Plank Stewardship Initiative
Plank Stewardship Initiative is a Wyoming-based grantmaking organization supporting farmers and ranchers in the Northern Great Plains to improve business skills, succession planning, and conservation-minded rangeland management. The official site shows it transitioned to a private grantmaking foundation in spring 2023 and provides downloadable 2026 grant application forms and contact details for the executive director.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A regional nonprofit, educational institution, or local/state agency working directly with ranchers and farmers in the Northern Great Plains on succession planning, business/economic skills, or rangeland conservation and stewardship.
Good Fit
- • Project work focused on succession planning, financial/business training for producers, or sustainable range management.
- • Geographic focus in the Northern Great Plains states (observed grants in MT, WY, NM, and MN).
- • Budget requests in the mid‑four‑figure to mid‑five‑figure range (many recent grants between about $10k–$50k).
- • Services targeting under‑represented groups in ranching (women, Indigenous youth) or local community resilience (wildfire recovery).
- • Willingness to have a preliminary conversation with the executive director before submitting an application.
- • Ability to show clear project outcomes and a concise budget aligned to the foundation's stated criteria.
Geography
Observed grants are regional rather than national, going to organizations in four states centered on the Northern Great Plains, with nearly half of the dollars concentrated in one state.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows sixteen distinct recipients across charities and government entities, with a large share (eleven) new to the portfolio that year, indicating a broad recipient set for this foundation's size.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of openness includes a public application form, a named executive director and contact details, a specific annual deadline, and observed newcomer flow (many new recipients in the latest year), so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
