Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

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
  • How to Apply

    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

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    recreationcommunity-servicescapacity-building

    Categories

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