Grants for City or township governments - Recreation

The George B. Henderson Foundation offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects enhancing and preserving the outdoor elements of Boston, including parks, city streets, buildings, monuments, and architectural works, with a special interest in permanent public art projects and outdoor spaces, available to 501(c)(3) organizations and not individuals.

The North Dakota Council on the Arts is accepting applications for its Special Projects (SP) to support art events in all disciplines and forms for North Dakota groups and individual artists. Donor Name: North Dakota Council on the Arts State: North Dakota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The goal of the program is to provide art experiences for diverse populations in North Dakota. Funding Information  Special Projects that provides up to $1,500  Project Period NDCA Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). This Program Funds Initiating art events in all disciplines and forms (in person or online) including, but not limited to, exhibitions, performances, and festivals (e.g., an annual art festival requesting funds for a new music performance series for youth).  Murals, sculptures, the installation of public art pieces, or publications that include community input and participation.  Annual events for up to two (2) consecutive years if demonstrable adjustments are made to increase audience participation. This includes organizational and individual applicants Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be one of the following:  Individual artist  North Dakota state tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization  Federally tax-exempt nonprofit arts organization Federally tax-exempt non-arts organizations and community education units – Arts budgets must be isolated from the larger entity’s budget.  Public entity such as a unit of state, local, or tribal government  An affiliate arts-presenting or arts-producing organization – A distinct program or division hosted within an in-state 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution or public institution (such as an arts division of a city or tribal government, a public or nonprofit college or university, or a community service nonprofit organization) that provides arts programming or services for the general public. Arts budgets must be isolated from the larger entity’s budget.  Fiscally sponsored groups with arts projects must be comprised of at least three (3) people and have an advisory committee of at least three (3) people that is responsible for the oversight of project and grant funds. Fiscal sponsors must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, unit of state or local government, or federally recognized tribal community or tribe. Eligibility for Individual Artists  Be a United States citizen or have attained permanent resident status  Be 18 years of age or older on the application’s due date  Be a North Dakota resident and continue to reside in North Dakota throughout the contract period  Cannot be enrolled as a full-time student Eligibility for Organizations  Organizations must be physically located in North Dakota  The majority of arts programming, services, or activities must take place in North Dakota and primarily serve and engage North Dakota audiences and participants This Program Does NOT Fund Activities or programs that do not intentionally engage an audience.  Activities or programs where teaching and/or learning is the sole outcome. Educational activities as part of a broader community event, performance, or exhibit are acceptable.  Activities or programs that take place as part of the K-16 school day curriculum and activities in public, private, alternative, charter, and home schools. This includes costs to subsidize school participation (tickets, bussing, etc.) For more information, visit North Dakota Council on the Arts.

The Ellensburg Community Grant Program offers a water quality focused grant to encourage community-based projects that improve or protect the quality of surface waters. Donor Name: City of Ellensburg State: Washington City: Ellensburg Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funded by the Stormwater Utility, the water quality grant provides funding for community groups to provide outreach, education, assessments, planning, implementation, prevention and control focused on city’s surface water. Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological, and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health. Grant funds are invested in projects that include one or more of the following priorities: Required: Demonstrate improvements in quality of surface waters. Educate a large and/or varied segments of Ellensburg’s population on what water quality is, and what actions they can take to improve or protect it. Educate best practices to reduce/eliminate adverse impacts to water quality. Funding Information A total of $10,000 is available for this grant cycle. Eligibility Criteria Eligible volunteer groups such as youth, seniors, non-profit organizations, educational organizations may apply for funding. Business and governmental partners are encouraged but may not be the applicant. Projects must benefit stormwater quality within the City limits, (i.e., public outreach and education, yard care, litter pick up, etc.). Projects must be within the city limits; if the project is on publicly owned property, an agreement will need to be signed between both parties addressing use of minors as volunteers, hold harmless, etc. Grant funds may not be used for projects that involve or promote the use of alcohol. For more information, visit City of Ellensburg.

Humanities Texas awards grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental entities to support a wide range of public programs: lectures, panel discussions, and conferences; teacher institutes; reading- and film-discussion groups; interpretive exhibits; television and radio programming; film production; and interactive multimedia programming. Donor Name: Humanities Texas State: Texas Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: All funded programs are firmly grounded in the humanities and are directed to the general public, both adults and young people, outside of the regular school or college classroom. Programs targeting special audiences such as K–12 teachers, ethnic and community groups, or professional groups are also welcome. Funding Information Mini-grants Mini-grants fund up to $2,000 of the costs associated with public humanities programs. These small grants—which are easy to apply for and administer, and are available on a rolling basis throughout the year—are particularly appropriate for funding a speaker and/or the rental of a traveling exhibition, including those provided by Humanities Texas. Major grants for community projects Major grants for community projects fund up to $20,000 of the costs for comprehensive public programs such as lectures, seminars, and conferences; book and film discussions; interpretive exhibitions and materials; town forums and civic discussions; and teacher workshops. Programs should reflect substantial participation by both humanities scholars and members of the target audience(s). Major grants for media projects Major grants for media projects fund up to $20,000 of the costs for film, radio, television, or interactive programming related to the humanities. Applicants may request funds for any phase of the project, including scripting, development, production, post-production, and in some cases, distribution and free public screenings. Humanities scholars should play an integral role in determining the content and approach of the project. Grant Period The grant period must range from two to twelve months. Eligible Projects  Funded projects take many different forms—lectures, panel discussions, and conferences; teacher institutes and workshops; reading and film discussion groups; site interpretations; the development and fabrication of interpretive exhibits; and the production of films, television and radio programming, and interactive media. However, all funded programs have the following characteristics in common. They are firmly grounded in the humanities Humanities scholars play an active role in their conception, design, and execution They are conducted in a spirit of open and informed inquiry They are directed primarily to the general public, both adults and young people, outside of the regular school or college classroom. Programs targeting special audiences such asK-12 teachers, community college faculty, ethnic and community groups, or professional groups are also welcome They are a single program (or single series of programs) for which there is a clear, coherent, and reportable outcome. Eligibility Criteria Nonprofit organizations and state and local governmental entities are eligible to receive Humanities Texas support. For more information, visit Humanities Texas.

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.

Donor Name: Iowa Legislature (via REAP funds) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: August 15, 2024 Size of the Grant: Not specified (Ceilings based on city size) Grant Duration: Not specified Details/Overview: The City Parks and Open Space Grant, funded by REAP, supports cities through competitive grants to develop parks and open spaces. Funded by gaming revenues, the grant excludes athletic fields, organized sports facilities, swimming pools, and playground equipment. Grants are distributed across cities of various sizes with no local matching funds required, and applications are due by August 15, 2024.

Donor Name: Iowa Legislature (via REAP funds) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: August 15, 2024 Size of the Grant: Not specified (based on city size) Grant Duration: Not specified Details/Overview: The City Parks and Open Space Grant allocates 15% of REAP funds to cities through competitive grants, funded by gaming revenues. The program aims to support city parks and open spaces, excluding athletic fields, sports facilities, pools, and playgrounds. Grants are distributed across different city size categories, with applications due by August 15, 2024, and no local matching funds required.

This program provides funding to Iowa's local governments for the construction and improvement of public boat access facilities at lakes and streams.

This program provides funding to states for projects that maintain, develop, and improve recreational trails, benefiting local communities and outdoor enthusiasts.

Donor Name: Iowa Legislature (via REAP funds) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: August 15, 2024 Size of the Grant: Not specified (based on city size) Grant Duration: Not specified Details/Overview: The City Parks and Open Space Grant allocates 15% of REAP funds to cities through competitive grants, funded by gaming revenues. It excludes athletic fields, organized sports facilities, pools, and playgrounds. Grants are distributed across city size categories, and no local matching funds are required. Applications are due by August 15, 2024.

This program provides funding to local governments and private organizations in Iowa for the development and maintenance of trails and parks for all-terrain and off-road vehicles.

This initiative provides funding to municipalities and Indian Nations in New York State to build or improve swimming facilities in underserved communities, promoting safe access to swimming.

This program provides funding to local governments in New York for the development, maintenance, and grooming of snowmobile trails to promote tourism and safe recreational opportunities.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical assistance to New York municipalities for projects that revitalize waterfront areas, enhance climate resilience, and improve public access and water quality.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is seeking applications for its Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants. Donor Name: North Carolina Department of Commerce State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of this program is to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives that are intended to help local governments grow and leverage downtown districts as assets for economic growth, economic development, and prosperity. Funding availability is at the discretion of the Rural Infrastructure Authority. RDED Grants will support projects that Provide public improvements that help retain business and attract customers to business districts. Support publicly owned downtown economic development initiatives that leverage main streets and downtown districts as economic engines. Facilitate publicly owned building improvements that are used for community-wide uses or mixed-use development in or on properties that are publicly owned and controlled. Funding Information The maximum grant amount is $850,000 per grantee and may not exceed $12,500 per projected job created or retained. Eligible Activities Public Infrastructure – Improvements to publicly owned infrastructure in a downtown district, that serves a community-wide use, such as lots, alleys, streetscapes, waterfront developments and parks. Public Buildings (Renovation or Additions) – Improvements to publicly owned buildings in a downtown district that serve a public, community-wide use, such as a community center, theater, civic center, recreation center, or library. Mixed-Use Downtown Development (Renovation or Additions) – Improvements to publicly owned property in a downtown district that may be zoned and developed for a mix of uses. The mix of use may include two or more of the following: retail, restaurant, service, professional, nonprofit, governmental, institutional, or residential. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants are units of local government located in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, and rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties. For the purposes of this program, units of local government are defined as municipal or county governments within the state of North Carolina. For more information, visit NCDC.

Applicants are invited to apply for the Tourism and Cultural Investment Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Spokane State: Washington City: Spokane Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Spokane Tourism and Cultural Investment grants are aimed at enhancing Spokane’s tourism and cultural environment. Projects that receive funds should promote cultural diversity, support various forms of cultural investment, and create new opportunities for tourism and cultural enrichment. Cultural activities can include sports, arts, street/park festivals, film, culinary, and music. Funding Information These grants will be available in allocations of $5,000 to $10,000. Eligibility Criteria Organizations, including non-profit agencies, for-profit agencies, and public agencies are eligible to apply and use the funds for projects, programs, events, and facilities that promote tourism and cultural investment. For more information, visit City of Spokane.

The Vermont Community Foundation is seeking proposals from Vermont villages, towns, and cities that close the opportunity gap by supporting local efforts to foster inclusion and belonging for people of all races and backgrounds. Donor Name: The Vermont Community Foundation State: Vermont County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Foundation recognizes the powerful leadership roles that local governments can play in removing structural barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse state, and want to support communities in fulfilling that potential. This grant program, which was developed in cooperation with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity, is intended to support communities participating in the IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Action, and Leadership) Vermont program. A limited number of grants continue to be available for communities not participating in the IDEAL program. The vision they hope to advance with this grant program is a Vermont where: All people feel connected to their communities, and do not feel afraid to visit, live, or conduct business in certain towns because of a reputation for exclusion, intolerance, or bias, nor because of a person’s own appearance Businesses and local governing bodies can easily recruit or be led by people who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) because they feel safe and supported as members of the community Educators, students, local leaders, and families have tools and resources to handle issues of discrimination, exclusion, intolerance, or bias as soon as they happen It doesn’t matter how long someone has lived here to be considered a part of the community. Funding Information This program will award grants of up to $10,000 for an 18-month project period. The Foundation funds  The Foundation recognizes that Vermont communities are starting in different places in their work on equity, inclusion, and belonging, and that communities will need different things at different times. They welcome communities at all stages of learning. They also acknowledge that a single project will not address all of a community’s equity and inclusion challenges, and that this work is an ongoing process, so they seek to fund proposals that help a municipality make progress in its learning and actions. Because of this, the program is open to a range of proposals that meet locally defined community needs. This may include: Requests for funding to support consultant-led work within a community introductory trainings on diversity, equity, and inclusion implicit bias trainings equity assessments planning efforts review of hiring practices Community-wide conversations Support for the creation and work of municipal equity committees Stipends for community members to be involved in the work (for example, so that people can take time off work, pay for child care or transportation, or otherwise have their time appropriately compensated) Or a combination of these activities. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants are Vermont cities, towns, and villages. Nonprofit organizations or community groups doing work on behalf of and in coordination with a city, town, or village may apply if a letter of support from the municipal partner is included Grant applications will be accepted from organizations that are located in or serve the people of Vermont. Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a public agency or municipality in the state of Vermont. Nonprofit organizations or community groups who do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply for grant awards if another tax-exempt organization acts as a fiscal sponsor. For more information, visit TVCF.

The Monmouth County Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program assists municipalities by providing additional funding needed to make park improvements in municipal parks and open space. Donor Name: County of Monmouth State: New Jersey County: Monmouth County (NJ) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/11/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Municipal Open Space Grant Program was previously limited to $2 million a year and up to $250,000 per project. The new grant program is funded at $6 million a year and up to $500,000 per project. The Municipal Park Improvement Grant Program has expanded to include dredging projects for parks and recreation purposes and the grant application process has been simplified and streamlined. Program Goals The goal of the program is to improve land for parks and recreation purposes. Park improvements should focus on new recreational facilities, expansion, or improvement of existing recreational opportunities, preservation of historic resources in parks, and new or innovative approaches to providing local access to open spaces or recreational activities. Additional priority will be given to State-designated Urban Aid Communities and Overburdened Communities. Program limits on the number of applications and the dollars awarded have been established to enable program funding to support a larger number of municipalities. The requirement of a local contribution and local funding of program ineligible expenses provides a tangible demonstration of local commitment to what is intended to be a cooperative project. Eligible Projects  Eligible Park Improvement, Development and Redevelopment Projects All projects must be for park, recreation, open space, and historic preservation purposes. A deed of open space easement or other covenant restricting the use of the project site to these purposes will be required as a condition of award. Building new facilities and improving existing facilities through demolition, renovation, and/or stabilization will be considered as eligible. Dredging of bodies of water that help to improve and expand access to recreational areas is allowable. All project sites must be owned by the applicant municipality, or the municipality must hold a long-term lease for a term of at least 25 years beyond the grant award, or other instruments extending for substantially 25 years beyond the grant award where a thirdparty governmental entity is also a party. In all cases the site must be under the control of the applicant municipality. When project sites are not owned in fee simple by the Municipality, additional agreements or covenants may be required. Fees for use of funded facilities are permissible. Projects for the preservation of historic resources must be located within a park and must comply with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Eligibility Criteria  Monmouth County municipalities are the only eligible applicants. Municipalities are encouraged, however, to form partnerships with other public or non-profit organizations to strengthen and enhance project proposals. The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners will enter into grant agreements with municipalities only. For more information, visit County of Monmouth.

This funding opportunity supports municipalities in the Hudson River Valley to develop plans and projects that enhance their scenic, natural, and cultural resources while promoting regional collaboration and community development.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, and government entities that provide youth programs in Berrien County, particularly at designated Howard facilities in St. Joseph and the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library.