Grants to parks and trails groups available from Parks & Trails New York - Goal is to boost organization capacity

Parks & Trails New York’s Capacity Building Grants program for park and trail groups provides grants of up to $3,000 to strengthen not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and trails in communities across the state. 

Through the new grant program, made possible by a generous donor, Parks & Trails New York intends to help New York not-for-profits better fulfill their missions; improve their reach, effectiveness, and impact; leverage more resources, and increase community support for and involvement in park and trail planning, development, and stewardship.  Funds can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development; training; communications; and volunteer recruitment and management. 

The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2008. Download application as PDF or Microsoft Word.

While a number of grant programs are available to not-for-profits, they usually only fund capital projects and specific programs; they don’t help organizations develop and strengthen the skills, processes, and resources that they need to survive and thrive.  

Hundreds of not-for-profit organizations are working to build, protect, and promote our state’s parks and trails, helping to provide not only places to engage in healthy physical activity and close to home recreation at a time of record gas prices but also additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies.  It’s amazing how much these groups accomplish with minimal resources and limited or non-existent staff. With this grant program, Parks & Trails New York hopes to propel their work to new levels and expand what they can accomplish so that they can become even stronger park and trail stewards and advocates.

ELIGIBILITY
Awards will be made primarily to local or regional organizations associated with a specific New York park or trail that is or will be open to the public. Organizations must be classified by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a 501 (c)(3). 

GUIDELINES
Grants will fund activities that help develop and strengthen the skills, processes and resources that not-for-profit organizations need to survive:

  • Organizational start-up – e.g., incorporation, initial staff, equipment purchase
  • Professional consulting services that aid organizational development – e.g., fundraising, communication, marketing, membership, strategic planning, financial management
  • Board and staff training
  • Volunteer recruitment, training and/or recognition program
  • Communications – e.g., logo, website, newsletter, or other graphic design, development or enhancement; printing and distribution of brochures, newsletters or other communication tools

Grants cannot be used to fund:

  • General operating
  • Capital costs associated with construction and infrastructure for a park or trail
  • Trailside or park amenities
  • Endowments
  • Lobbying or political activities

SELECTION CRITERIA
Awards will be made based on:

  • Ability to initiate, grow, strengthen, or transform the organization
  • Ability to leverage other opportunities, such as partnerships and funding sources
  • Organizational commitment to the project
  • Level of community support
  • Demonstrated need
  • Clearly articulated goals, tangible outcomes and well-defined measures of success
  • Ability of the project to serve as a model for other groups
  • Visibility – degree to which project will foster public use, appreciation, stewardship, and development of parks and trails
  • If applicable, plan for sustainability after grant period ends

AWARD AMOUNTS
Grants will be awarded up to $3000. 

GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS
All grantees will execute a signed contract with Parks & Trails New York prior to receiving an initial payment of 75% of the grant award.  Grantees will be required to submit a brief, six-month progress update.  The remainder of the grant award will be paid upon receipt of a final accounting and project report.  All final reports will be due by January 29, 2010.  Successful completion of funded projects and timely submission of reports will affect eligibility for future grant awards.

For more information, email grants@ptny.org or call 518-434-1583. 

  
           
 

29 Elk Street w Albany, NY 12207 w (ph) 518-434-1583 w (fax) 518-427-0067 w ptny@ptny.org

Parks & Trails New York is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as defined by the IRS.