Recreation Grants

This grant provides funding to schools and organizations in the Upper Valley to enhance environmental education for K-12 students, particularly in underserved communities.

The various grant programs are structured to address systemic community challenges, reflecting a core alignment with the foundations’ missions to drive change, promote equity, and foster vibrant communities. The Community Foundation (Des Moines) offers three key competitive grants: Leadership, Capacity Building, and Strategic Alignment, all rooted in community plan alignment and focused on inclusive engagement and impact. Leadership Grants are designed to catalyze systems change by investing in solutions that challenge existing systems and address root causes, not just projects. Similarly, the San Antonio Area Foundation employs trust-based philanthropic principles, offering general operating and multi-year support to help non-profits focus on their missions and achieve stability as a direct means to closing opportunity gaps. The grant-making strategies are defined by specific priorities that target key community issues, often reflecting a multi-sectoral and cross-cutting approach. The Minneapolis Foundation’s grants, for instance, focus on priorities like creating an equitable education system (Reimagine Education) and being nimble in response to emerging community needs (OneMPLS), previously addressing issues like affordable housing and pandemic relief. The San Antonio Area Foundation structures its work around four pillars: Cultural Vibrancy, Livable and Resilient Communities, Aging Adults Success, and Youth Success, with activities like building capacity for under-resourced arts groups or supporting programs to strengthen safety nets for older adults. This demonstrates a comprehensive approach where investments aim to address a diverse range of interconnected human, animal, and environmental health issues. Target beneficiaries and high-level impact goals are diverse yet universally focused on empowering vulnerable populations and transforming systems. Beneficiaries include schools, students, small businesses, older adults, youth, and non-profits across various sectors. For instance, the ACDP in Liberia aims to meet the real needs of the most vulnerable rural populations, reducing poverty while strengthening human capital and resilience. Its specific goal is to significantly improve conditions for residents of targeted rural and urban communities through environmentally sustainable and equitable access to basic services by 2025. Other goals include advancing criminal justice reform through the Fund for Safe Communities, and promoting conservation education for K-12 students via specialty grants like the Explore the Ozarks Fund. A strong emphasis is placed on generating clear, measurable results that align with the strategic theory of change—that focused investments lead to demonstrable community benefits. Outcomes are expected to be specific and measurable, often guided by the SMART mnemonic (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). These expected outcomes describe the consequences and results of the work, detailing the change in participants or the programmatic/operational level. For example, expected results include achieving greater stability for non-profit partners through multi-year support, or, in the public health sphere, strengthening the institutionalization of a functional One Health approach in Liberia to address Public Health events and develop joint policy guidance on prevention, detection, response, and recovery.

The City of Philadelphia's Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund is offering $15,000 grants to 20 Philadelphia-based organizations working on long-term environmental justice projects, with the aim to support grassroots activism, community resilience, and the removal of environmental injustices.

Travel Paso is accepting applications for its 2025 Community Event Marketing Grant, aimed at supporting local events that align with its mission to promote Paso Robles, with a focus on collaboration, diversity, variety, and sustainability, and encourages applicants to outline their marketing strategies, event timing, measurement of overnight stays, and potential for partnership with Travel Paso.

The Community Foundation of Randolph County in Indiana offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations for one-time projects, start-up costs for new programs, and capital needs, primarily focusing on areas such as youth, elderly, education, arts & culture, and community development, but does not fund religious purposes, individual needs, or tax-supported services.

The City of Wilsonville is offering Community Opportunity Grants to fund projects and services that promote education, diversity, arts, or community involvement, aiming to provide entertainment and strengthen the community within Wilsonville. This grant program aligns with a mission to foster community engagement and cultural enrichment. The total funding for this program is $25,000, distributed in two grant cycles of $12,500 each per fiscal year. The target beneficiaries for these grants are Wilsonville community organizations, projects, or charitable/non-profit organizations that have been in operation for at least twelve months, or have demonstrated commensurate experience. The grants specifically aim to impact residents of Wilsonville by offering educational, artistic, and entertaining opportunities, promoting diversity, and encouraging civic engagement. The grant prioritizes projects, events, or services that further educational or artistic opportunities, encourage and foster diversity, provide entertainment and personal growth, advance civic engagement or community leadership, and involve Wilsonville's youth or elderly population in community activities. Expenses related to staff, paid volunteers, and general operating expenses (with the exception of space rental) are not eligible for funding. Expected outcomes include enhanced educational and artistic opportunities, increased diversity, strengthened community bonds, greater civic engagement, and improved community leadership within Wilsonville. Measurable results would be tied to the specific projects funded, such as participation rates in events, increased access to educational programs, or the number of community members engaged in leadership initiatives. Organizations must use funds for a specific project within the City of Wilsonville and are only eligible for one grant per fiscal year. Compliance with grant procedures, including filing a final financial statement and project evaluation, is also required for future eligibility.

The Youth Sports and Education Grants, sponsored by Lewis County (NY), invite applications for programs that provide structured sports activities for youth aged 6-17. This grant program aims to foster youth development through sports and educational programming. The project period for these grants runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, with a grant duration of one year. Eligible programs must demonstrate basic competency in governance, monitoring and evaluation, partnership, and financial stewardship, ensuring that the grants support well-managed and effective initiatives. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are youth aged 6-17 residing in New York State. The impact goals include promoting healthy physical activity, providing educational opportunities, and ensuring a safe environment for participants. A crucial focus is on child protection, requiring all funded programs to have a child protection policy in place that adheres to local, city, agency, school district, and state guidelines. This commitment underscores a strategic priority to safeguard young participants while promoting their engagement in sports and education. Priorities for funding include programming costs directly related to youth activities. This encompasses expenses such as coaches, instructors, direct service staff, and mentors, including their training and professional development. Additionally, funding can cover equipment, educational programming costs, and facility or field usage. A key focus is on maximizing direct service to youth, with a cap of 15% of funds allocated for administrative and overhead costs for the implementing agency. Expected outcomes include increased participation in structured sports activities among New York State youth, enhanced educational attainment through integrated programming, and the establishment of safe and well-managed environments for children. Programs are also required to collect registration data, including participant demographic information, to facilitate accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data to the OCFS, allowing for measurable results and ongoing program evaluation. The foundation's strategic priorities align with promoting youth well-being and development, utilizing sports and education as key tools for positive community impact.

The Youth Team Sports Funding is a grant program offered by Lewis County in New York, designed to support local community-based organizations and nonprofits in providing team sports activities for youth. The program's core objective is to foster youth development through organized physical activity, particularly targeting under-resourced communities within New York State. The grant period is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, and it emphasizes adherence to child protection policies and data collection for accurate reporting. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are youth under 18 years old residing in under-resourced communities within New York State. The program aims to increase participation in team sports, which are defined as organized physical activities where groups of two or more individuals compete. The impact goals include promoting physical well-being, fostering teamwork, and providing structured recreational opportunities for vulnerable youth populations. The grant prioritizes funding for programming costs directly related to supporting youth participation in team sports. This includes expenses for coaches, instructors, direct service staff, mentors (including training and professional development), referee fees, and the purchase of equipment or uniforms. Additionally, capital investments such as facilities, fields, fences, storage, and lighting are eligible. A notable focus is also on the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by local organizations to meet current legal requirements. Expected outcomes of the program include an increase in the number of youth participating in organized team sports, improved access to sports activities for under-resourced communities, and enhanced safety through the implementation of child protection policies and the availability of AEDs. Measurable results will likely stem from the collected registration data, including participant demographic information, which OCFS requires for anonymized aggregate reporting. This data will allow for the assessment of the program's reach and effectiveness in serving its target population and achieving its outlined objectives.

The Lewis County Youth Development Program is seeking applications for grants to fund a wide variety of youth development initiatives. While the specific foundation mission is not explicitly stated, the program aligns with a broad mission of fostering positive youth development and providing community-level services, opportunities, and supports for young people in Lewis County, New York. The program aims to encourage municipalities to invest in a diverse range of activities that contribute to the holistic growth of youth. The target beneficiaries of this program are youth under 21 years of age residing in Lewis County. The impact goals are to promote positive youth development across several key areas. These areas include Citizenship and Civic Engagement, fostering youth leadership and cultural competency; Community involvement through youth activism, mentoring, and community service; Economic Security, focusing on career development and life skills; Physical and Emotional Health, encompassing seasonal activities like summer camps and opportunities for creative expression; Education, specifically "out-of-school time" programming for educational engagement and drop-out prevention; and Family, offering conflict resolution supports. The program prioritizes a comprehensive approach to youth development, encouraging a wide variety of programs that address multiple facets of a young person's life. A strong focus is placed on inclusivity, requiring a non-discrimination policy that ensures no youth are denied services based on ethnicity/race, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or other disability, national origin, or any protected characteristic. Data collection, including participant demographic information, is also a key focus, emphasizing accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data to OCFS. Expected outcomes include enhanced youth leadership, increased community engagement, improved economic readiness, better physical and emotional well-being, stronger educational attainment, and more resilient family units among the youth served. Measurable results will be derived from the collected participant demographic information and program-specific data as required by OCFS. The program's strategic priorities are to support community-level services that demonstrate competency in governance, monitoring and evaluation, partnership, and financial stewardship, aligning with a theory of change that posits comprehensive, well-managed, and inclusive youth programs lead to positive individual and community-wide developmental outcomes for young people. The project period for these grants is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.

The Miami Lakes Town Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 mini-grant awards, aimed at supporting community groups, school clubs, and organizations that foster literacy, continuing education, youth programs, beautification projects, and cultural events in the Miami Lakes community, with a preference for projects that include a kindness component.

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.

The Iowa Tourism Grant Program, funded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, offers grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to Iowa-based tourism-related entities for marketing initiatives, meetings, and events that align with IEDA's marketing plan, with a total of $300,000 available for projects to be implemented in the 2025 fiscal year.

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is offering a Youth-led Grant Program, providing $250 to $2,500 for projects developed and implemented by youth in partnership with a nonprofit, school, or public organization, focusing on areas such as arts, education, community development, environmental stewardship, and health services in selected counties of Ohio.

The Fayette County Tourism Grant Program, administered 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 Fayette County, Pennsylvania, for marketing, tourism enhancement, operational expenses, and visitor center operations, with the aim of boosting tourism and economic activity in the region.

The GO Laurel Highlands is offering a tourism grant ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for marketing, enhancement of attractions, and special events aimed at increasing visitation and economic activity in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with applications to be submitted by October 4, 2024.

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.

The Water Wise Garden Grant, a collaborative effort between Hunter Industries and KidsGardening, aims to support public and charter schools in San Diego County. This initiative aligns with the broader mission of promoting water conservation, water stewardship, and responsible water management through the engaging medium of gardening. By fostering an understanding of these critical environmental concepts at an early age, the grant contributes to the development of environmentally conscious citizens and resilient communities. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are public and charter elementary schools within San Diego County that serve at least 15 youth. The program specifically targets organizations that support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of under-resourced individuals, defined as those systematically denied resources and opportunities based on factors like race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, or geographic location, or those currently experiencing hardship. The overarching impact goal is to dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants and to ensure the intended impact reflects the needs of the community, particularly in areas where resources are limited. Funding priorities for the Water Wise Garden Grant are based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening prioritizes organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, as well as those with limited access to consistent and substantial monetary support or prior grant funding. Furthermore, organizations working with greater than 50 youth are given priority, indicating a focus on maximizing reach and educational impact. The grant also emphasizes the importance of using funds to install new or improve existing youth gardens, ensuring tangible and sustainable educational environments. The expected outcomes include enhanced learning opportunities for students regarding water conservation and sustainable gardening practices. Measurable results for 2025 will see five elementary schools in San Diego County each awarded $1,000 in funding, coupled with an irrigation supply kit valued at $500. This combination of financial support and practical resources is designed to facilitate the creation or enhancement of gardens that serve as living classrooms, fostering hands-on learning and practical application of water-wise principles. The theory of change underpinning this grant posits that by investing in youth garden programs within under-resourced communities, children will develop a deeper appreciation for environmental sustainability and become advocates for responsible water management.

This award recognizes individuals in the Madison community who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and volunteerism in promoting peace and cooperation among diverse populations.

The City of Walla Walla’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program aims to expand opportunities for low- and moderate-income citizens within the City of Walla Walla. This program aligns with a mission to improve community well-being through various initiatives. The funding amount is approximately $58,000, with individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, and a grant duration of one year. The 2025-2026 Program Year will run from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The deadline for applications is September 6, 2024. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are low- and moderate-income persons residing in the City of Walla Walla. The program's impact goals are focused on addressing critical community needs in housing, public services, public facilities, neighborhood improvements, and economic development. All projects and programs funded through this grant must principally benefit these individuals. The program prioritizes a range of eligible activities designed to achieve its goals. These include housing rehabilitation, acquisition of real property, demolition, and utilities for housing projects. It also supports the construction, reconstruction, or installation of public facilities and infrastructure, such as parks, playgrounds, streets, sidewalks, and public buildings (excluding those for general government conduct). Furthermore, the grant focuses on public services like mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, health care, childcare, transportation, youth programs, employment assistance, crime prevention, and fair housing counseling. Expected outcomes include improved living conditions through housing initiatives, enhanced public spaces and infrastructure, and increased access to vital public services for low- and moderate-income residents. The measurable results will be evaluated by the direct impact of these projects and programs on the target population, ensuring they meet a National Objective of serving low- and moderate-income individuals or areas. The foundation's strategic priority is to foster a more equitable and supportive community in Walla Walla, operating under the theory of change that by investing in these key areas, the overall quality of life and opportunities for vulnerable populations will significantly improve. Eligibility criteria for the CDBG program extend to nonprofits, for-profits, and government entities. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed activities meet a National Objective, which specifically means serving low- and moderate-income individuals or areas. Additionally, the activities themselves must be eligible under CDBG guidelines. For more comprehensive information, interested parties are encouraged to visit the City of Walla Walla’s official website.

The Granville Community Foundation in Ohio is offering grants to non-profit organizations and public agencies for projects that enrich the lives of Granville residents, with a focus on arts, culture, education, and social services, and prioritizes initiatives that enhance quality of life, cultural opportunities, historical preservation, social support, public spaces, and youth experiences.