New Initiative Grant Program

New Initiative Grant Program

Funder: Georgia Recreation and Park Association

Geographic Scope: Georgia (state-wide)

Focus Areas: Innovation in parks and recreation services (programs, services, or events) at local or regional level with potential state-wide impact

Overview: Grant program intended to spur innovation in parks and recreation services. Funding is available for new initiatives that demonstrate innovation with future applicability for other agencies.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants: Must be a GRPA agency member in good standing
• Submission: One grant submittal per agency
• Timeline: Grant funds must be expended within the agency's current or upcoming fiscal year in which they were awarded
• Prior Recipients: 2024 grant recipients are not eligible to apply in 2025

What is Eligible for Funding

• New programs, services, or events demonstrating innovation
• Initiatives with potential applicability for other agencies at local, regional, or state-wide level

What is NOT Eligible

• Capital improvements (buildings and structures)
• Funding for existing programs and services
• Personnel costs
• On-going expenses
• Costs incurred prior to the award of the grant

Other Requirements

• Implementation Requirement: If the initiative is not implemented, recipients must return funds to the association
• Reporting: Recipients must provide a report documenting all expenditures with copies of receipts
• Outcomes Documentation: Report must include initiative outcomes and any variations from the original proposal
• Dissemination: Recipients must provide a narrative for inclusion in GRPA publications and may be asked to present at the GRPA annual conference

Evaluation Criteria

Applications reviewed by panel of third-party recreation professionals and grant specialists:

Innovative approach to the initiative (30%)

Community need or support (25%)

Feasibility/likelihood that initiative could be used by other agencies throughout Georgia (25%)

Initiative assessment measures and success indicators (10%)

Thoroughness of application including all requested information (10%)

Contact Information:

Georgia Recreation and Park Association

Phone: 770.760.1403

Address: 1285 Parker Road Southeast, Conyers, GA 30094

Website: grpa.org

Application Process

Narrative Format Requirements:

Maximum 4 pages

12 pt. Times New Roman Font

1" margins

Must follow specific format with 7 sections:

Required Sections

1. Initiative Name, Location, Duration, and Expected Audience
2. Initiative Personnel and Grant Contact Information
3. Initiative Description and Innovative Approach - Very thorough description of the innovative approach to the initiative
4. Community Need/Support - Demonstrate community need and support
5. Initiative Budget - State all expected revenues and expenditures specifically (admissions, marketing, supplies, equipment rental, etc.)
6. Feasibility - Likelihood that the initiative could be used by other agencies throughout Georgia
7. Evaluation and Success Measures - How the initiative will be evaluated and what measures will be used to determine success

Submission

• Submit narrative following above format
• Contact GRPA for current deadline and submission instructions