Washington Recreation Grants

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is offering a Starter Fund Grant Program, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, for small community organizations and groups focusing on advancing an equitable and sustainable local food system within Seattle, with eligible activities including food justice initiatives, community organizing, food-related job training, and more.

This federal grant program provides funding to develop and renovate boating facilities targeting guest recreational boats 26 feet and larger. Grants also may be used for boater education. Typical Projects Renovating guest docks Installing utilities to moorage docks Building moorage docks and floats. Funding generally is awarded every 2 years. Funding comes through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from federal gas taxes deposited in the federal Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for events and activities that attract tourists to Friday Harbor, with a focus on off-season initiatives, and is open to both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public agencies, and individuals.

This funding opportunity supports community-based projects in Ellensburg that enhance and protect surface water quality through education, outreach, and implementation efforts, specifically targeting volunteer groups and non-profits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tourism and hospitality businesses in Port Angeles to enhance their marketing efforts and attract visitors from outside the area.

This program provides funding to non-profit organizations, civic groups, and neighborhood groups in Ellensburg to address local needs and enhance community capacity through various projects.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is offering a grant of $100,000 to $500,000 for projects that support diverse youth mental health providers, particularly those connected to LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, with the aim of increasing access to mental health resources, improving retention, and supporting diverse providers in King County, Washington.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community groups and organizations in Ellensburg for improving parks, trails, and recreational facilities to enhance public enjoyment and participation.

The City of Renton is offering a grant for projects promoting tourism and cultural activities in Renton, Washington, with funds to be used for marketing and promotional purposes, specifically targeting audiences 50 miles away or more, and is open to nonprofits and municipalities with a focus on overnight stays, economic benefit, and diversity.

The Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities program provides funding to develop and manage recreation opportunities for such activities as cross-country skiing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain bicycling, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, motorcycling, and riding all-terrain and four-wheel drive vehicles. A portion of the funding also is available for education and enforcement programs that encourage environmentally responsible use of the outdoors and for helping to minimize conflict between visitors through positive management techniques. Except for off-road vehicle facilities, activities supported by this program must be accessed via a non-highway road, which is a public road that was not built or maintained with gasoline tax funding. Non-highway roads are found most often in state and national forests and national parks.

The City of Battle Ground is offering grants to help fund programs that attract tourists to Battle Ground. Donor Name: City of Battle Ground State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/31/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Tourism creates opportunity and a positive economic impact on the local community. Funding is granted for the marketing or operations of special events, programs, and activities designed to bring visitors to Battle Ground. Previous grants included funding for wayfinding signs, marketing materials, and event operations. For more information, visit City of Battle Ground.

The City of Walla Walla’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is designed to benefit and expand opportunities for low and moderate-income citizens through housing, the provision of public services, improvements to public facilities, neighborhood improvements, and economic development opportunities. Donor Name: City of Walla Walla State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: All projects and programs must principally benefit low-and moderate-income persons within the City of Walla Walla. Funding Information Approximately $58,000. Grant Period The 2025-2026 Program Year will run from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Eligible CDBG Activities  Walla Walla activities that are eligible for CDBG funding include, but are not limited to: Housing rehabilitation, acquisition of real property, demolition, utilities needed for housing projects Construction, reconstruction, or installation of public facilities or public infrastructure including, but not limited to the creation of parks, playgrounds, streets and sidewalks, public buildings (except for buildings for the general conduct of government) Public services, such as mental healthcare, substance abuse, health care, childcare, transportation, youth programs, employment assistance, crime prevention, fair housing counseling, etc Eligibility Criteria Nonprofits, for-profits and government entities. Must meet a National Objective, which includes serving low- and moderate-income individuals or low- and moderate-income areas.  Must be an eligible activity. For more information, visit City of Walla Walla.

The Youth Athletic Facilities program provides grants to buy land and develop or renovate outdoor athletic facilities such as ball fields, courts, swimming pools, mountain bike tracks, and skate parks that serve youth through the age of 18. While the program focuses on youth, RCO strongly encourages grant recipients to design facilities to serve all ages and multiple activities. An athletic facility is an outdoor facility used for playing sports or participating in competitive athletics and excludes playgrounds, tot lots, vacant lots, open or undeveloped fields, and level open space used for non-athletic play. Typical Projects Adding lights to a field to allow evening games Changing an underused tennis court to a high-demand basketball court Changing the field surface, such as installing artificial turf, to allow more games per season or more seasons when the field may be used Expanding a youth-sized softball field to accommodate broader community uses

Snohomish County is accepting applications for the 2024 Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program (SCCFP) Grants. Donor Name: Snohomish County State: Washington County: Snohomish County (WA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/16/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program (the “SCCFP”) was started in 1988 as a mechanism for distributing Conservation Futures Property Tax Funds for the preservation of open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland. The purpose of the SCCFP is to acquire interests or rights in real property for the preservation of open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland per SCC 4.14.010. A maximum amount of $10,000,000 million dollars may be available for distribution in 2024 for these purposes. Eligible Projects  For proposals to be eligible for consideration and funding, they should conform to the criteria listed below: Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program funding can only be used for the acquisition of real property, easements, covenants, or other contractual rights necessary to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve, selected open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland as defined in Chapter RCW 84.34 (“Protected Property”). Other sources of revenue may be used to improve properties acquired with Conservation Futures Program funds, provided the improvements are within the intent of the statute. Proposed acquisitions in urban areas shall be no smaller than 1 acre minimum in an urban area retained in its natural state and open to the public (RCW 84.34.020). Any improvements to the Protected Property shall be limited to those which meet the requirements and intent of RCW 84.34.200-220.  Allowed improvements include, but are not limited to, trails, interpretive centers, viewpoints, picnicking facilities, access, restrooms, and restoration projects.  Certain recreational improvements are prohibited.  Such improvements include, but are not limited to, ball fields, use by motorized vehicles, swimming pools and recreation centers. Project Eligibility Guidelines  All projects will be reviewed to assure that they fall under eligibility guidelines meeting the following criteria: Does the property fall within the definitions of open space, farm and agricultural land, or timberland as defined in RCW 84.34.020? Does the sponsoring agency have a guaranteed plan or program to manage and maintain the property to preserve those characteristics that make the property eligible for Conservation Futures Program funding? Does the proposed project secure property rights in perpetuity, which meet the intents of RCW 84.34.200? Is the proposed property free of any and all encumbrances (e.g. covenants, conditions and restrictions that prohibit public access), which would result in the acquisition not aligning with the intents of RCW 84.34.200? For more information, visit Snohomish County.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Vancouver, Washington, to deliver essential supportive services and rental assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those in Safe Stay and Safe Park sites.

The Community Forests Program gives communities a way to preserve their working forest heritage. Donor Name: Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The grant program balances the many benefits forests provide – from providing money from use of the land, to safeguarding against climate and other environmental changes, to providing opportunities for recreation, education, and cultural enrichment.  As Washington’s population continues to grow and forestlands are increasingly threatened by development, the Community Forests Program is a valuable tool for preserving working lands for the benefit of Washingtonians now and into the future. Typical Projects Buying land to conserve working forests (required for all projects). On purchased land, projects also may restore forest and habitat health and develop recreational facilities. Funding Information $3 million is available. Eligible Projects Acquisition: Buying forestland Development: Developing recreation facilities, such as trails and trailheads, parking, restrooms, campgrounds, picnic and day-use areas, challenge courses, interpretive displays. Restoration: Restoring forest health or habitats, planting or reforestation, removing or correcting fish barriers All projects must acquire land. Projects may include restoration or development of that land but restoration and development cannot be stand-alone projects. Who May Apply? Cities, counties, and towns Native American tribes Nonprofit nature conservancy organizations Special purpose districts, public development authorities, or other political subdivisions of the state. State agencies (in partnership with one or more of the above groups). For more information, visit WSRCO.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for youth sports and activity scholarships, as well as equipment purchases, to organizations serving low to middle-income families in Spokane, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.

This program provides financial support to non-profit organizations and school districts in Grays Harbor County for initiatives that benefit youth, focusing on creating or enhancing programs for children aged 18 and under.

Medina Foundation Grant Program in Washington funds organizations that support positive pathways for youth, stabilization for families and individuals, and economic opportunities. The foundation prioritizes programs that help youth achieve positive outcomes, ensure basic needs are met, stabilize individuals and families, and provide economic opportunities such as job training, entrepreneurship, and financial education.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, Native American Tribes, and government agencies in Whatcom County for projects that support youth experiencing homelessness and engage young people in environmental initiatives.