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
Return to Dirt Program Grant High Fives Nonprofit Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Return to Dirt Program by the High Fives Foundation offers individuals with mobility limitations the chance to explore the outdoors through adaptive off-road vehicles.	Not published	Varies
Western New York Trail Town Grants Parks & Trails New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K – $15K Founded in 1985 by a group of passionate park advocates who believed New York’s magnificent state park system merited its own advocacy group, PTNY’s purview quickly grew to include trails, outdoor recreation, active transportation, and…	Not published	$3K – $15K
Children's Fresh Air Society Fund Grant Baltimore Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K The Children's Fresh Air Society Fund Grant aims to provide disadvantaged and disabled children in the Metropolitan Baltimore area with enriching summer camp experiences.	Not published	$5K
JB's Keys Adaptive Sports Scholarship for Skiing JB'S Keys to DMD Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Scholarship program supporting adaptive skiing for individuals living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.	Not published	Varies
Park & Trail Partnership Grant (PTPG) Program Parks & Trails New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $2.5M Since 2016, the program has supported necessary maintenance and improvement projects across the state's parks and trails. The program focuses on grassroots nonprofits and emphasizes DEIA principles.	Not published	$2.5M
Rural YMCA Grant Program (IA) Iowa Economic Development Authority · Foundation Not published · $10K – $100K The Rural YMCA Grant Program in Iowa offers $250,000 to improve facility infrastructure at rural YMCA locations.	Not published	$10K – $100K
Green Space Grant Program - Outdoor Recreation Grants - Small Recreation Development Grant (RI) State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Natural Resources Bureau · State Not published · Up to $100K The Green Space Grant Program offers financial support for outdoor recreational development in Rhode Island.	Not published	Up to $100K
State Property Friends Groups Grant Program Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The State Property Friends Groups Grant Program allocates $500,000 annually to support friends groups and nonprofit conservation organizations in enhancing state properties.	Not published	Up to $20K
Great American Cleanup Grants Keep America Beautiful Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.	Not published	Varies
National Scenic Byways Program Discretionary Grants Scenic America · Foundation Not published · $50M The National Scenic Byways Program is a voluntary, community-based program administered through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to recognize, protect, and promote America's most outstanding roads.	Not published	$50M
Richard and Kathleen Zacky Family Foundation Fund Avila Beach Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $100 – $5K The purpose of this fund is to support projects of interest to the Zackys that improve the Avila Beach experience and fall within the Avila Beach Foundation's mission and by-laws.	Rolling	$100 – $5K
Small Grants Program Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy · State Not published · Varies The Program provides funding for eligible entities to complete projects under $100,000 that make transformative investments in the Delta’s social, economic, scientific, and physical infrastructure.	Not published	Varies
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds: Caregiving Fund, Design & Access Fund, and Youth Sports Fund Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The 'Pre Proposal' deadline above is the deadline to register in Fluxx, if you are not already registered._ The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were created to provide permanent, endowed support for programs and initiatives that…	Not published	Varies
DCNR Recreation and Conservation Grant - Charleroi Riverfront Park Mon Valley Alliance · Foundation Not published · $157K Funding for riverfront park development, blight remediation, and community access to the Monongahela River.	Not published	$157K
Detroit Parks Coalition 2026 Summer Parks Programming Grants The Kresge Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K Expanding Equity and Opportunity in America’s Cities The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture…	Not published	Up to $20K
Community and Cultural Vibrancy RFP The Greater Cincinnati Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Ice Rink at Chester Park Fund The Almanor Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Raise funds annually to ensure that ice skating continues to be a winter activity in Chester for years to come	Not published	Varies
Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini Grant Programs: Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG) Pennsylvania Environmental Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini Grant Programs offer the Statewide Waterway Access Grant (SWAG) to support projects enhancing public access to waterways. Grants of up to $30,000 are available, with a required 1:1 match.	Not published	Up to $30K
The Red Sox Foundation: Programmatic Requests Grant The Red SOX Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The Red Sox Foundation provides programmatic grants to support non-profits focused on health, education, and recreation in New England. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, with larger requests by invitation only.	Not published	$1K – $10K
Community Change Grants America Walks Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K The Community Change Grants program aims to provide support to America Walks' network of advocates, grassroots organizers, organizations, and agencies using innovative, engaging, and inclusive programs and projects to create tangible…	Not published	$2K
State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) Grant Arizona State Parks & Trails · Foundation Not published · $5K – $1.0M The State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) in Arizona, established in 1960, provides funding for projects related to waters where motorized boats are allowed.	Not published	$5K – $1.0M
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIGP) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · Up to $1.5M The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIGP) provides essential funding for the construction and maintenance of boating facilities for transient recreational vessels 26 feet and longer.	Not published	Up to $1.5M
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (WA) Grant Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office · Foundation Not published · $300K – $15M The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, aims to enhance urban outdoor recreation in communities with populations over 30,000.	Not published	$300K – $15M
Memorial Funds Program Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Foundation · Foundation Ongoing · Varies Memorial funds are a way to turn loss into something positive and keep a loved one's memory alive. Legacy can live on and enhance the lives of the community through designated areas of support within the Grand Forks Park District.	Ongoing	Varies

Showing 361–384 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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