Camp Maintenance Grant Program

The Gray Family Foundation Camp Maintenance Grant Program supports the repair and improvement of existing outdoor residential camp facilities across Oregon. Founded on the belief of John Gray that maintaining outdoor school infrastructure is critical to ensuring access to nature-based education for children, this program focuses on funding maintenance—not capital expansion—for youth-serving camps. Since 2014, the foundation has invested more than $500,000 annually into this effort, prioritizing equity, accessibility, and statewide distribution of support. In 2025, the grant operates on a quarterly rolling cycle, accepting general letters of interest by January 24, April 18, July 25, or October 3. Eligible applicants include nonprofit camp facilities or school districts, tribal entities, or 501(c)(3) organizations applying on behalf of licensed Oregon organizational camps. Faith-based organizations are eligible if their programming does not promote a specific belief system and is accessible to broader communities. Grants are intended for maintenance and repair of existing facilities such as bathrooms, kitchens, siding, plumbing, ADA features, and signage. Ineligible uses include new construction, vehicle purchases, operating deficits, and capital campaigns. Competitive applicants are those that host or plan to host fifth and sixth grade outdoor school programs, are licensed, have inclusive and accessible infrastructure, and demonstrate a commitment to sharing practices with peer networks. Camps are strongly encouraged to contact the program associate in advance to confirm alignment with funding priorities. Each application must include a cover sheet with facility and contact details, a letter describing the camp, the proposed project(s), its impact on accessibility and outdoor school readiness, and how outcomes align with foundation values. Applicants may request up to $60,000, but the foundation remains open to larger aligned proposals based on available funds. No matching funds are required in 2025. The Gray Family Foundation Board meets quarterly to review applications, with decisions typically rendered within four to six weeks of each deadline. Requests are accepted on a rolling basis via email and must be complete to be considered in a given cycle. Reporting is required at project completion to help inform future programming. For guidance or pre-application discussion, applicants may contact Estefania Zavala at ezavala@grayff.org or 503-241-5440.

Contact program associate before applying; highlight ADA compliance, outdoor school alignment, and peer learning goals