McDonald’s-backed grants unlock nearly $99.1 million for grassland easements

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation revealed on August 27, 2026 that six grants, amounting to nearly $2.4 million and financed by McDonald’s USA together with key beef and beverage suppliers, will fund the final steps of voluntary conservation easements on working ranches. These grants target transaction and due-diligence expenses for 31 properties spanning 11 states, enabling the leverage of about $96.7 million in matching contributions and bringing total conservation impact to roughly $99.1 million.

The easements will permanently protect over 100,650 acres of grasslands while allowing ranchers to maintain productive operations. The effort falls under the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, a seven-year partnership that aims to invest more than $200 million to safeguard iconic grasslands, ranching communities and wildlife habitats across the United States. Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF, highlighted the role of collaborative conservation in preserving migration corridors and supporting ranching livelihoods. By covering essential legal and appraisal costs, the grants remove a common barrier that often stalls voluntary easement projects.