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

Find the recreation grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 694 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Implementation Grant Program Carolina Thread Trail · Foundation Not published · $5K – $150K The Carolina Thread Trail's Implementation Grant Program provides funding to communities and nonprofit organizations to support trail-related projects across a 15-county region in North Carolina and South Carolina.	Not published	$5K – $150K
Places and Spaces Program (previously Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) Grant) City of Hampton · State Not published · Up to $150K The Places and Spaces Program aims to enhance neighborhoods in Hampton by funding collaborative projects that improve public spaces.	Not published	Up to $150K
General Funding / Competitive Grants Community Foundation of Middlesex County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Foundation of Middlesex County provides competitive grants to nonprofit organizations serving Middlesex County.	Not published	Varies
Poweshiek County Alliance Grants Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Poweshiek County Alliance Grants aim to support local nonprofit organizations and public entities in enhancing the community's safety, beauty, and economic vitality.	Not published	Up to $10K
The Katy Stone Memorial Fund Grant Long Beach Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K The Katy Stone Memorial Fund honors the legacy of Katy Stone, a beloved Long Beach resident and advocate for youth development.	Not published	$5K – $20K
Youth Sports and Recreational Grant Program Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $50K Through the Prairie Meadows Youth Sports and Recreational Grant Program, Prairie Meadows seeks to benefit as many qualified youth sports organizations as possible with the funds available.	Not published	$1K – $50K
FUN Park Grants Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - Office of Outdoor Recreation · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The FUN Park Grants, managed by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, aim to enhance local outdoor recreation facilities for small communities with populations of 7,500 or less.	Not published	Up to $100K
Sponsorship Program Lincoln Parks and Recreation Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Junior Ranger Angler Grant National Park Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Junior Ranger Angler program, where anyone young at heart can earn their Junior Ranger Angler badge, inspires young people to catch their first fish and encourages families and communities to enjoy the vast outdoor experiences and…	Not published	Varies
Foundation Grant Award Washington County Visitors Association · Foundation Not published · $20K – $100K Prioritizes projects that will inspire awareness and overnight visitation to Washington County, Oregon, and serve as a platform for cultural and economic growth.	Not published	$20K – $100K
Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest - Need-Based Award MNY Group, LLC. · Foundation Not published · $50K – $65K The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest, co-hosted by Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, offers two all-expenses-paid awards for Life Floor safety surfaces, aimed at enhancing community splash pads.	Not published	$50K – $65K
Aquatic Facilities Grant (WA) King County Parks · Foundation Not published · Up to $5M The Aquatic Facilities Grant (WA) aims to enhance public access to aquatic facilities in King County as demand grows. This program supports renovations, expansions, or new constructions of public pools.	Not published	Up to $5M
DCNR Circuit Rider Grant Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) · Foundation Not published · Varies The DCNR Circuit Rider Grant offers funding to support the hiring of full-time staff for regional park, recreation, and conservation initiatives.	Not published	Varies
Seward Community Foundation Grant Cycle The Alaska Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K	Not published	$1K – $5K
PFB Community Grant Peopleforbikes Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies To get more people riding bikes more often. To make bike riding better for everyone.	Not published	Varies
Recreational Trails Program (Motorized and Non-Motorized Portions) - Trail Maintenance Program (Non-Motorized Projects Only) Grant Arizona State Parks & Trails · Foundation Not published · $10K – $100K The Recreational Trails Program, reauthorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law, provides funding for various recreational trail uses, including hiking, biking, and motorized vehicle activities.	Not published	$10K – $100K
Montana Snowmobile Program Grant Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · Foundation Not published · Up to $75K The Montana Snowmobile Program Grant supports snowmobile clubs in maintaining safe trails and promoting winter recreation.	Not published	Up to $75K
Bemidji Area Parks and Trails Fund Northwest Minnesota Foundation · Foundation Ongoing · Varies A component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation that provides grant funding support for parks, trails, and recreational amenities in the Bemidji area.	Ongoing	Varies
MidAmerican Energy Company Regional Fund Iowa Confluence Water Trails · Foundation Not published · $125K Cities and municipalities within the ICON Water Trails region	Not published	$125K
MT Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks · Foundation Not published · Varies The MT Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program aims to enhance recreational opportunities for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts in Montana. It provides funding for projects focused on safety, education, resource maintenance, and improvement.	Not published	Varies
MI Waterways Program Grants Michigan Department of Natural Resources · Foundation Not published · Varies The MI Waterways Program Grants, funded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, offer approximately $3.5 million for engineering studies and infrastructure improvements for local government units and state colleges.	Not published	Varies
Youth Recreational Scholarships Loveland Parks and Recreation Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Loveland Parks and Recreation Foundation provides scholarships to enable low-income or at-risk youth in Loveland to participate in recreational programming. The foundation receives over 200 scholarship requests annually.	Not published	Varies
Hanson Foundation Grant John K and Luise V Hanson Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, established in 1970, focuses on enhancing community quality of life in north central Iowa.	Not published	Varies
Kayak Rental Station Grant Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K The Kayak Rental Station Grant, offered by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, aims to enhance outdoor recreation and improve the visitor experience along the Fox River.	Not published	Up to $20K

Showing 49–72 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.

Want new funders like these found for you every week?

This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.

Create your grants department

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.

Get a shortlist of recreation grants built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department