Grants for Nonprofits - Recreation

This grant provides funding to Colorado artists, activists, and organizations to implement projects that use the arts to promote social justice and improve community welfare.

The New England Area Community Foundation (NECF), an affiliate of the North Dakota Community Foundation, is seeking applications to enhance community well-being and quality of life. As a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under IRS code 501(c)(3), NECF aligns its mission with fostering positive community development within the New England area. The grant program primarily focuses on improving the overall quality of life for residents by supporting initiatives that address critical community needs. The grant program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including youth, senior citizens, and organizations engaged in leadership and community development. Impact goals include supporting projects and programs that benefit a larger number of residents within the New England community. The foundation prioritizes requests that demonstrate the applicant will seek or has already secured other funding sources, indicating a desire for sustainable and collaboratively supported projects. High-priority areas for funding include organizations serving youth, senior citizens, and those focused on leadership and community development. Projects that can demonstrate a widespread benefit to a greater number of residents are also highly favored. Conversely, requests for multiple-year funding, operating funds, or day-to-day expenses are considered low priority, suggesting the foundation aims to support specific, impactful projects rather than ongoing operational costs. Grants are awarded exclusively to organizations designated as 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt groups by the IRS or government agencies. Groups without this designation may apply through a fiscal sponsor. All funded organizations must operate within the New England community. Grants to religious organizations are strictly limited to non-denominational activities that serve the entire community, ensuring inclusivity and broad public benefit. Applications are due annually by April 30, with extensions possible at the Advisory Committee's discretion. The committee also retains the right to fund approved requests either fully or partially, based on their assessment of merit and alignment with strategic priorities.

This funding initiative provides financial support for conservation projects in the Delaware River watershed, targeting nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions focused on habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and community engagement.

The National Park Service (NPS), the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency (DoD) have a partnership focused on promoting the health and wellness of active-duty military service members and their families through positive engagement experiences with national parks, public lands, and waterways. These experiences will promote healthy lifestyle habits and inspire families to become environmental stewards of national parks.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations in California for improving the sorting and processing infrastructure of beverage container recycling to enhance material quality and reduce contamination.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Centre County, Pennsylvania, to support projects that positively impact local youth, focusing on areas like mental health, educational equity, and access to extracurricular activities.

This program provides funding to non-profit organizations in Pennsylvania to develop and promote tourism initiatives that encourage overnight stays through events, facility improvements, and marketing efforts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Syracuse for projects that enhance affordable housing, homeownership, and community programs for residents of all ages.

The Youth Athletic Facilities Program is designed to support communities in acquiring land and developing or renovating outdoor athletic facilities that primarily serve youth up to the age of 18. Administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the program aims to expand opportunities for youth participation in sports and organized athletic activities. By funding projects that enhance access to well-designed, safe, and sustainable outdoor athletic spaces, the program fosters physical activity, teamwork, and community engagement among young people. Although the program emphasizes youth-oriented facilities, RCO strongly encourages applicants to design projects that benefit all ages and support a variety of athletic and recreational uses. This inclusive approach ensures that facilities serve as valuable community assets that promote intergenerational engagement and diverse forms of recreation. Projects that demonstrate versatility and community-wide benefit are particularly favored in the grant review process. Eligible projects under the Youth Athletic Facilities Program must involve the creation, renovation, or improvement of outdoor athletic spaces used specifically for organized sports or competitive athletic activities. Qualifying facilities may include ball fields, courts, swimming pools, mountain bike tracks, and skate parks. The program does not fund playgrounds, open fields, or general recreational areas not intended for competitive athletics. This focus ensures that funding is directed toward projects that enhance structured, sport-based opportunities for youth. Typical projects eligible for funding include installing lights on fields to extend playing hours, converting underused tennis courts into basketball courts, replacing natural turf with artificial surfaces to increase field durability and usability, and expanding existing fields to accommodate additional sports or broader community use. Each of these improvements enhances both the capacity and quality of local athletic resources, creating safer, more versatile, and accessible facilities. Overall, the Youth Athletic Facilities Program provides vital support for communities seeking to expand recreational infrastructure and promote youth sports participation. Through its emphasis on both youth engagement and community inclusivity, the program helps local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups develop athletic spaces that encourage healthy lifestyles, build social connections, and enhance overall quality of life.

Program: Community Grant Program (CGP) Funder: City of Encinitas Award Details: The CGP provides funding in two categories - Civic (social, recreation, education, health, and environment) and Arts (visual art, performing arts, arts education, literary arts, etc.). The program is funded through an annual General Fund allocation from the City of Encinitas and outside donations. The CGP operates on a reimbursement basis, where funds are reimbursed upon submission of paid invoices, receipts, and other supporting documentation. Reimbursement requests for awarded grants must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Friday, June 14, 2024. Eligibility: To be eligible for funding through the CGP, organizations must have nonprofit or tax-exempt status and be legally based in Encinitas. Projects must take place between July 1, 2023, and June 14, 2024. Other Information: The City of Encinitas expresses gratitude to the Ecke Family for their generous financial support of the CGP. For more information about the program and application process, applicants are encouraged to review all information provided on the official website as well as the FY23/24 CGP Recipient Workshop Presentation. Questions can be directed to City staff via email at [email protected] or by phone at (760) 633-2740.

This grant provides over $1 million to local nonprofit organizations in specific Massachusetts counties to support a wide range of community-focused initiatives, including human services, social justice, education, healthcare, and environmental efforts.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and local entities in implementing community-based public health initiatives that focus on disease prevention and wellness promotion.

This program empowers high school students in Black Hawk County to distribute funds to nonprofit organizations, fostering youth philanthropy and community engagement.

The Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program (SCCFP) Grants, established in 1988, serves as a vital mechanism for distributing Conservation Futures Property Tax Funds. The core mission of this program is to preserve open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland within Snohomish County. This directly aligns with the broader goal of safeguarding natural resources, supporting local agriculture, and maintaining the ecological integrity of the region. The target beneficiaries of the SCCFP are the natural landscapes and agricultural areas of Snohomish County, as well as the public who benefit from preserved open spaces. The primary impact goal is the perpetual acquisition of interests or rights in real property to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore, or conserve these critical land types. This ensures that these valuable assets are protected for current and future generations, contributing to environmental health and community well-being. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined by its funding criteria. Funding is specifically allocated for the acquisition of real property, easements, covenants, or other contractual rights. Eligible projects must conform to the definitions of open space, farm and agricultural land, or timberland as defined in RCW 84.34.020. Additionally, projects in urban areas must be at least 1 acre, retained in their natural state, and open to the public. The program strictly limits improvements to those that align with RCW 84.34.200-220, allowing for features like trails, interpretive centers, viewpoints, and restrooms, while prohibiting recreational improvements such as ball fields or swimming pools. Expected outcomes include the permanent protection of significant tracts of open space, agricultural lands, and timberlands, contributing to biodiversity, water quality, and scenic beauty. Measurable results are tied to the number of acres conserved, the types of properties acquired, and the legal instruments used for their protection. The program requires that the sponsoring agency has a guaranteed plan for managing and maintaining the property to preserve its eligible characteristics, and that proposed projects secure property rights in perpetuity. This strategic approach ensures the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the conservation efforts.

This funding opportunity is designed for non-profit organizations in Minnesota to implement lead hazard mitigation services, including education, blood lead testing, and environmental interventions, particularly in communities at high risk for lead exposure.

The ASC Cultural Organization Support Grants in North Carolina provide financial resources for nonprofit cultural organizations in Mecklenburg County to invest in capacity building opportunities that improve their management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising, and achieve operating efficiencies. The program aims to support staff and board development at all levels of the organization and encourages a better understanding of environmental culture, history, white supremacist structures, and ways to embody equity in their work.

The Oregon Arts Commission's Arts Build Communities program offers a one-year grant of $5,000 to arts and community-based organizations in Oregon, aiming to address local issues through arts-based solutions, with a focus on underserved communities and projects that integrate arts with community goals.

The Fund for Ravenswood Grant Program is a competitive process through which the Fund for Ravenswood of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation awards grants twice a year. Eligible applicants are private, nonprofit organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or public institutions. Programs must be located in or directly benefit residents of Ravenswood. The grants support projects in the fields of Arts and Culture, Education, Health and Human Services, Recreation, Youth and Family Services, and Community and Economic Development. The focus areas include Capital and Equipment Projects, Program Development, Capacity Building, and Operating Support.

The Possibility Grant Program, overseen by the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, is a unique initiative with a core mission to foster a more just and equitable society. This program distinguishes itself by empowering Bay Area Youth (BAY) Community Fellows, who serve as youth advisors, to design and decide the grants. This approach aligns directly with the Fund's strategic priority of uplifting youth and incorporating intergenerational perspectives into its grantmaking. The grants are specifically designed as general operating support, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, with flexible terms of either one or two years, providing essential financial stability to recipient organizations. The target beneficiaries for the Possibility Grants are primarily small organizations located in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, or Santa Clara County in California. These organizations must be 501(c)3 entities or fiscally sponsored by one. The impact goals are centered on challenging systems of oppression through various avenues, including cultural education, Black liberation values, community-based care, healing, and art. The program seeks to support organizations that respond to the current domestic and global political climate, demonstrating an active commitment to social change and equity. The Fund prioritizes organizations that are actively working to challenge and dismantle systems of oppression. This includes fostering intergenerational connections to uplift youth, centering collaboration in their work, and seeking a strong intersectional impact. The focus is on entities that embody Black liberation values and utilize cultural education, community-based care, healing, or art as tools for social transformation. These priorities reflect the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by supporting grassroots organizations with these specific focuses, they can contribute to systemic change and the creation of a more equitable society. Expected outcomes include the strengthening of small organizations that are vital to their communities and are at the forefront of social justice efforts. The program aims to enable these organizations to sustain and expand their work in challenging oppression and fostering intergenerational connections. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the general operating support, the emphasis on organizations actively working to dismantle systems of oppression and seeking intersectional impact suggests a qualitative assessment of their contributions to social equity and the empowerment of marginalized communities. The long-term impact envisioned is a Bay Area where youth are uplifted, collaboration is fostered, and systemic injustices are actively addressed.

The Springfield Foundation's Competitive Grant Program aims to support the entire Clark County community through six focus areas: Arts & Culture, Civic Affairs, Education, Environment, Conservation & Animal Welfare, Health, and Human Services. This grant program is aligned with the foundation's mission to foster a community with strong cultural vitality, engaged citizens, improved environmental awareness, quality education, better health outcomes, and a strong safety net for human needs. The foundation emphasizes a holistic approach, addressing various facets of community well-being and growth. The program targets a wide range of beneficiaries, including individuals of all ages experiencing art and culture, Clark County citizens for civic engagement, residents for environmental appreciation, children for early education and college readiness, individuals at risk of unintended pregnancies and STIs, those with mental health issues or chronic diseases, and families/individuals needing human services. The impact goals are to increase diversity and attendance at arts and culture events, improve civic knowledge and participation, increase environmental awareness and pet welfare, boost kindergarten readiness and college/career preparedness, improve reproductive and mental health, better manage chronic diseases, and achieve financial stability and positive outcomes for all people, especially youth and seniors. The foundation prioritizes increasing opportunities for artists and audiences, educating and engaging active citizens, fostering environmental appreciation and reducing homeless pets, increasing enrollment in early childhood programs and post-secondary preparation, impacting community health by addressing unintended pregnancies and STIs, improving mental health and chronic disease management, and assisting families and individuals with emergency needs, family breakdown prevention, economic self-sufficiency, and independent living. A key strategic priority is also promoting positive outcomes for all people, with specific attention to youth and seniors. The expected outcomes and measurable results include increased diversity and attendance at arts and culture events, improved civic knowledge and participation, increased citizen participation in environmental activities, a decrease in homeless pets, more children enrolling in early childhood programs, increased parental involvement in education, more students in post-secondary preparation, improved mental health outcomes, decreased incidence of unintended pregnancies and STIs, better management of chronic diseases, and increased financial independence and overall quality of life for individuals and families. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by investing in these diverse focus areas, they can create a more vibrant, engaged, educated, healthy, and supportive community for all residents of Clark County.