Category Archives: Outdoor Recreation

Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

The Walmart Foundation supports projects in the communities where they operate through their Spark Good Local Grants. This program allows them to meet the unique needs of each community.

Applications for $250 – $5,000 are accepted and reviewed by store management on a quarterly basis. In 2024, open submission periods are:

  • Quarter 1: March 1 – April 15
  • Quarter 2: May 1 – July 15
  • Quarter 3: August 1 – October 15
  • Quarter 4: November 1 – December 31

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofits
  • City, county, or state government entities
  • K-12 public, nonprofit private, or charter schools
  • Community or junior colleges
  • State or private colleges and universities
  • Churches or religious organizations

Eligible applicants must also:

  • Operate on the local level
  • Directly benefit the service area of the store to which they are applying
  • Be verified through Deed

Space Tool

This tool allows organizations to request space outside their local Walmart for fundraisers and community awareness campaigns. Requests must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the proposed date and cannot be for more than 8 consecutive hours on 3 days.

For-profit businesses are not eligible, but non-501(c)3 nonprofits are.

Veterans and Nature Grant Program

The Veterans and Nature Grant Program is a joint project of the National Environmental Education Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. They support projects that expose veterans to the physical and mental health benefits of time spent in nature.

Applications for up to $10,000 are due by March 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and groups with a fiscal sponsor who have a partnership with a public lands entity. Public lands staff must be involved in both the preparation of the application and adminstration of the project.

Public Lands – “Any federal, state, local, county, or regional land or waterway held in the public trust and/or spaces that are accessible to the public.”

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Recreational and educational services
  • Equipment and supplies
  • Administrative costs
  • Billed labor

Funds may not be used to pay for transportation.

Potential Activities

Potential activities under this grant include:

  • Outdoor recreation (hiking, biking, fishing, etc.)
  • Community science programming
  • Environmental service projects
  • Adaptive programming
  • Conservation

Priority Consideration

Priority consideration will be given to projects that:

  • Work with an organization that serves veterans and include a letter of support from them
  • Discuss how they will address accessibility issues
  • Work with veterans who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or have disabilities
  • Involve Forest Service staff

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Grants

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s offer grant funding to projects in the United States and Canada in:

  • Conserving Wildlife and Habitat
  • Connecting New Audiences to the Outdoors
  • Advocating for Access and Sportsmen’s Rights
  • Supporting Military and Veterans
  • Strengthening Communities in the Missouri Ozarks

Applications are accepted on a continual basis.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations
  • Municipalities
  • Public institutions

Applicants must also:

  • Be located in the Missouri Ozarks Region, OR
  • Be located near a Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s, or Tracker Boat Center, OR
  • Propose a project with a national scope

Funding

The application has the following options for request amount:

  • Less than $500
  • $500 to $2,500
  • $2,501 to $10,000
  • More than $10,000

The application has the following options for request type:

  • Support for a project or initiative
  • Support for an event
  • General operating support
  • Capital request for major support

Focus Areas

Conserving Wildlife and Habitat

Projects under this focus area might concentrate on:

  • Species Health through the North American Model of Conservation
  • Habitat Improvement and Restoration
  • Water Quality

Connecting New Audiences to the Outdoors

Image by Oladapo Olusola

Projects under this focus area might concentrate on:

  • Youth and Family Outdoor Adventures
  • Outdoor Skills Training
  • Multicultural Outreach

Advocating for Access and Sportsmen’s Rights

Projects under this focus area might concentrate on:

  • 2nd Amendment Rights
  • Outdoor Recreation Access Issues
  • Conservation Leadership & Advocacy

Supporting Military and Veterans

Projects under this focus area might concentrate on:

  • Caring for men and women in uniform
  • Connecting veterans to the outdoors

Strengthening Communities in the Missouri Ozarks

Projects under this focus area might concentrate on:

  • Health and Wellness
  • Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Initiatives
  • Arts and Quality of Life

The Skatepark Project: Skatepark Construction Grants

Formerly The Tony Hawk Foundation, The Skatepark Project is on a mission to help underserved communities build public skateparks. Since 2002, they’ve awarded over $10 million to more than 600 projects in the United States.

Skatepark Construction Grants are available through two programs – the National Program and Built to Play which is only available in specific counties. Letters of Inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • Tax exempt nonprofits
  • Local government entities
  • State government entities
  • Public school systems

Project

Image by Josh Rowe 

To be eligible, a project must:

  • Be a permanent, concrete structure
  • Be located on public property
  • Be a new skatepark
  • Have a preliminary design for the park*
  • Have a location secured
  • Have raised funds from other sources
  • Not charge an entrance fee
  • Not limit access during daylight hours
  • Not have received a grant of more than $1,000 from the Skatepark Project

* If you need technical assistance with your design, email contact@skatepark.org for free help.

Community

This grant is only available for the construction of skateparks in underserved communities. Whether a community qualifies will be based on factors such as:

  • Median household income
  • Poverty rate
  • Free and reduced lunch rate
  • Population density
  • Racial and ethnic demographics
  • Suicide and overdose rates
  • Distance to skate facilities

Programs

National Program

National Program grants are available for projects across the United States. The average grant is for $10,000.

Built to Play

The Built to Play program is only available to specific counties in two states. These grants are from $50,000 – $300,000.

  • Michigan – Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties
  • New York – Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties

Project Elements

The Skatepark Project is looking for proposals that contain at least some of the following elements:

Image by djedj 
  • Grassroots, community support
  • Local skater involvement in planning and design
  •  Have a creative mix of street obstacles (rails, ledges, stairs, etc.) and transition/vert terrain (quarterpipes, bowls, halfpipes, etc.)
  • Allow all types of skatepark users (skate, BMX scooter, roller skate, Wheelchair (WCMX) and inline)
  • Don’t require skaters or their parents to sign waivers
  • Encourage skaters to look out for themselves and each other rather than over-regulating for safety

Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

Yamaha Motorsports U.S.A. established the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative in 2008 to support land access for outdoor recreation. They accept applications on a quarterly basis for projects that educate on the safe use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs), promote proper use of land for recreation and wildlife preservations, and preserve sustainable access to public land.

Award amounts will be determined by the number of applications received, the quality of the application, the impact of the proposed project, and the applicant’s need. Organizations are limited to one Outdoor Access grant per year.

The final application deadline for 2023 is December 15.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • Local and state government entities
  • Land conservation groups
  • Outdoor recreation clubs.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for activities such as:

  • Trail, development, maintenance, and restoration
  • Trail signage
  • Trail mapping
  • Fencing, bridges, etc. to protect environmentally sensitive areas
  • Wildlife habitat maintenance
  • Safety education programs

Funds may not be used to purchase Yamaha vehicles.

Requests for the following will be considered, but given lower priority.

  • Staff salaries
  • Facilities that do not increase OHV access
  • Heavy equipment
  • Political lobbying

Application Requirements

All applications must include:

  • Documentation of tax exempt status from the relevant government agency
  • A letter of endorsement from the local Yamaha dealer
  • A copy of the previous year’s tax return or a pro forma financial statement (government agencies are exempted)
  • “Where to Ride” information for your area including a list of trails with any seasonal or other restrictions and maps or illustrations

Government agencies are also required to include a Letter of Support from a senior executive or elected official.

Applicants who intend to use Outdoor Access funds as a match for another grant must explain how this award will be spent in the larger context of the project.

American Trails Legacy Trails Grant Program

The American Trails Legacy Trails Grant Program is offered in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and funds projects on National Forest System trails and trail bridges.

Up to $100,000 is available for a 2 year grant period. A match of at least 50% of the requested amount is required, but this can include in-kind donations of time and equipment. Applications are due by December 1, 2023 and must include a letter of support from the local Forest Service office.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • For profit businesses
  • Non-federal agencies

Program Goals

The Legacy Trails Program is intended to improve acquatic habitat and improve resilience to natural disasters by:

  • Building trail bridges
  • Converting roads to trails
  • Relocating trails
  • Decommissioning unauthorized trails
  • Decommissioning closed trails following a public comment period

Program Priorities & Preferences

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that protect or restore:

  • Water quality and watershed function
  • A watershed that supplies a public drinking water system
  • The habitat of a threatened, endangered, or sensitive fish or wildlife species, or a species of conservation concern
  • A watershed for which the Forest Service has completed a watershed protection and restoration action plan.

Preference will also be given to proposals that include:

  • Volunteer participation which may be included as an in-kind match
  • Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge in project design
  • Partnerships to identify risks to critical infrastructure and social, cultural, and economic values

Saucony Run for Good Grant

The Run for Good program from Saucony was founded in 2006 to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. To encourage America’s youth to engage in more active lifestyles, they provide grants of up to $10,000 to running programs for kids.

Applications are accepted during two grant cycles, ending on June 15 and December 15 each year.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations:

  • With a 501(c)3 tax exempt status
  • Who work with youth aged 18 and younger
  • Who operate programs that use running to have a positive impact on participants’ lives

Selection Priorities

Grantees will be chosen based on:

  • Use of running to improve health and well being of youth
  • Work with populations typically underserved by running programs
  • Adherence to the Saucony Run For Good Foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children through running

USDA Forest Service Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program 

The USDA Forest Service Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program provides funding to establish community forests. This protects forest land and provides economic, environmental, and educational benefits.

Interested applicants should contact their Community Forest Program Regional Contact. Grant awards are available for up to $600,000 over two years with a required 1:1 match of non-federal funds. Applications must be submitted to State Foresters or Tribal Governments by January 12, 2024.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to entities in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, such as:

  • Federally Recognized Native American Tribes (including Alaska Native Corporations)
  • Local governments
  • Qualified nonprofit organizations

Land

Image by Robert Balog

To be eligible for conversion to community forest under this program, property must be:

  • At least 5 acres
  • At least 75% forested
  • Able to sustain natural vegetation
  • Threatened by conversion to non-forest uses
  • For sale by a willing seller
  • Not held in trust by the United States on behalf of any Native Tribe and not Tribal allotment lands
  • Accessible to the public

Allowable Costs

Grant funding is intended to be used for full fee title acquisition of a piece of forested property. Also allowable are related costs, such as:

  • Title examination 
  • Appraisals and appraisal reviews
  • Land surveys 
  • Legal and closing costs
  • Development of the Community Forest Plan 

Funds may not be used for:

  • Long-term operations, maintenance, and management of the land
  • Construction of buildings or recreational facilities
  • Existing liens or taxes owed
  • Research
  • Costs associated with preparing this application

Review Criteria

Image by Valentin

All applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Community benefits (economic, environmental, educational, recreational) – 20 points
  • Community engagement – 10 points
  • Strategic contribution and connection to broader landscape initiatives – 5 points
  • Threat or likelihood of property being converted to non-forest use – 5 points

Other considerations include:

  • Costs to the federal government
  • Other funds leveraged
  • Due diligence completed

International Mountain Bicycling Association: Trail Accelerator Grants 

The International Mountain Bicycling Association is on a mission, “To create, enhance and protect great places to ride mountain bikes.” Their goal is to partner with 250 new communities in the U.S. by 2025 to develop accessible and diverse high quality trails.

Interested partners can apply for a Trail Accelerator Grant to receive assistance with planning their future trail. This is an in-kind grant with the IMBA providing an average of $5,000 – $30,000 in professional services with a required 1:1 match. Applications are open and will be accepted through August 31, 2023.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • Local, state, and federal government agencies
  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that actively manage parks and trails
  • Mountain bike clubs and local IMBA partners with the financial and organizational capacity to manage the grant

Project

Potential projects include:

Image by Pexels
  • Trails that serve mountain bikers as the primary users; multi-use trails for non-motorized traffic will also be considered
  • Projects that substantially increase access to mountain biking trails and improve the experience
  • Projects that lead to overall community benefits
  • Projects that promote riding among youth and marginalized communities

Priorities

Priority will be given to projects that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Examples include:

  • Youth and/or women’s programs
  • Trails for adaptive riders
  • Projects for populations with health issues
  • Projects for communities/populations that have limited to no trail access

Deliverables

Image by Adrián Gómez – Millán Díaz

Each project will be different based on the acreage involved, the difficulty of the terrain, permitting requirements, etc. Deliverables may include written reports and maps, but if chosen for a grant, the IMBA will work with you to define the exact scope and cost of the project.

The J.W. Couch Foundation

Jesse W. Couch was a World War II veteran, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The Foundation established in his name carries on his legacy by investing in projects in Preservation, Education, and Wellness.

They meet twice a year to review submitted applications. The second due date for 2023 is September 15.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • For profit businesses in the United States working in Preservation, Education, or Wellness

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • General operating support
  • Specific programming
  • New product development for social entrepreneurs

Program Areas

Preservation

Eligible applications under Preservation may focus on:

Image by Jungsik kwak
  • Historic Preservation – conserving historic resources to cultivate the importance of community
  • Wildlife Conservation – protecting land and water so all life on Earth can thrive
  • Renewable Energy – expanding solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal power to prevent catastrophic global temperatures
  • Food Management – reducing emissions from all levels of food production: growing, transporting, and waste disposal
  • Transportation – transforming the transportation industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Waste Management – shifting consumption to reduce single use products and the need to obtain raw materials

Education

Eligible applications under Education may focus on:

  • Early Childhood Education – creative approaches to education such as life skills, project based learning, and increased outdoor time
  • 21st Century Education – teaching essential skills for modern times, such as critical thinking, collaboration, oral and written communication, and entrepreneurship
  • Teachers – investing in teachers

Wellness

Eligible applications under Wellness may focus on:

Image by Firmbee
  • Mental Health – assisting people struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.
  • Digital Wellbeing – promoting a more balanced approach to technology use
  • Get Outside – promoting the health benefits of outdoor activities