Grants for City or township governments - Recreation

The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant, offered by Kansas City, Missouri, is a program designed to foster community engagement, enhance neighborhood identity, and improve public safety and overall quality of life. The program aims to reduce violent and other crime, spur neighborhood investment and development, and address code violations through Association and resident-led projects. While the text doesn't explicitly state a "foundation" in the traditional sense, the city's strategic priority is clearly aligned with empowering local neighborhoods to address their unique challenges and build stronger, safer communities from within. This grant serves as a direct mechanism for the city to achieve its broader goals of urban improvement and resident well-being. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are not-for-profit Neighborhood Associations registered with the City of Kansas City and the State of Missouri, or those partnering with registered associations. The impact goals are comprehensive, aiming to improve resident health and safety, enhance dignity, support aging in place, and address other necessary quality of life repairs. By empowering these associations, the program seeks to create a ripple effect, positively impacting all residents within the participating neighborhoods. The grant prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include promoting active participation and involvement of residents through community engagement, celebrating unique neighborhood identities, enhancing community safety through public safety strategies, facilitating necessary repairs and upgrades for quality of life enhancements, reducing violence and other crimes, encouraging internal and external neighborhood investment, and implementing measures to reduce code violations. These focus areas collectively form a strategic approach to holistic neighborhood development and improvement. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a reduction in violent and other crime, increased neighborhood investment and development, a decrease in code violations, and an overall improvement in residents' health, safety, and well-being. The program's theory of change posits that by empowering local associations and residents to lead projects focused on these priority areas, communities will experience enhanced value through stronger partnerships, leading to increased strength and stability. The grant aims to facilitate positive interactions and outcomes, fostering resident collaboration and improving messaging within the neighborhoods. The current round of funding offers $400K for local projects, with a maximum of $20K per applicant, indicating a commitment to supporting numerous community-led initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities in Long Beach that are focused on addressing learning loss and improving the mental health of youth and young adults affected by the pandemic.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local and state governments, school districts, and nonprofit organizations in Missouri for the development and maintenance of public recreational trails, promoting outdoor activities and community engagement.

This grant provides funding for community projects in Hawaii that promote the benefits of trees and engage residents in tree care and conservation activities.

The Maine Tourism Development & Management Grant is designed to foster tourism development, education, and management projects in Maine that aim to enhance collaboration among key destination organizations, create sustainable growth within the tourism sector, and provide qualified technical and consulting assistance. The grant supports projects that align with the Maine Office of Tourism's Destination Management Plan and prioritize sustainable and inclusive tourism. Applications are accepted annually, with grants ranging from $15,000 to $40,000. Eligible projects include tourism product development, stewardship planning, visitor education programs, strategic planning related to tourism, and the creation of educational or interpretive signage to improve the visitor experience. A 25% cash match is required to ensure regional and community support for the projects. Ineligible uses of funding include marketing campaigns, special events, for-profit organizations, administrative costs, and construction projects. The grant emphasizes the importance of advancing off-season tourism, promoting the value of tourism, and developing inclusive travel opportunities. Deadline – Letter of Intent – 2pm, April 19, 2024 Application Deadline: 2pm, May 24th, 2024

This funding opportunity supports organizations working to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River and its watershed through initiatives like pollution reduction, habitat restoration, and public education.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local cultural organizations and individual artists working with Staten Island public schools to deliver hands-on arts education experiences for K-12 students.

The Welch Charitable Fund, administered by the Maine Community Foundation, provides support to organizations serving individuals and families in need within Greater Portland, specifically in Cumberland County. This fund is dedicated to strengthening the community by empowering organizations that improve quality of life and expand access to essential services. The program prioritizes projects that address critical local needs and have a measurable impact, particularly in areas that promote well-being and opportunity for all residents. The fund provides grants designed to either expand an organization’s reach or enhance its operational effectiveness. These grants may be used to increase the number of people served, add new services, or improve the efficiency and overall performance of existing programs. Funding is also available for new or growing initiatives that tackle pressing community challenges. The Welch Charitable Fund is particularly interested in supporting capital investments, including selected capital campaigns, that strengthen the long-term capacity of organizations to fulfill their missions and sustain community impact. To be eligible, projects must directly benefit individuals within Cumberland County. Priority is given to programs focused on youth development, education, healthcare, recovery from substance use disorder, and arts and culture—areas viewed as foundational to a thriving and resilient community. By concentrating resources in these fields, the fund aims to support both immediate relief efforts and the long-term enrichment of Portland’s social and cultural fabric. The typical grant award is around $10,000, and eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, municipalities, public schools, public agencies serving the State of Maine, and federally recognized tribal governments. Organizations that lack tax-exempt status may still apply through an eligible fiscal sponsor. Each organization may submit one application per grant cycle, ensuring equitable access to funding opportunities. Through this program, the Welch Charitable Fund continues its tradition of investing in the strength and inclusivity of the Greater Portland area. By fostering projects that expand reach, improve effectiveness, and nurture community well-being, the fund helps build a more connected, compassionate, and sustainable future for all who call Cumberland County home.

The Washington State Department of Commerce, through its Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit, is offering a grant program to Washington state law enforcement agencies. This initiative aligns with the Department's broader mission to enhance community safety and reduce violence by equipping law enforcement with modern tools and technologies. The program aims to address critical needs in public safety by focusing on improved vehicle pursuit management and overall operational effectiveness for law enforcement agencies across the state. The target beneficiaries of this grant are Washington state law enforcement agencies, including individual agencies and consortiums of agencies. The primary impact goal is to enhance the safety and effectiveness of vehicle pursuits and other law enforcement operations through the adoption of advanced technology. By providing these tools, the program seeks to contribute to a safer environment for both officers and the public, ultimately reducing the risks associated with traditional pursuit methods and improving the ability of law enforcement to respond to incidents. The grant prioritizes the provision of modern vehicle pursuit management technology. This includes, but is not limited to, global positioning system tracking equipment, automated license plate reading technology, aircraft, and non-armed and non-armored drone technology. The focus is on leveraging technological advancements to achieve more efficient and safer law enforcement practices. The grant also emphasizes a broad distribution of funding across Washington, with maximum award amounts tailored to agency size to ensure equitable access and impact for both smaller and larger departments. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the adoption and effective utilization of advanced vehicle pursuit management technologies by law enforcement agencies. This will likely lead to improved apprehension rates, reduced risks during pursuits, and enhanced overall operational capabilities for participating agencies. While specific measurable results are not detailed beyond the types of technology, the implicit goal is to improve public safety metrics related to law enforcement interactions and criminal apprehension. The program's success will be evident in the widespread implementation of these technologies and their positive impact on community safety over the grant duration of one year, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

The OCCF Community Investment Grant Program is accepting applications throughout the year, with no specific due dates or deadlines. The grants aim to provide broad and diverse funding to support a strong and vibrant Owen County community. Eligible applicants include charitable organizations, schools, churches, and governmental agencies in or serving Owen County. If an organization does not meet the criteria but their project aligns with OCCF's charitable goals, they may be able to partner with a fiscal sponsor. The grant awards range from $1,001 to $5,000, with the option for organizations to crowdfund up to $10,000 or leverage OCCF's dollars through a matching campaign. The application deadlines for the Grants Committee review in 2024 are May 31st and September 30th. The funding categories include improving access to information on local issues and events, parks, trails, recreational programs, high-quality childcare and early childhood education. Additionally, requests for initiatives related to community wellness, culture, economic development, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, broadband access, historic & archaeological resources, hazard mitigation, innovation & entrepreneurship, and quality of place will be considered. Organizations that have previously received grants must submit a final report before applying again. For more information and to access the application form: [Link](https://www.grantinterface.com/Form/Preview?form=1113651&urlkey=occf)

This funding opportunity supports local parks in California by providing financial assistance for both arts programs and art installations, benefiting communities and enhancing public spaces.

The Daviess County Community Foundation's Community Good Grants Program aims to support a wide array of initiatives that foster the well-being and development of Daviess County, Indiana. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to strengthen the community by investing in critical areas such as Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, Human Services, and other Civic Endeavors including Environment, Recreation, and Youth Development. By focusing on these diverse sectors, the foundation seeks to create a broad and lasting positive impact on the lives of Daviess County residents. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations deemed tax-exempt under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as governmental agencies serving Daviess County. The foundation also considers funding requests from nonprofit organizations not classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity, provided the project is charitable and addresses a community need. In such cases, obtaining a fiscal sponsor may be required. The overarching impact goal is to empower organizations that are actively working to improve the quality of life within the community. The program prioritizes initiatives that address fundamental community needs across its identified program areas. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the foundation's theory of change implicitly suggests that by supporting a diverse range of community-focused projects, they anticipate improvements in local education, health outcomes, cultural enrichment, community infrastructure, and social services. The strategic priority is to be a responsive and impactful funder for critical community projects. The foundation's strategy is to foster comprehensive community improvement by being inclusive in its funding considerations while maintaining clear boundaries. It does not fund religious organizations for religious purposes, political parties or campaigns, endowment creation, debt reduction, operating costs not directly related to a specific program or project, capital campaigns, annual appeals, membership contributions, or travel requests for groups or individuals. This focused approach ensures that grant funds are directed towards projects with a direct and tangible community benefit, ultimately contributing to the long-term vitality of Daviess County.

This grant provides financial support to tax-exempt organizations to engage under-served populations in outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education across Texas.

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers additional Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program categories to conserve natural areas, critical habitat, riparian corridors, and urban wildlife habitat, and to restore and enhance state lands. The program aims to secure habitat before it is lost and to support restoration where needed. Funding parameters vary by category. Riparian Protection requires a minimum request of 25,000 dollars with no cap. State Lands Restoration and Enhancement requires a minimum of 25,000 dollars and allows up to 1,000,000 dollars for a single site and 500,000 dollars for multi site projects. Urban Wildlife Habitat, Critical Habitat, and Natural Areas follow category rules as published. Eligible work includes land acquisition through perpetual or long term interests and associated incidental costs, development of low impact facilities such as paths, viewing shelters, restrooms, and interpretive elements, and restoration activities such as ecological restoration, shoreline work, fish passage improvements, and native plantings. Some categories allow habitat creation and site stewardship planning. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, towns, federally recognized tribes, nonprofit nature conservancies, special purpose and port districts, and state agencies, as defined per category. Projects are expected to deliver durable conservation outcomes and public benefit consistent with category requirements. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Grant duration is not stated. Official information is available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, government entities, school districts, and faith-based groups in Springfield, Missouri, to support programs that empower youth and encourage their participation in community service.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW‐OSPR) is seeking grant applications to help fund projects that enhance, restore, or acquire habitat for wildlife, with available funding totaling $5,000,000. These grant funds come from CDFW-OSPR’s Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF), which acquires funds from spill violations in accordance with California’s Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act. The EEF selection committee includes representatives from the California Coastal Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and CDFW‐OSPR. The selection committee is seeking projects with a minimum requested grant award of $500,000. Projects must be completed by April 1, 2031. Multiple projects may be submitted for funding. Disbursement of money from the grant is contingent on the availability of funds in the EEF. To qualify, an environmental enhancement project must 1. Be located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state, 2. Have measurable outcomes within a pre-determined timeframe 3. Be designed to acquire, restore, or improve habitat or restore ecosystem function, or both, to benefit fish and wildlife. Eligible Applicants include nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, state agencies, and departments; and, to the extent permitted by federal law, to federal agencies. All eligible groups and projects are encouraged to apply. For more information, please go to www.wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR/Science/Environmental-Enhancement-Fund/About

Created in 1964, the Boating Facilities Program provides grants to acquire, develop, and renovate facilities for motorized boats and other watercraft, including launching ramps, guest moorage, and support facilities. Typical Projects Renovating boat launches Adding guest moorage facilities Building parking, restrooms, and other boating amenities To apply for this funding, grant applicants must have completed a comprehensive recreation or conservation plan. Match Details Match may include the following: Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials Appropriations or cash Bonds Conservation futures Corrections labor Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials Federal, state, local, and private grants Local agencies and special purpose districts must provide 25 percent match for each project, and at least 10 percent of the total project cost must be from a non-state, non-federal contribution. State applicants do not need to provide match. Tribes need to provide 25 percent match.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is offering $57 million in grant funds for in-person before-school, after-school, before-and-after-school, and/or summer programming for children in grades K-12. This initiative aligns with MiLEAP's mission to prioritize education from preschool through postsecondary, focusing on kindergarten readiness and helping individuals earn skills or degrees for good-paying jobs. The grant specifically supports Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs that provide educational programming in core subjects such as mathematics, reading, and science. The target beneficiaries are children in grades K-12. The impact goals are to improve school attendance, academic outcomes, attitudes toward school, positive behaviors, skill development and retention, and higher education aspirations, as well as to enhance family engagement. MiLEAP's strategic priority is to prepare children for kindergarten and help more people earn a skill certificate or degree, and this grant directly contributes to that by funding programs that offer expanded learning opportunities and academic enrichment. The grant prioritizes the expansion of existing programs, establishment of new programs, hands-on academic enrichment, field trips, professional learning, and the development of school-community partnerships. It also supports expanded learning opportunities in areas like mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, visual and performing arts, financial literacy, STEM, health and wellness, recreation, career and college exploration, youth voice, 21st-century skills, social-emotional learning, and cultural engagement. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in areas such as improved school attendance and academic performance, enhanced positive behaviors and skill development, and increased aspirations for higher education. The grant's theory of change posits that by investing in comprehensive OST programming that addresses both academic and social-emotional needs, children will be better prepared for academic success and future career opportunities, thereby contributing to MiLEAP's broader goal of lifelong education and advancement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New Jersey counties, municipalities, and school districts for improving public recreational facilities, particularly in underserved communities.

The City Parks and Open Space Grant, funded by the Iowa Legislature via REAP funds derived from gaming revenues, is a competitive grant program allocating 15% of REAP funds to cities across Iowa. The primary mission of this program is to support the creation and enhancement of city parks and open spaces. This aligns with a broader strategic priority to invest in community green infrastructure and quality of life initiatives within the state. The target beneficiaries of this grant are cities throughout Iowa, with grant distributions based on city size categories. The program's impact goals center on fostering healthier, more vibrant communities by increasing access to and improving the quality of natural recreational areas. It specifically excludes athletic fields, sports facilities, pools, and playgrounds to maintain a focus on passive recreation and natural landscapes. The program's priorities and focus are clearly defined: to support city parks and open spaces. This includes projects that enhance biodiversity, provide environmental benefits, and offer residents opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and relaxation. The competitive nature of the grant ensures that funds are directed towards projects demonstrating the greatest potential for impact and alignment with the program's objectives. Expected outcomes include an increase in the total acreage of protected and improved parkland and open space within Iowa cities. Measurable results could include the number of new or renovated park facilities, increased public engagement with green spaces, and enhancements to local ecosystems. The underlying theory of change is that by investing in natural public spaces, the program will contribute to improved public health, environmental sustainability, and overall community well-being, reflecting a strategic belief in the value of accessible green infrastructure.