California Forest Improvement Program

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · State of California

At a glance

California Forest Improvement Program is an open California state grant opportunity from the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (State of California). Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Applicant types listed as eligible include business, individual, nonprofit, other legal entity and public agency. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing or matching is required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Opened: Jul 12, 2022
Close date: Ongoing
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: Not specified
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: State — CFIP receives funding from a variety of other State and Federal sources. The highest ranked CFIP projects/applications will be selected for funding in each application period, about every 3 months. Program established by the 1978 California Forest Improvement Act.
Matching funds: 20% — CFIP provides reimbursement at either an 80% or 90% cost-share rate. Landowners with less than 500 acres receive 90% funding. Landowners with 500 acres or more receive either 80% or 90% funding depending on the nature of their project.
Funding method: Advances & Reimbursement(s)
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Estimated award amounts: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: 7/12/2022 -6/30/2028
Expected award announcement: 7/12/2022 -6/30/2028
Letter of intent: Not required
How to submit: By email: cfip@fire.ca.gov
Latest change note: June 2024 Updated primary contact information, dates and deadlines. February 2025 Funding Source Notes updated. Solicitations have switched from every two months to every three months. Matched Funding Percentage updated. Matching fund percentage decreased from 25% to 20%. Matched Funding Notes updated. Cost-share rate increased 5%. Projects will receive either an 80% or a 90% cost share. December 2025 Performance period and award announcement date ranges extended from 06/30/2027 to 06/30/2028.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Business
Individual
Nonprofit
Other Legal Entity
Public Agency

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forestland but not more than 5,000 acres of forestland in California. The 20-acre minimum does not apply to forestland zoned timber production zone. Forestland means land at least 10 percent occupied by trees of any size that are native to California. Developed areas such as structures, landscaping, and gardens shall not be excluded from the 20-acre minimum property size and shall be included.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

The purpose of the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) is to encourage private and public investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources, to ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other economic benefits, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations.

Description

The program scope includes the improvement of all forest resources including fish and wildlife habitat, and soil and water quality. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land. Cost-shared activities include: Preparation of a Forest Management Plan by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and RPF Supervision of the following: Reforestation, Site Preparation, Trees and Planting, Tree Shelters, Stand Improvement, Pre-commercial Thinning or Release, Pruning, Follow-up (includes mechanical, herbicide and/or slash disposal follow-up), Forestland conservation practices / fish and wildlife habitat improvement Broadcast/controlled/cultural burning is not eligible for CFIP cost share.

Program page on the agency site ↗

How to apply

0 of 9 done · progress saved in this browser

Read the program guidelinesThe agency's solicitation or guidelines set eligibility details, scoring criteria and required documents. Open ↗
Confirm eligibility and fitCheck your organization type and location (applicants are generally expected to be in California), and plan for the required matching funds.
Find out how to submitBy email: cfip@fire.ca.gov
Request letters of support and partner commitmentsPartners need time to write and sign letters; ask early.
Secure the matching funds commitmentGet the match documented (board approval, partner letters or budget lines) before the budget is final.
Finish a full draft of the application and budgetFollow the guidelines' format exactly; state programs often require specific forms and attachments.
Ask the program contact any questions earlycfip@fire.ca.gov Open ↗
Internal review and sign-offLeave time for leadership or board approval and a final proofread.
Submit while funds remainSubmit a few days early and keep your submission confirmation.

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2025–2689 applications · 55 awards
Fiscal year 2024–2543 applications · 36 awards
Fiscal year 2023–2464 applications · 63 awards
Fiscal year 2022–2396 applications · 79 awards
Fiscal year 2021–220 applications · 0 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Awards published: 181
Total awarded: $23,787,499
Median award: $115,795 calculated
Smallest – largest: $2,110 – $665,078

Recipients by type: Individual (74), Other Legal Entity (63), Business (34), Nonprofit (10)

Areas served: Humboldt County (26), Fresno County (19), Nevada County (18), Siskiyou County (18), Mendocino County (15), Shasta County (11), Trinity County (11), Santa Cruz County (10), Calaveras County (8), Placer County (5), Sonoma County (5), Yuba County (5)

Largest awards to organizations

The 2008 Tristan R. Allen and Monet L. Allen Revocable Trust8GA23301$630,919 · FY 2022–23
The Michalak Family Trust8GA22357$527,732 · FY 2022–23
Charles A. Jones Bypass Trust8GA24327$524,370 · FY 2024–25
The Steven L. Ericson Separate Property Trust8GA24335$395,921 · FY 2024–25
Richard A. Schaad Family Trust8GA23360$368,606 · FY 2023–24
Kenton Ventures LLC8GA23350$345,770 · FY 2023–24
Puccioni Ranch LLC8GA23369$336,720 · FY 2023–24
Young Life8GA23332$318,644 · FY 2023–24
Old Honn Homestead, LLC8GA24333$284,200 · FY 2024–25
David Armstrong and Nicole C. Armstrong Family Trust 20148GA24300$271,825 · FY 2024–25

Source: California Grants Portal grant award data. Awards to individuals are counted but not named. Past awards show who was funded; they do not predict future decisions.

Program contact (as published)

cfip@fire.ca.gov
1-530-723-3651

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “California Forest Improvement Program”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Business, Individual, Nonprofit, Other Legal Entity and Public Agency. It adds: “Landowners must own at least 20 acres of forestland but not more than 5,000 acres of forestland in California. The 20-acre minimum does not apply to forestland zoned timber production zone. Forestland means land at least 10 percent occupied by trees of any size that are native to…” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How do I apply for “California Forest Improvement Program”?

Applications go directly to Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: by email to cfip@fire.ca.gov. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

OpenState of California