We reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors.
Rails to Trails Conservancy backs trail development at a national scale, with recent awards reaching a wide set of local, trail-adjacent organizations, public agencies, and community-based groups. Its largest recent grant in the data is $180,000 to New Jersey Bike Walk Coalition in Montclair for trail development, showing support for corridor-building work as well as local implementation. Other sizable awards include $60,000 and $58,750 to 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation in Milwaukee, each for trail development, indicating repeated support for the same project area over multiple years. The foundation also funds trail-focused organizations in places such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Hampshire, along with planning and engagement work in smaller communities. RTC’s stated scope includes trail development and building, active transportation and advocacy, securing public funding for trails, mapping and research, and trail network planning. The recent grant list shows that its giving is concentrated in U.S. recipients and includes both direct project support and broader capacity-building functions tied to trail creation, connection, and stewardship.
Trail development is the clearest throughline in the recent grants. Rails to Trails Conservancy gave $50,000 to Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail in Glen, New Hampshire, for trail development, and $41,000 to City of Baltimore for the same purpose. It also supported trail-building work in places such as Solon, Ohio, and Cambridge-adjacent trail organizations through project-level awards. Beyond construction, the foundation funds community engagement around trails. A $20,000 grant to Paso Del Norte Community Foundation in El Paso was tagged for community engagement, while $15,000 to Georgia Bikes in Athens supported technical assistance. The portfolio also includes trail program development, such as $15,000 to Arizona Trail Association in Tucson, showing that RTC funds planning and organizational capacity alongside physical trail work.
Typical awards are relatively focused: the distribution sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $12,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows a mix of one-off grants and repeated support to the same recipient across years, including multiple awards to 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation in Milwaukee. Rails to Trails Conservancy is a Pure DAF Provider and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The grant record also suggests structured programmatic giving rather than open general solicitation, with several named grant programs and no unsolicited pathway in the programs described except for the Trails Across America Marker Program.
$707K
$23M
$13.3M
$14.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in PA.
RYAN CHAO
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Giving is national and, in the recent grants list, every recipient is in the United States. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and Chicago appears among the recipient cities through Bronzeville Trail Task Force Inc. Other frequently appearing places include Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and multiple New Hampshire and Ohio communities. The portfolio also reaches farther afield to Puerto Rico, Alaska, Arizona, Virginia, and New Jersey, showing a broad U.S. footprint rather than a single-region pattern.
The recent grants go to community-based trail organizations, coalitions, public agencies, and planning entities. Examples in the data include a state bike-walk coalition, a city government, a national heritage area, a trail foundation, and a metropolitan planning commission.
The listed programs and recent grants center on trail development and building, active transportation and advocacy, securing public funding for trails, mapping and research, and trail network planning. The recent awards also show support for community engagement, technical assistance, and trail program development.
The recipient-country distribution shows 76 grants to U.S. recipients, which is 100% of the recent grant record provided. The geographic scope of giving is listed as national.
The recent record includes repeat support to the same recipient across different years. 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation in Milwaukee received awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which shows that some projects receive more than one grant over time.
Typical grant sizes are $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $12,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes a larger outlier at $180,000.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Rails to Trails Conservancy that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Ideas should be compelling and applicable historical stories located along the nation's trail corridors, including the Great American Rail-Trail.
Deadline: No deadline stated on the provided page.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW JERSEY BIKE WALK COALITION | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $180,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| 30TH STREET INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR CORP | MILWAUKEE, WI | $77,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| HACE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION | TILTON, NH | $27,600 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| FRIENDS OF THE MARKET INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF SWANNANOA INC | SWANNANOA, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| WYOMING PATHWAYS | LANDER, WY | $20,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY BUILDING |
| HARRISON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS | CADIZ, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| PARK COUNTY MONTANA | LIVINGSTON, MT | $20,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| RIVANNA TRAILS FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| FRIENDS OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER GREENWAY TRAIL | CONCORD, NH | $15,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| ANCHORAGE PARK FOUNDATION | ANCHORAGE, AK | $15,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| DELAWARE RIVER CITY CORPORATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| LARAMIE COUNTY WYOMING | CHEYENNE, WY | $15,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| KANSAS TRAILS INC | OVERLOOK PARK, KS | $12,000 | 2026 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE |
| WISCONSIN BIKE FED | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,290 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| FRIENDS OF HERRING RUN PARKS | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF GREAT FALLS | GREAT FALLS, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| FRIENDS OF MADISON COUNTY PARKS & TRAILS | LONDON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF OAK HILL | OAK HILL, WV | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| URBAN OASIS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| MICHIGAN TRAILS & GREENWAYS ALLIANCE | LANSING, MI | $8,500 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| MOVE ARKANSAS INC | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $8,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| HBCUS OUTSIDE INCORPORATED | ELIZABETH CITY, NC | $7,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| COMMUNITY INITIATIVES | OAKLAND, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| BICYCLE ALLIANCE OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| BIKE UTAH | SOUTH SALT LAKE, UT | $7,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| TRAIL KEEPERS OF OREGON | PORTLAND, OR | $7,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| FRIENDS OF ROCK ISLAND TRAIL STATE PARK | OWENSVILLE, MO | $6,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| WV TRAIL | CHARLESTON, WV | $6,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| ALASKA TRAILS | ANCHORAGE, AK | $6,000 | 2026 | TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY |
| NEW JERSEY BIKE WALK COALITION | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $180,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| 30TH STREET INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $55,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| MANHATTAN TRAIL SYSTEM | MANHATTAN, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| PASO DEL NORTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| BROOKVILLE TRAIL HUB | BROOKVILLE, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| SCHUYLKILL RIVER GREENWAYS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA | POTTSTOWN, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMNET |
| GEORGIA BIKES INC | ATHENS, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE |
| CLINTON COUNTY FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL ACCESS |
| CITY OF GREELEY NATURAL AREAS & TRAILS DIVISION | GREELEY, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL ACCESS |
| ARIZONA TRAIL ASSOCIATION | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT |
| THE ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL FOUNDATION | NORFOLK, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| TOWN OF COWEN | COWEN, WV | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| BROOKE-HANCOCK-JEFFERSON METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMISSION | STEUBENVILLE, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
| PLAY MARIN | SAUSALITO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT |
| NORTHWEST NEBRASKA TRAILS ASSOCIATION | CHADRON, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | TRAIL DEVELOPMENT |
NEW JERSEY BIKE WALK COALITION
$180,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
30TH STREET INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR CORP
$77,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
NEW HAMPSHIRE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION
$27,600TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET INC
$25,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF SWANNANOA INC
$25,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
$25,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
WYOMING PATHWAYS
$20,000CAPACITY BUILDING
HARRISON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
$20,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
PARK COUNTY MONTANA
$20,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
RIVANNA TRAILS FOUNDATION
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
FRIENDS OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER GREENWAY TRAIL
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
DELAWARE RIVER CITY CORPORATION
$15,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
LARAMIE COUNTY WYOMING
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
KANSAS TRAILS INC
$12,000TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
WISCONSIN BIKE FED
$10,290TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
FRIENDS OF HERRING RUN PARKS
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF GREAT FALLS
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
FRIENDS OF MADISON COUNTY PARKS & TRAILS
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF OAK HILL
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
URBAN OASIS INC
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
MICHIGAN TRAILS & GREENWAYS ALLIANCE
$8,500TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
MOVE ARKANSAS INC
$8,000TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
HBCUS OUTSIDE INCORPORATED
$7,500COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BIKE UTAH
$7,000TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
TRAIL KEEPERS OF OREGON
$7,000TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
FRIENDS OF ROCK ISLAND TRAIL STATE PARK
$6,000TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
WV TRAIL
$6,000TRAIL POLICY ADVOCACY
NEW JERSEY BIKE WALK COALITION
$180,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
30TH STREET INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
$55,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
MANHATTAN TRAIL SYSTEM
$30,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
BROOKVILLE TRAIL HUB
$20,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
SCHUYLKILL RIVER GREENWAYS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
$20,000TRAIL DEVELOPMNET
GEORGIA BIKES INC
$15,000TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
CLINTON COUNTY FOUNDATION
$15,000TRAIL ACCESS
CITY OF GREELEY NATURAL AREAS & TRAILS DIVISION
$15,000TRAIL ACCESS
ARIZONA TRAIL ASSOCIATION
$15,000TRAIL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
THE ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL FOUNDATION
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
TOWN OF COWEN
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
BROOKE-HANCOCK-JEFFERSON METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMISSION
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
PLAY MARIN
$15,000TRAIL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
NORTHWEST NEBRASKA TRAILS ASSOCIATION
$15,000TRAIL DEVELOPMENT
