Best Recreation Grants for Nonprofits in New York

The Environmental Protection Fund Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF) offers matching grants for the acquisition, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas in New York. It supports municipalities and not-for-profits, ensuring long-term protection of funded projects. The program encompasses three categories: Parks, Historic Preservation, and Heritage Areas, aimed at enhancing recreational facilities and preserving cultural heritage through well-defined projects and planning.

Nonprofit partners of New York state parks, trails, and historic sites can use these professional development grants to hire or expand permanent staff for recreation, outreach, and stewardship work in New York. The New York State Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation supports long-term organizational capacity building with awards up to US $150,001, requiring a 20% cash match.

Recreation and park-support nonprofits in New York that partner with state parks, trails, historic sites, or public lands can seek capacity-building support for organizational effectiveness projects. Grants from New York State Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation help New York outdoor recreation and conservation groups strengthen operations, expand reach, and enhance stewardship, with awards up to US $200,000.

Nonprofit organizations in New York that formally partner with state parks, trails, historic sites, or DEC public lands can use these grants to expand stewardship, public access, interpretation, and promotion. Grants from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation provide up to US $300,000 in matching funds to build organizational capacity for outdoor recreation and related programs.

NY PLAYS: Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization

Recognizing that Playgrounds promote physical activity, exercise, and building friendships – and that research shows outdoor play supports emotional well-being – Governor Hochul announced the New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) Initiative. This new competitive grant program will support the design, construction, and renovation of Playgrounds that are open to the public in Communities across the State.

NY PLAYS is overseen by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (“NYS OPRHP”) and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (“DASNY”).