The State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund Grant Program for Friends Groups is a grant opportunity provided by the Wisconsin Legislature. The program aims to provide grants to Friends Groups for the maintenance and operations of state parks, southern state forests, state trails, or state recreation areas. To be eligible, a Friends Group must be a nonstock, nonprofit corporation described under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a). The Group must have been formed to raise funds for the mentioned properties and have a written Friends Group agreement with the Department of Natural Resources. The grant amount awarded is one-half of the amount provided by the Friends Group (2-1 ratio), with a maximum grant limit of $30,000 per year for any single property. Grants can be used for operation and maintenance expenses, including materials, supplies, services; labor; rental or lease of equipment; and more. Priority is given to projects that provide interpretive programs, special events or programs for marketing strategies consistent with property goals, accessibility for people with disabilities, restoration or rehabilitation of native plant communities, and maintenance or operation of basic facilities already provided at the property. Ineligible projects include acquisition and development of areas that do not meet the definition of nature-based outdoor recreation and construction of new facilities. The application deadline is November 15th each year, and applications should be sent to Cindi Semmann at the Department of Natural Resources.
