Pennsylvania Recreation Grants

The Pumpout Grant Program provides funding to both public and private boating facilities for up to 75% of the costs to build, renovate, and maintain sewage pumpout and dump stations, with the goal of reducing pollution from boat sewage.

The Seybert Foundation Innovation Grants Program offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to Philadelphia-based nonprofits serving youth, to fund innovative projects in areas such as education reform, youth advocacy, and workforce development, with a focus on testing new approaches or pursuing opportunities for significant change.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Philadelphia and Camden that create free outdoor programs to help underserved communities access and enjoy parks, trails, and waterways.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Pennsylvania to create educational programs that promote fishing and boating, focusing on attracting new participants, retaining current ones, and reactivating former anglers and boaters.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is offering a grant of $2000 for projects that address urgent, unforeseen situations on designated water trails, with the aim of creating recreational opportunities, supporting sustainable use of natural resources, and improving access to Pennsylvania Water Trails.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in Philadelphia that provide re-entry and workforce development programs to help at-risk individuals secure employment and overcome barriers related to addiction and incarceration.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This grant provides funding for collaborative, arts-based projects that improve community livability and cultural vibrancy in Pennsylvania, focusing on diversity, equity, and local engagement.

This funding provides $3,000 to artists and creative entrepreneurs in select Pennsylvania counties who experienced income loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This grant provides financial support to small businesses and non-profits in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, to enhance their operations through professional development, paid internships, business improvements, and technology upgrades.

The Community Fund is an annual grant opportunity hosted by the Philadelphia City Fund in which community organizations are invited to submit proposals for charitable projects that address Philadelphia’s greatest areas of need and align with the City of Philadelphia’s goals to improve the quality of life for all residents. Donor Name: The Philadelphia City Fund State: Pennsylvania City: Philadelphia Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This grant opportunity is made possible through the Philadelphia City Fund’s partnership with the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, which allocates a portion of its annual revenues to the Community Fund. For the 2024 Community Fund grant cycle, the Fund and its partners at the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend seek to support programming that takes a holistic approach to youth wellness and inspires lifelong healthy activity. This year’s theme will focus on “Nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out of school time programming.” The Fund will accept proposals from charitable nonprofit organizations that provide out of school time (“OST”) programming that promotes the healthy physical, social, educational, and emotional development of youth, ages pre-K thru 12th grade, in Philadelphia. Funding Information The total funding allocated for the 2024 cycle is $250,000. Grantees will receive awards of $25,000 in unrestricted funds to be used however they see fit, which can include general operations, programmatic activities, or other costs that support the organization’s mission. Eligibility Criteria In order to be considered for funding, applications must be submitted according to the deadlines, eligibility, and format as set forth in these guidelines and on the online submission form. Applicants must demonstrate their charitable organization’s 501(c)(3) status. If the applicant organization will be sponsored by a charitable fiscal sponsor, the applicant must demonstrate its sponsor’s charitable 501(c)(3) status. The Fund seeks to support small nonprofit organizations. Only organizations with annual operating budgets which do not exceed $5 million are eligible. Only organizations that provide out-of-school time (“OST”) programming to youth in Philadelphia will be considered eligible. OST programming is defined as programs and activities designed for youth enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade to contribute to the overall well-being and safety of youth through access to services that promote their healthy, physical, social, educational, and emotional development. In order to increase equitable access to OST programming across the city, preference will be given to requests from organizations that provide programming in the following Priority ZIP Codes: 19120, 19124, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19139, 19141, and 19144. Priority ZIP Codes were identified through an analysis conducted by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families, Performance Management and Technology Team. This analysis used metrics related to quality of life (i.e. poverty rates, number of shootings, and percentage of youth involved with the City’s Department of Human Services (DHS)), the distribution of OST slots across the city, and the utilization of slots funded by DHS. Grant awards will be unrestricted, with a one-year grant term expected to begin in February 2025. Funding may be used as the grantee sees fit, which can include general operating support, programmatic activities, or other expenses that support the organization’s mission. Applicants will be expected to address the grant cycle theme “Nurturing healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through out-of-school time programming” in their application, either by connecting the theme with their organization’s mission and/or programming, or, if you intend to use this funding to support specific programming, by explaining how the proposed activities meet the theme. Grant funds may be used to supplement (but not replace or redirect) any federal, state, and/or local funding currently provided. Grant funds will be awarded on a one-time basis, with no obligation for future funding from the Philadelphia City Fund. If awarded funding through this opportunity, grantees will be expected to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania childcare regulations throughout the grant term. In accordance with the Child Protective Services Laws, 24 P.S. § 1-111, as amended, and 23 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 6354-6358, it is required that all employees, officers, agents, servants, volunteers, or subcontractors of the grantee who will have direct contact with children must have: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance (Act 34) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance Mandated reporter trainings For those sites operating in PA DHS Certified childcare sites, the National Sex Offender Registry verification is also required. If awarded funding through this opportunity, grantees will be expected to carry and maintain all insurance coverage reasonably necessary and appropriate under State and Federal laws during the grant term. Upon request, grantees must be able to provide the Philadelphia City Fund with a certificate of insurance evidencing its coverage. For more information, visit The Philadelphia City Fund.

This fellowship provides $10,000 to support AAPI women and gender-expansive individuals in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Georgia who are dedicated to creating impactful civic projects in their communities, along with mentorship and skills training.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Erie County to support projects that improve the lives of women and children by addressing critical issues such as transportation, healthcare, education, housing, childcare, and food insecurity.

The York County Community Foundation is offering a three-year grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for municipalities, county agencies, school districts, and non-profit organizations in York County, Pennsylvania, to preserve and protect open spaces, natural habitats, and waterways through land acquisition, planning studies, and ordinance assistance, with a focus on public access, recreational opportunities, and natural resource protection.

The Somerset County Tourism Grant Program, funded by GO Laurel Highlands, offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit or for-profit businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, for marketing initiatives and visitor center operations aimed at boosting tourism and overnight stays in the region.

This grant provides funding to local governments and non-profit organizations for projects that improve the environment, culture, or community along the Lower Delaware River corridor.

Love Your Block is a City of Pittsburgh program that brings neighbors together to improve communities by combating blight, creating assets, and building resilience, block by block. Donor Name: The City of Pittsburgh State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Projects may include but are not limited to community garden maintenance, neighborhood clean-ups, or tree and flower planting. Successful projects will build strong partnerships, leverage donations, and most importantly, engage neighbors. In planning for strong and successful projects, consider the following priorities: Build strong partnerships Consider having local businesses come out and lend a hand or donate food or materials. Recruit volunteers from a local VFW post or have a service-learning component for youth. Leverage donations Consider having residents donate plants, compost material, or food for your volunteer event day. Make sure it’s feasible City loves creative ideas– but don’t bite off more than you can chew! If you have a huge idea, make Love Your Block a first step in the right direction and secure some other partners that can assist with your plans. Engage neighbors While your volunteers can come from anywhere, they’ve found that the most impactful projects utilize volunteers within proximity to the project. People like to be a part of what’s happening next door and are more likely to maintain and sustain the project afterward if they helped plan and implement it. Funding Information Love Your Block is a City of Pittsburgh program with a maximum award of $2,500. Funding is provided through reimbursement after project implementation. Eligibility Criteria Funding must be awarded through a nonprofit. If your organization is not a nonprofit, you can ask one to be your sponsor. Nonprofits are welcome to sponsor multiple projects. Projects must benefit the public. Projects on private property must have the written permission of the owner. All projects are subject to City of Pittsburgh Zoning and Permit guidelines. Project-related events must follow COVID-19 guidelines that are in place at the time of the events. For more information, visit The City of Pittsburgh.

POISE Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for its Community Impact Grants to assist the Black community in achieving self-sustaining practices through strategic leadership, collective giving, grantmaking, and advocacy. Donor Name: Poise Foundation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Through the Community Impact Grants, the Foundation provides small grants to nonprofit organizations located in the Pittsburgh Region that provide services, and seeks to bring change to the Black community which leads to empowerment and self-sufficiency.  In general, grants are one year in duration. POISE typically provides grants to Black-led, Black serving nonprofit organizations offering programs and services that fit within one or more of their Priority Areas: Community & Economic Development Programming that helps community leaders, residents and their communities build capacity to engage in civic participation, to collaborate, to make decisions and to advocate for the well-being of Black communities and the residents that live there.  These types of programs also seek to  engage community members in learning about and understanding community issues, and the economic, social, environmental, political, psychological, and other impacts on their way of life.  In addition, these programs should aim to foster pathways from poverty to prosperity for individuals and families in Black communities.  They also look for programming that encourages diverse and robust neighborhood and community economies. Education Programming that supports and advances the Educational achievement of Black youth in the Pittsburgh Region. They also invest in programming that offers innovative approaches to learning experiences that engage families and communities in the academic and social success of Black youth. Entrepreneurial Activities Programming that advances the creation and development of Black businesses and cooperatives in the Pittsburgh Region. Young Ladies Programming that supports and advances the well-being of young ladies in preparation for future endeavors in the Pittsburgh Region. Strengthening Black Families Through Strengthening Black Families, they can envision a region where the Black Family is restored a core institution that is actively thriving and engaged in the re-development and transformation of Pittsburgh’s Black community.  The Foundation will invest in programs and activities that build, strengthen, and support Black families. Priority will be given to programs and projects that focus on: being family-driven; building, strengthening, and supporting family development; increasing family time, interaction, engagement and communication; being culturally and contextually responsive in approach; assisting families with building authentic support networks with other families; providing families with tools and opportunities to build the skills necessary to advocate for their needs; and promoting and supporting family healing and wellness. Funding Information Grants are typically between $1,000-$5,000. Eligibility Criteria Only organizations classified as one of the following are eligible for grants from the Foundation: A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity Organizations/Groups with a Fiscal Sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity Churches seeking support for non-religious activities (i.e. food banks, after school programs, etc.) They do not give grants to individuals or for-profit organizations. Preference will be given to organizations that are Black-led meeting two of the three following criteria: Executive Director is Black and/or African American 50% of Board is Black and/or African American 75% of community served is Black and/or African American For more information, visit POISE Foundation.

The Adams County Community Foundation focuses its Adams County Grants program to encourage bigger thinking around strengthening vulnerable people on a systemic level through three primary focus areas. Donor Name: Adams County Community Foundation State: Pennsylvania County: Adams County (PA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Focus Areas Capacity Building Grants intended to help nonprofits become more effective at addressing the needs of vulnerable residents. (Up to $25,000) Program Grants to help nonprofits make a meaningful and sustained difference in people’s lives, by helping low-income residents move toward self-sufficiency. (Up to $25,000) Collaboration Grants to support significant collaborative projects that advance affordable housing, transportation and economic development. (Up to $30,000) Eligibility Criteria  Nonprofits with tax-exempt status under IRS Section 501(c)(3) serving Adams County residents, whose nondiscrimination policies are consistent with the Adams County Community Foundation Nondiscrimination Policy on Employment and Grantmaking. Ineligibility  Adams County Grants Will Not Fund: Organizations that are not tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) Public Charity of the Internal Revenue Code Organizations based outside Adams County, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that Adams County residents will benefit from the grant requested Grants to individuals Private foundations Projects aimed at promoting a particular religion or construction project for religious institutions Programs at private schools that benefit only their students Political campaigns or direct lobbying efforts Debt retirement or funding for projects already completed Fundraising events and galas Core curriculum for schools Travel for bands, sports teams, classes and similar groups. For more information, visit ACCF.