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: 15; 40 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
BDR Access/Advocacy Grant Backcountry Discovery Routes · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Kahuku Wind Community Fund Grant Hawaii Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Kahuku Wind Community Fund, established by the Estate of James Campbell in 2005, supports nonprofit organizations in the Kahuku area of Hawai‘i.	Not published	Up to $10K
WA RCO: Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office · Foundation Not published · $200K – $4.8M The WA RCO Land and Water Conservation Fund supports the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation resources, including parks and trails. Established in 1965, it aids states in enhancing public outdoor areas.	Not published	$200K – $4.8M
Undiscovered SC Grant Program South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism · Foundation Not published · $100K – $200K The Undiscovered SC Grant Program aims to enhance South Carolina's tourism by supporting counties and municipalities in developing public attractions.	Not published	$100K – $200K
Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation Grant Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K – $1M The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation provides grants for capital projects related to youth, education, health, community, recreation, and the arts in Santa Barbara's South Coast.	Not published	$10K – $1M
Sidewalks and Trails Grant Program - >5,000 population Kansas Department of Commerce · Foundation Not published · Up to $800K The Sidewalks and Trails Grant Program, managed by the Kansas Department of Commerce, aims to enhance community engagement and health by funding the construction of sidewalks and trails linked to recreational facilities.	Not published	Up to $800K
Beckley Area Foundation Community Grant Program Beckley Area Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Beckley Area Foundation Community Grant Program supports charitable organizations in Raleigh County by providing discretionary grants focused on pressing community needs.	Not published	Up to $10K
Recreation – Trail Accessibility Assessment Vermont Trails and Greenways Council (VTGC) · State Not published · $200K Evaluates existing trails or proposed sites from the perspective of individuals with mobility challenges and provides practical, professional recommendations to improve and build accessible and adaptive aquatic, pedestrian, and adaptive…	Not published	$200K
Transportation – Trail Accessibility Assessment Vermont Trails and Greenways Council (VTGC) · State Not published · $200K Evaluates existing trails or proposed sites from the perspective of individuals with mobility challenges and provides practical, professional recommendations to improve and build accessible and adaptive aquatic, pedestrian, and adaptive…	Not published	$200K
Bicycle, Pedestrian & Trail Project Grants Transportation · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Tad Jeffrey Memorial Fund Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks · Foundation Not published · Varies A mini-grant program that supports unique projects and programs in Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Enables Metro Parks to implement initiatives that enhance the Metro Parks and the visitor experience.	Not published	Varies
SAC Developmental Disabilities Grants Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The SAC Developmental Disabilities Grants aim to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by funding innovative programs that foster education, independence, and social engagement.	Not published	Up to $3K
CPCF Competitive Grants (Unrestricted Funds) Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $3K The Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation distributes competitive grants to better the Blair County (PA) region. Each year it accepts project proposals from organizations for funding via a competitive grants process.	Not published	$500 – $3K
Skills4Life (S4L) Military Warriors Support Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
ADPHT Great Strides Program Grants (Trails for Life) Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - Office of Outdoor Recreation · Foundation Not published · Up to $250K The ADPHT Great Strides Program Grants aim to support Arkansas communities in creating smoke-free outdoor trails and recreational facilities.	Not published	Up to $250K
Springville Chamber of Commerce Fund Greater Olean Community Foundation DBA Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $965 This fund supports community projects that will have a lasting benefit for residents and visitors in the Springville area.	Rolling	Up to $965
Small Community Grants Trust Program City of Boston · State Not published · $500 – $2K The Small Community Grants Trust Program, funded by the City of Boston, supports 501c3 organizations that positively impact local communities.	Not published	$500 – $2K
Community Fund Grants Marshall County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $108K The most flexible and responsive of the Marshall County Community Foundation's funds for addressing current and emerging needs in Marshall County.	Not published	$108K
State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund Grant Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The State Park and Forest Heritage Trust Fund, established by the Wisconsin Legislature, provides grants to Friends Groups for maintaining state parks and forests. Eligible groups must be nonprofit organizations with an endowment fund.	Not published	Up to $30K
FishAmerica Foundation R3 Grant Program Fishamerica Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $10K Support the sportfishing community's efforts to Recruit, Retain and Reactivate (R3) anglers.	Not published	$500 – $10K
NWT Recreation & Parks: Water Smart Grant NWT Recreation & Parks Association · Foundation Not published · Up to $750 The NWT Recreation & Parks Water Smart Grant offers funding for organizations to host three community events focused on Water Smart topics.	Not published	Up to $750
Traverse City Track Club Endowment Grants Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Traverse City Track Club Endowment Grants support initiatives that promote health, fitness, and community engagement through running and walking.	Not published	Varies
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund for Western New York Grant Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund for Western New York In 2018, as part of the 100th anniversary of Ralph Wilson, Jr.’s birth and celebration of his legacy and community devotion, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced a…	Not published	Varies
Eugene T. Mahoney Legacy Fund Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies An endowment fund created to support Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, ensuring the park can continue to serve Nebraskans for generations to come.	Not published	Varies

Showing 337–360 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, 15 accept applications on a rolling basis, 40 have a published upcoming deadline, 105 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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