Austin Parks Foundation partners with our community to enhance people’s lives by making our public parks, trails and green spaces better through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support.
Austin Parks Foundation’s recent grants show a clear pattern of investing in the public spaces Austinites use every day: parks, trails, green spaces, and the events and services that activate them. The largest award in the record goes to the City of Austin PARD for lifeguard training, Givens Aquatic Center renovation support, and nature play, which points to a mix of safety, facilities, and child-focused outdoor programming. The foundation also backed Republic Square improvements and repairs through Downtown Austin Parks LLC, first at $238,196 and then at $125,000, indicating sustained support for a single place across multiple years. Other large awards support park operations, scholarships, and cultural uses of park space. These grants sit alongside recurring sponsorships for concerts, festivals, trail access, and community programming, showing a funder that combines capital support, operating support, and event-based partnerships. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on public park infrastructure and the programs that help people use it.
Park infrastructure is a major thread in Austin Parks Foundation’s grantmaking. They gave $238,196 to Downtown Austin Parks LLC for Republic Square improvements and repairs in 2024, followed by another $26,700 for the same project in 2025. The foundation also supported Bartholomew Park through a $9,500 grant for monument assistance. They also fund aquatic recreation and safety. A 2025 grant of $301,500 to the City of Austin PARD supported lifeguard training, Givens Aquatic Center renovation support, and nature play. In a separate line of work, they awarded $297,000 to the City of Austin PARD for a program coordinator for connecting children to nature. Cultural and community activation is another theme. Zilker Theater Productions received $75,000 for Zilker Hillside Theatre and stage repairs, and Austin Symphony Orchestra Society got $10,000 for a Fourth of July event. The foundation also funded free community train rides with a $32,520 grant to Fun Time Train Rides.
Austin Parks Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record includes both large capital-style awards and smaller sponsorships, ranging from $6,000 to $301,500. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Downtown Austin Parks LLC, Austin Community Foundation - Fbo Tolf, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, Zilker Theater Productions-v, and Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps, which suggests repeated partnerships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is an operating grantmaker rather than a funder of individuals, and the recent grants show direct support to municipal departments, conservancies, and event partners. Unsolicited applications are accepted for some named programs, including Sponsored Fund Accounts and several community grant categories.
$514K
$26.4M
$12.3M
$11M
Most grants fall between $15K and $75K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$75K
COLIN WALLIS
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Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Austin and other Texas recipients. Ninety-four percent of grants go to recipients in Texas, and the recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based. Most awards land in Austin itself, including grants to the City of Austin PARD, Downtown Austin Parks LLC, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, Austin Symphony Orchestra Society Inc, and Fun Time Train Rides. Outside Austin, the only other named recipient city in the recent list is Washington, DC, through City Park Alliance, but that award still appears to support an Austin-related sponsorship.
The foundation funds park infrastructure and repairs, aquatic safety and recreation, nature play and outdoor education, performing arts venue support, community festivals and public events, landscape restoration, free community transportation, volunteer programs, and park activation. Recent grants include support for Republic Square, Givens Aquatic Center, Zilker Hillside Theatre, and free community train rides.
The typical award size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants range from $6,000 to $301,500, so the foundation makes both smaller sponsorship-style awards and larger project grants.
Its giving is local, and 94% of grants go to recipients in Texas. In the recent grants list, all recipients are in the U.S., with the overwhelming majority in Austin, TX. One recent award went to City Park Alliance in Washington, DC for a Greater & Greener Austin sponsorship.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. Downtown Austin Parks LLC received grants in 2024 and 2025 for Republic Square improvements and repairs; Waterloo Greenway Conservancy received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps received partner sponsorships in both 2024 and 2025.
Some programs accept unsolicited applications. Sponsored Fund Accounts accepts unsolicited requests, and the ACL Music Festival Neighborhood Grants, Community Impact Grants, and Activation Grants are also listed as accepting unsolicited applications. These programs are tied to Austin-based park improvement, stewardship, and activation work.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Austin Parks Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must be pre-approved by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Parks Foundation. The grant is for neighborhood park improvement projects.
Deadline: Annual grant application deadlines are April 30 and September 30.
Who can apply: Projects must take place on parkland owned and managed by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (APR). When required, applicants must have approved permits on file with APR. Intended for park adopters and park stewards.
Deadline: Rolling basis; submit at least 30 days prior to the event.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF AUSTIN PARD | AUSTIN, TX | $301,500 | 2025 | LIFEGUARD TRAINING, GIVENS AQUATIC CENTER RENOVATION SUPPORT, & NATURE PLAY |
| TRAIL CONSERVANCY | AUSTIN, TX | $37,500 | 2025 | BENCHES |
| FUN TIME TRAIN RIDES | AUSTIN, TX | $32,520 | 2025 | FREE COMMUNITY TRAIN RIDES |
| AUSTIN YMBL SUNSHINE CAMPS | AUSTIN, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC | AUSTIN, TX | $26,700 | 2025 | REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - FBO TOLF | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY | AUSTIN, TX | $15,357 | 2025 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| GREATER EAST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CENTRAL TEXAS JUNETEENTH SPONSORSHIP |
| AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SOCIETY INC | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | 4TH OF JULY EVENT |
| CITY PARK ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GREATER & GREENER AUSTIN SPONSORSHIP |
| TRI-COUNTY GRAVESITE MAINTENANCE | AUSTIN, TX | $9,500 | 2025 | BARTHOLOMEW PARK MONUMENT ASSISTANCE |
| KUTKUTX RADIO | AUSTIN, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC | AUSTIN, TX | $238,196 | 2024 | REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS |
| CITY OF AUSTIN PARD | AUSTIN, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | PARD SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS-V | AUSTIN, TX | $75,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP - ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATRE & STAGE REPAIRS |
| AUSTIN YMBL SUNSHINE CAMPS | AUSTIN, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| ULAUF SCULTPURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION, EXANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - FBO TOLF | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | TRAIL OF LIGHTS SPONSORSHIP |
| WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY | AUSTIN, TX | $15,357 | 2024 | PARTNER SPONSORSHIP |
| CAPITAL OF TEXAS PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL | AUSTIN, TX | $11,000 | 2024 | PARNTER SPONSORSHIP |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - (FRIENDS OF ELIZABET NEY MUSUEM) | AUSTIN, TX | $10,040 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO THE MUSEUM'S RESTORATION MASTER LANSCAPE PLAN |
| URBAN LAND INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | PARNTER SPONSORSHIP |
| PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY-ACH | AUSTIN, TX | $6,237 | 2024 | PARNTER SPONSORSHIP |
| CITY OF AUSTIN PARD | AUSTIN, TX | $297,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE PROGRAM |
| DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC | AUSTIN, TX | $125,000 | 2023 | REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS |
| ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN CONSERVANCY INC | AUSTIN, TX | $75,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - FBO TOLF | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | TRAIL OF LIGHTS SPONSORSHIP |
| WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY | AUSTIN, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS-V | AUSTIN, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP - ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATRE |
CITY OF AUSTIN PARD
$301,500LIFEGUARD TRAINING, GIVENS AQUATIC CENTER RENOVATION SUPPORT, & NATURE PLAY
TRAIL CONSERVANCY
$37,500BENCHES
FUN TIME TRAIN RIDES
$32,520FREE COMMUNITY TRAIN RIDES
AUSTIN YMBL SUNSHINE CAMPS
$30,000PARTNER SPONSORSHIP
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC
$26,700REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS
PARTNER SPONSORSHIP
GREATER EAST AUSTIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION
$10,000CENTRAL TEXAS JUNETEENTH SPONSORSHIP
TRI-COUNTY GRAVESITE MAINTENANCE
$9,500BARTHOLOMEW PARK MONUMENT ASSISTANCE
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC
$238,196REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS
CITY OF AUSTIN PARD
$100,000PARD SCHOLARSHIPS
ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS-V
$75,000SPONSORSHIP - ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATRE & STAGE REPAIRS
AUSTIN YMBL SUNSHINE CAMPS
$30,000PARTNER SPONSORSHIP
ULAUF SCULTPURE GARDEN AND MUSEUM
$25,000CONTRIBUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION, EXANSION AND UNIFICATION PLAN
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MUSEUM'S RESTORATION MASTER LANSCAPE PLAN
CITY OF AUSTIN PARD
$297,000PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE PROGRAM
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN PARKS LLC
$125,000REPUBLIC SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS
ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN CONSERVANCY INC
$75,000GENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
ZILKER THEATER PRODUCTIONS-V
$15,000SPONSORSHIP - ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATRE