Recreation Grants for Nonprofits

Last updated October 9, 2026

Grantable tracks 700 active recreation grants for nonprofits in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 15 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 346 list an award amount, with a median of $43K.

Grants tracked: 700; from 425 funders
Median award: $43K; middle half $7,500–$233K
Total listed funding: $159.8M; across 346 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 14; 40 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
CORE Fund- Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Environment Grant Western Colorado Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Environment (CORE) Grant, initiated by the Western Colorado Community Foundation, supports impactful projects in conservation and outdoor recreation across western Colorado.	Not published	Varies
Uihlein-Ironman Sports Fund Adirondack Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
VOREC Community Grant (Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative) Kingdom Trail Association Inc · Foundation Not published · $75K	Not published	$75K
Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program California Department of Parks and Recreation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program (GCA) – G24, funded by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, supports the planning, development, and conservation of Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) trails and facilities.	Not published	Varies
Recreation – Building Communities Recreational Facilities Grants Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services · State Not published · Up to $2.5M Capital costs associated with development and creation of a facility-based project that provides, coordinates, or organizes recreational programs for youth and/or adults within a community area.	Not published	Up to $2.5M
CFPR Student Scholarship Grant California Foundation for Parks and Recreation · Foundation Not published · Varies The CFPR Student Scholarship is designed for students pursuing degrees in fields related to recreation and parks management. Eligible candidates include undergraduates with at least 60 units and graduates who have completed 9 units.	Not published	Varies
Hinton Area Foundation: Community Impact Fund Grant Hinton Area Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Hinton Area Foundation's Community Impact Fund Grant supports local charitable organizations in Hinton and Summers County. This grant focuses on enhancing education, arts, beautification, health, human services, and public recreation.	Not published	Varies
Coastal Conservancy Grants Coastal Conservancy · State Not published · Varies Each year, the Coastal Conservancy issues millions of dollars in grants for projects that restore and protect the California coast, expand public access to it, and enhance its resilience to climate change.	Not published	Varies
Impact Grants Warren County Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $10K	Not published	$3K – $10K
Shooting Range Small Grant Program Colorado Parks & Wildlife · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K The Shooting Range Small Grant Program, offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, provides funding for improvements at shooting range facilities in Colorado.	Not published	$500 – $5K
Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grants The Fairfax County Park Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Park Authority funds the Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program which awards grants to match volunteer funds and in-kind services for projects that improve Fairfax County parks and facilities.	Not published	Up to $20K
Colorado Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Colorado Parks & Wildlife · Foundation Not published · $100K – $1.3M The Colorado Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides essential grants for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreational spaces.	Not published	$100K – $1.3M
Growing Greenwood Fund Grant Emporia Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to US $1,000 The Growing Greenwood Fund, managed by the Emporia Community Foundation, provides essential financial support for education, community development, health care, and recreation projects in Greenwood County.	Not published	Up to US $1,000
Recreation Passport Grants (MI) Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · $8K – $150K The Recreation Passport Grants (MI) program provides financial support for local units to develop and renovate public recreation facilities.	Not published	$8K – $150K
Major Sporting Event Venue Zone (MSEVZ) Economic Opportunity Grants · State Not published · Varies Promotes economic development for major sports facilities in Utah and encourages redevelopment of aging venues, the development of new venues and supporting infrastructure, and increased use of public transportation.	Not published	Varies
PA Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission · Foundation Not published · $100K The PA Boating Infrastructure Grant Program supports the development and maintenance of transient moorage for recreational motorboats 26 feet and longer.	Not published	$100K
Falmouth Fund Grants The Cape Cod Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K – $5K The Falmouth Fund Grants, established by The Cape Cod Foundation in 2009, support diverse community needs in Falmouth, including health, education, and arts.	Not published	$2K – $5K
Arts in California Parks Parks California · Foundation Not published · Varies A grants program supporting arts initiatives in California parks. Specific details about focus areas, eligibility, and funding amounts are not provided in the available content.	Not published	Varies
Lily Palmer Fry Memorial Grant Fry W Cotr Uw - L P Fry Mem Tr · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lily Palmer Fry Memorial Grant, managed by Bank of America, focuses on supporting summer camp opportunities for underserved children.	Not published	Varies
ECF Grants Emporia Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Emporia Community Foundation (ECF) provides grants to support innovative projects that address community needs in health, education, recreation, and cultural affairs.	Not published	Varies
BDR Access/Advocacy Grant Backcountry Discovery Routes · Foundation Rolling · Varies Backcountry Discovery Routes contributes to projects that create or protect riding areas important to dual-sport and adventure motorcycles, especially areas connected to an existing or future BDR route; applications are submitted to the…	Rolling	Varies
Recreation – Building Communities Recreational Grants Vermont Buildings and General Services · State Not published · Up to $2.5M Funds capital costs associated with the development and creation of community recreational opportunities in Vermont communities. This is last gap funding for shovel-ready projects.	Not published	Up to $2.5M
Parks for All Grants -Hydro Flask Product Donations Hydro Flask · Foundation Not published · Varies Hydro Flask's Parks for All Grants offer product donations to U.S. non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to enhancing public green spaces and recreational areas.	Not published	Varies
Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Fund - Emergency and Mitigation Grants Arizona State Parks & Trails · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Fund provides essential financial support for managing off-highway vehicle (OHV) activities in Arizona.	Not published	Up to $100K

Showing 313–336 of 694

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.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow recreation grants for nonprofits down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do recreation grants for nonprofits award?

Of the 700 recreation grants for nonprofits Grantable lists as of October 9, 2026, 346 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $43K, and the middle half fall between $7,500 and $233K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most recreation grants for nonprofits?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (10), Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (10), Colorado Parks & Wildlife (9), Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (9), and Arizona State Parks & Trails (8). In all, 425 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are recreation grants for nonprofits due?

Of 700 grants listed, 14 accept applications on a rolling basis, 40 have a published upcoming deadline, 106 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 540 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 57% fall in October–December.

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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