Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation Grant

The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation (MSTPF) is a private philanthropic organization committed to enhancing outdoor recreation infrastructure in the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough of Alaska. Since its inception, MSTPF has funded over $2.35 million in grants, catalyzed more than $5 million in leveraged investments, and facilitated the creation of over 85 miles of new trails and improvements across 74 projects. The foundation supports a wide range of initiatives that align with its mission to expand and enhance the region’s trail and park systems, fostering public access, wellness, and environmental stewardship. MSTPF awards grants on a quarterly basis, contingent on funding availability. Projects eligible for funding include the development of new trails and parks, physical improvements or enhancements to trailheads, recreation areas, signage, and amenities like park equipment and playgrounds. The foundation also supports planning and surveying activities directly related to such projects. However, it does not fund private trails or parks, projects on private property lacking legal easements, reimbursements for completed work or purchases, endowments, loans, fundraising activities, operational or program costs, or indirect costs not tied to the project. Grant amounts are categorized into three tiers with distinct matching requirements. For requests up to $20,000, no matching funds are required, although applicants are encouraged to provide a match. For requests between $20,001 and $50,000, a 3:1 match is mandatory, with at least half of the match in cash. Projects requesting $50,001 to $100,000 must meet a 2:1 match ratio, again allowing for in-kind contributions up to 50% of the total match. Volunteer hours are valued at $28.54 per hour, and contractor-donated time is accepted at market rates when not affiliated with the applicant. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, Alaska Native nonprofit organizations, federally recognized tribes, government entities, community councils, religious and service organizations, provided they serve residents of the Mat-Su area and possess a valid tax identification number. The foundation explicitly excludes individuals, for-profit entities, private foundations, politically affiliated organizations, and those that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, or political orientation. Applications must be submitted through MSTPF’s online portal; paper and PDF submissions are no longer accepted. The next application round opens November 3, 2025, and closes December 31, 2025. Following submission, the review process includes a grants committee assessment beginning January 6, 2026, followed by board evaluation and final approvals by February 18, 2026. Applicants are notified the week of February 23, 2026. A second round will follow in June 2026 with similar review and notification milestones. Applicants seeking sponsorships for events or programs can inquire separately via email. For general inquiries, the MSTPF can be contacted via phone at 907-746-8757 or by emailing info@matsutrails.org. Their office is located at 642 S Alaska St, Suite 215.

Applicants must ensure eligibility and match requirements per tier before applying; in-kind must be properly calculated and volunteer rates used correctly.