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Funding & Resources

Ideas and sources of funding from across America; tips on grant writing; opportunities with volunteers and Youth Corps; and a variety of examples of trails and greenways funding programs.

For more on current grants and funding opportunities see the What's Hot area

Winning Federal Dollars for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
CDC funds Let’s Play grants of $2.1 million through 2013 to increase play opportunities for children
Open Spaces Sacred Places: The Healing Power of Nature: National Awards Initiative for Integrated Design and Research
Advocacy Advance Grants for organizations and innovative campaigns to increase biking and walking
Greater Outdoors Project provides grants for environmental projects
Distribution of "Safe Routes to School" funds to states
American Canoe Association and L.L. Bean offer water trail Stewardship Grants
Bikes Belong awards grants for trails and bicycle facilities
Breyer Animal Creations provides equestrian trail preservation grant
Nature Valley launches Save the Trails Grant Program, in support of American Hiking Society's National Trails Fund
Polaris announces 2008 T.R.A.I.L.S. ATV grants program
Polaris announces T.R.A.I.L.S. grants program for ATV projects
Funding For Wisconsin Trails (pdf 596 kb): typical State trails, OHV, and snowmobile grant program
New York Trail Funding Guide (pdf 52 kb)
National Scenic Byways Grants list for 2006
The social and economic benefits of Transportation Enhancements (pdf 680 kb)
Funding Trails Training with State Resources
Funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs from Baltimore Regional Transportation Board
25 community projects given grants to promote Active Living
Tread Lightly! Stewardship Grant Program
Kodak American Greenways Awards program from the Conservation Fund
PowerBar's D.I.R.T. grants program funds outdoor recreation projects nationwide
Conservation Alliance Grants
Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council provides planning grants for the Hudson River Valley

Checklist for grant writers
The Case for Support: developing fundraising programs for nonprofits (archived webinar)
Top Ten hints for ISTEA trail projects
Eight Do's and One Don't for Enhancement Applications
CA Recreational Trails Program: how to develop a competitive proposal (pdf 3.3 mb)
Solving the Proposal Dilemma: grant writing for federal proposals

Governor announces Delaware’s blueprint for trails funding
Forever Green Tennessee real estate transfer tax funds parks and open space
Mountain Bikers Creating Trail Systems with National Forest Foundation Grants
Lake Ouachita trail partnership counts on volunteers and cooperation on funding
Arkansas faces a trails funding crisis: the benefits of working collaboratively
Acadia Trails Forever is a $13-million fundraising campaign to benefit trails of Acadia National Park
Businesses and community help Bear Creek Greenway
Poudre River Trail Benefits from "Memorial Miles" Donations
Community Provides Creative Support for Salida's Trail System

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For more on Recreational Trails and other transportation funding see the Federal Funding Programs area

Funding trails: a primer of techniques
Ninety-five Creative funding ideas for trails and greenways
Fundraising Ideas from RaisingFunding in the U.K.
Searchable catalogue of potential funders
Fundraising 101 by Kandee Haertel
Gift catalogue from Rails to Trails of Northwest MT
Mark Twain National Forest Adventure Race raises funds
Hatfield-McCoy Trail Receives $157,115 Tourism Marketing Grant
River's Edge Trail Blues & Brews fundraising party celebrates 14 years
Cycling Organization First in the Country to Buy Land for Trails and Open Space
Iowa "Share The Road" license plates fund bike safety
Arkansas Trails for Life Grant Program uses state Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act funds
Arkansas campaign to establish a statewide trail grant program (pdf 380 kb)
Fee Legislation Promises Improved Visitor Experience
Private fundraising solves trail maintenance problem
User Fees: Golden Arches National Park?
Continental Divide Trail Defends Creative Funding
Park users survey gauges willingness to pay
Marketing Partnerships: You Don't Have to Sell Your Soul
Keys to Corporate Giving by Bruce Ward
Two articles about corporate giving
Download a 218-page guide to Federal, State, and Philanthropic Assistance for State and Community Projects, many of which are relevant to recreation and environmental projects

Building Trails With Youth Corps
Youth Corps Holds a Key to Trails
Hybrid Contracting: Extending resources with trail contractors
Enlisting youth for public lands projects from Toolbox for the Great Outdoors

photo: Celebrating funding of a new stretch of the Arizona Trail

Celebrating funding of a new stretch
of the Arizona Trail

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Funding & Resources