Recreation Grants for Nonprofits
Last updated September 18, 2026
There are currently 702 active recreation grants in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily.
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Showing 1–24 of 702
About recreation grants
Recreation grants support parks, trails, sports facilities, and outdoor recreation access for communities. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides matching grants to states and, through them, to local governments for acquiring land and developing public outdoor recreation facilities. State park and recreation agencies, community foundations, and corporate programs offer additional funding for fields, playgrounds, and recreation programs.
Recreation Grants by state
Browse recreation grants available to organizations in 19 states.
Top funders for recreation
Foundations and grantmakers active in recreation & sports — explore each funder's giving history, typical grant sizes, and what they fund.
- Pac-12 Conference SAN RAMON, CA $394.7M given/yr
- United States Olympic and Paralympic COLORADO SPRINGS, CO $78.4M given/yr
- United States Olympic and Paralympic COLORADO SPRINGS, CO $45.3M given/yr
- Sun Belt Conference NEW ORLEANS, LA $23.9M given/yr
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Inc HOUSTON, TX $16.2M given/yr
- Fargo Park District Foundation FARGO, ND $12.1M given/yr
- The United States Olympic and Paralympic COLORADO SPRINGS, CO $11.8M given/yr
- Paul Simons Foundation Inc STONY BROOK, NY $11.3M given/yr
- Yosemite Foundation SAN FRANCISCO, CA $10.6M given/yr
- Charlotte Sports Foundation CHARLOTTE, NC $9.8M given/yr
- Pga Tour First Tee Foundation Inc PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL $9.1M given/yr
- Southeastern Conference BIRMINGHAM, AL $8.1M given/yr
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Frequently Asked Questions
What grants are available for recreation?
Recreation grants fund parks and green spaces, trails, ballfields and sports facilities, playgrounds, water access, and recreation programming. The Land and Water Conservation Fund supports land acquisition and facility development through matching grants, and state recreation agencies, community foundations, and corporate giving programs fund a broad range of community recreation projects.
Who funds parks and recreation projects?
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), administered federally and distributed through state agencies, is a key source of outdoor recreation funding for state and local governments. State park and recreation departments, community foundations, corporate foundations, and national recreation organizations also fund facilities, trails, and programs at the local level.
Who can apply for recreation grants?
Many major recreation grants, including LWCF awards, go to state and local government agencies, with funds often requiring a local match. Nonprofit recreation and conservation organizations can frequently apply for foundation and corporate grants directly, and community groups sometimes partner with a municipality or use a fiscal sponsor to access government funding.
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