McDonald’s USA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) have announced the first round of grants from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative. The announcement came on April 7, 2026. It marks a major step in what is described as the largest private investment in U.S. grassland conservation in recent history.
This first round generates nearly $42 million in total conservation impact. Of that, $32.8 million comes in direct grants. An additional $9.1 million comes from matching contributions by grantees. Together, the funds will support voluntary conservation efforts across nearly 2.5 million acres of U.S. grasslands.
What is the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative?
Launched in 2025, the initiative is a seven-year partnership between McDonald’s USA, NFWF, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and several key McDonald’s suppliers. In total, the program aims to invest more than $200 million over its lifetime. It targets up to 4 million acres of grassland across as many as 38 U.S. states.
The program focuses on three main areas: improving grazing management, restoring grassland habitat, and conserving water resources. Ranchers who participate receive financial incentives, technical support, and help developing customized grazing plans. Furthermore, the initiative covers infrastructure upgrades such as wildlife-friendly fencing and water systems.
McDonald’s suppliers backing the effort include Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI, and The Coca-Cola Company. In addition, Carbon Yield and Cultivo will provide independent monitoring and quantification of soil health improvements on behalf of McDonald’s USA. For more on how regenerative cattle ranching is evolving in Europe, see coverage on Agroinformacion’s beef cattle section.
Who are the first six grantees?
NFWF selected six organizations as the first grantees under the initiative. They are American Bird Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Mule Deer Foundation, National Audubon Society, Sand County Foundation, and the University of Missouri. Each will work directly with ranchers on the ground.
Together, these six organizations will work with more than 750 private cattle ranch operations across 26 states. Their work includes developing grazing plans, reseeding native plants, prescribed burning, removing invasive vegetation, and restoring wetlands and streambanks. Moreover, they will help ranchers improve water control structures and recharge local aquifers.
The results, according to NFWF CEO Jeff Trandahl, show what happens when corporations, federal agencies, conservation groups, and private landowners all pull in the same direction. He noted that this is only the beginning of a long-term national effort.
Why is McDonald’s investing in grassland conservation?
McDonald’s USA sustainability director Audrey Leduc has been clear about the motivation. The company bought 671 million pounds of beef in the U.S. in 2024 alone. For a business that serves more than 90% of Americans each year, a resilient beef supply chain is a strategic priority.
Healthy grasslands mean better soil, more water retention, and stronger ranching operations. In turn, that means a more stable beef supply for McDonald’s over the long term. The initiative is therefore both a conservation program and a business investment. As Leduc put it, this is about protecting the natural resources that the entire food system depends on.
Meanwhile, participating ranchers stand to gain financially as well. Beyond the conservation benefits, they receive incentive payments and access to expert resources that can improve efficiency and reduce input costs on their operations.
What happens next?
The initiative is designed to grow over its seven-year lifespan. The goal is to eventually reach 4 million acres of U.S. grassland across up to 38 states. Significant activity is expected in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, West Coast, and Southeast.
Ranchers interested in joining the initiative can reach out directly to any of the six grantee organizations. Contact information is available on the NFWF website. Furthermore, new partners may be added in future rounds as the program scales up.
The official press release for this initiative was published by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on April 7, 2026.