Park & Trail Partnership Grants: Step Up Grants

The Park & Trail Partnership Grants: Step Up Grants program provides up to $20,000 in matching funds to support organizations in securing 501(c)(3) status and enhancing their operational capacity. Funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, this initiative aims to promote the stewardship and sustainability of New York's parks and trails, while also fostering volunteer and fundraising efforts. Eligible applicants must be registered charities and demonstrate commitment to supporting public lands.

The Park and Trail Partnership Grants is a $2 million capacity-building matching grants program funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. The program is designed to:

• Enhance the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, maintenance and promotion of New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.

Increase the sustainability, effectiveness, productivity, and volunteer and fundraising capabilities of not-for-profit organizations that promote, maintain, and support New York State parks, trails, state historic sites and public lands.
Promote the tourism and economic development benefits of outdoor recreation through the growth and expansion of a connected statewide network of parks, trails, greenways and public lands.
Step-up Grants assist organizations with the administrative and legal fees needed to secure 501(c)(3) status, along with the costs associated with completing a consultant-facilitated organizational assessment and resulting plan(s).
Grants up to $20,000; a $500 match is required. Cash or in-kind. Award disbursed at contract signing.

Eligibility

The NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program is open to organizations whose mission includes the preservation, stewardship, interpretation, environmental education, maintenance, and/or promotion of a New York State park, trail, historic site or public land under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), or Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  In addition:An applicant must be registered as a charity with the New York State Attorney General’s office and submit their CHAR500/410 Annual Financial Report.
An applicant must be classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or have a Memorandum of Understanding with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt fiscal agent.
An applicant must have, and be in good standing under, a current agreement applicable to the grant request with OPRHP or DEC or have received a letter of intent to enter into such agreement.An applicant must have as part of its mission and activities the support of an OPRHP or DEC facility.Matching fundsApplicant organizations must match the grant with non-state funds.Matching funds must be verifiable at the time of application.In-kind match contributions must be quantifiable and documented and may include:donation of professional and construction services (legal, facilitation, consultation, etc. as well as the donation of travel costs from that individual);donation of goods (meeting rooms, equipment, printing costs, food or refreshments, construction materials); anddonation of unskilled/general labor from volunteers (trail work, administrative work, construction work).Organizations may submit more than one application, either within the same grant category or in more than one category.

Ineligibility

NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program grant funds may not be used to cover:

• Project costs incurred before date of signed grant contract
• General operating support
• Purchasing interest in lands or buildings
• Endowment funds
• Travel or lodging
• Lobbying or political activities