time delivering conservation practices that improve water quality and protect the Great Lakes.”

Conservation Districts are locally led special-purpose units of state government that serve landowners, farmers, and communities in every Michigan county. The grant will support MACD in developing standardized HR, accounting, and governance tools; expanding leadership training for district boards and staff; and providing hands-on implementation support to help districts meet grant deliverables and scale conservation impact.

The investment also strengthens MACD’s role as a statewide coordinating body. This grant will build internal capacity, improving their ability to connect local districts with state, federal, nonprofit, and private-sector partners amid rapid change in conservation funding and policy environments.

“This grant is about building long-term resilience,” said Jerry Miller, President of MACD. “Local leadership is the backbone of conservation in Michigan. By investing in the systems that support that leadership statewide, we are ensuring Conservation Districts remain strong, effective, and responsive to their communities for generations to come.”

The grant will support a three-year phased approach, beginning with statewide strategic planning and staff expansion, followed by broad implementation of new systems and training. The effort will also include continued support for farmer-led conservation initiatives and expanded opportunities for district directors to learn from national best practices.

By investing in organizational capacity rather than short-term programming, the Erb Family Foundation’s support positions MACD and Michigan’s Conservation Districts to deliver more consistent, measurable conservation outcomes for soil health and statewide watersheds, strengthening water quality, protecting the Great Lakes, and reinforcing locally driven environmental stewardship.