Advance parks and recreation to enhance health and well-being, equity, and environmental resilience for communities.
National Recreation and Park Association uses program support to move park and recreation work into community health, equity, and environmental resilience. The largest recent grant in the file was $250,000 to the City of Imperial Beach Parks & Recreation Department for program support, showing a willingness to back local agencies at meaningful scale. Other large awards include $150,000 to Citywide Development Corporation of New Castle and $142,600 grants to Onepgh Fund and the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Dept, indicating repeated support for public-facing park and recreation organizations. The foundation’s giving is tied to parks and recreation as a field, but the recipient list shows that field expressed in municipal departments, recreation foundations, health districts, and community coalitions. NRPA’s active programs also point to a mix of professional development, youth sports access, play spaces, coach development, healthy food access, and pollinator-related community science. Across the recent grants, the association appears to favor restricted, activity-based support rather than open-ended operating aid.
In parks and recreation infrastructure, National Recreation and Park Association backed play-space and department-level work with $77,000 to the City of La Verne and $90,000 to the City of New Braunfels, both listed as program support. It also gave $75,000 to The Woodlands Township, another sign of direct investment in local park systems. Community health shows up in several awards. Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition received $76,689 and $54,300 in separate program support grants, linking park and recreation funding with prevention-oriented community work. Ledge Light Health District also received $85,000, placing a public health organization among the recent grantees. Environmental resilience appears in the support for place-based public agencies and in NRPA’s active pollinator and wellness-hub programs. Recent grants to Broward County and Mount Airy Parks and Recreation fit that broader pattern of community-level implementation through local institutions.
Typical grant size sits at $15,403 at the 25th percentile, $28,986 at the median, and $45,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent grant list also includes larger program awards such as $250,000 and $150,000. The pattern is clearly recurring: several grantees appear in multiple years, including Onepgh Fund, the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Dept, New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation, the City of Farmington Parks and Recreation, The Navajo Nation, Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition, and City of Lynnwood Parks Recreation and Cultural Ar. National Recreation and Park Association functions as a membership-and-program association rather than a private family foundation, and it does not fund individuals. The grant style is activity-based and restricted to program support, with no-cost training, scholarships, and targeted initiative grants appearing alongside direct project awards.
$2.3M
$26.9M
$24.7M
$21.9M
Most grants fall between $15K and $45K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$45K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in IL.
KRISTINE STRATTON
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Grantmaking is national, and every grant in the dataset goes to U.S. recipients. The top state by grant count is Illinois, while only 3% of grants go to Virginia, the headquarters state. Recent awards are spread across many places, including Imperial Beach, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Farmington. The recipient-country distribution shows no non-U.S. grants.
The recent grants point to program support for parks and recreation agencies, recreation foundations, and related community organizations. Active programs also include scholarships and fellowships, youth sports access, play space grants, coach-development microgrants, healthy food access work, and pollinator-focused community engagement.
Typical awards are relatively modest: the 25th percentile is $15,403, the median is $28,986, and the 75th percentile is $45,000. The recent list also includes larger program-support grants, with some awards reaching $250,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Onepgh Fund, the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Dept, New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation, the City of Farmington Parks and Recreation, The Navajo Nation, Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition, and City of Lynnwood Parks Recreation and Cultural Ar.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals. Its grantmaking is directed to organizations and agencies, with active programs such as scholarships, fellowships, microgrants, and project-based support for park and recreation work.
The giving is national and all grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and only 3% of grants go to Virginia, the headquarters state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF FARMINGTON PARKS AND RECREATION | FARMINGTON, NM | $130,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ONEPGH FUND | WILLIAMSBUG, PA | $130,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF SEGUIN | SEGUIN, TX | $77,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF LA VERNE | LA VERNE, CA | $77,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE GEORGIA | DOUGLASVILLE, GA | $77,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CARTER COUNTY DRUG PREVENTION COALITION | ELIZABETHTON, TN | $76,689 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MOUNT AIRY PARKS AND RECREATION | MOUNT AIRY, NC | $65,939 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF AUBURN | AUBURN, ME | $62,626 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LEWISTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT | LEWISTON, ME | $53,979 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY | SAN ANTHONIO, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF STONECREST | STONECREST, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BROWARD COUNTY | OAKLAND PARK, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF NEWTON | NEWTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF AUBURN PARKS ARTS & RECREATION (WASHINGTON) | AUBURN, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COUNTY OF DAVIDSON | LEXINGTON, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BUFFALO NIAGARA RIVER LAND TRUST INC | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF PLAINFIELD | PLAINFIELD, CT | $48,365 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF FRANKLIN | FRANKLIN, NH | $43,716 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF WARREN | WARREN, RI | $41,342 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WHEELING | WHEELING, WV | $36,594 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BERWICK PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT | BERWICK, ME | $35,050 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COUNSELORS IN THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CO | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF LONG LAKE | LONG LAKE, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF MILL RIDGE PARK | ANTIOCH, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BURLINGTON RECREATION & PARKS | BURLINGTON, NC | $24,437 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT | HOUSTON, TX | $24,292 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MECHANICSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $23,430 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ASHEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION | ASHEVILLE, NC | $23,265 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF TAMPA | TAMPA, FL | $23,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CALVERT COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION | PRINCE FREDERICK, MD | $22,843 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MISSOULA PARKS AND RECREATION | MISSOULA, MT | $21,892 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF GAHANNA | GAHANNA, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF RIALTO | RIALTO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF PUYALLUP | PUYALLUP, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF SUISUN CITY | SUISUN CITY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF KERMAN | KERMAN, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF NEW BEDFORD | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF COLUMBUS RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT | COLUMBUS, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BEREA COLLEGE | BEREA, KY | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF AURORA | AURORA, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF MESA PARKS RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES | MESA, AZ | $19,991 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TUALATIN HILLS PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT | BEAVERTON, OR | $18,300 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF VIVIAN | VIVIAN, LA | $18,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF IRVINE | IRVINE, CA | $17,835 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ROANOKE CITY PARKS AND RECREATION | ROANOKE, VA | $16,557 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK | NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR | $15,840 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COUNTY OF ROBESON | LUMBERTON, NC | $15,425 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DERBY RECREATION COMMISSION | DERBY, KS | $15,382 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
CITY OF FARMINGTON PARKS AND RECREATION
$130,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
ONEPGH FUND
$130,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF SEGUIN
$77,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF LA VERNE
$77,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE GEORGIA
$77,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CARTER COUNTY DRUG PREVENTION COALITION
$76,689PROGRAM SUPPORT
MOUNT AIRY PARKS AND RECREATION
PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF AUBURN
$62,626PROGRAM SUPPORT
LEWISTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT
$53,979PROGRAM SUPPORT
SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF STONECREST
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BROWARD COUNTY
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF NEWTON
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF AUBURN PARKS ARTS & RECREATION (WASHINGTON)
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
COUNTY OF DAVIDSON
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BUFFALO NIAGARA RIVER LAND TRUST INC
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TOWN OF PLAINFIELD
$48,365PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF FRANKLIN
$43,716PROGRAM SUPPORT
TOWN OF WARREN
$41,342PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF WHEELING
$36,594PROGRAM SUPPORT
BERWICK PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
$35,050PROGRAM SUPPORT
COUNSELORS IN THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CO
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TOWN OF LONG LAKE
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF MILL RIDGE PARK
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BURLINGTON RECREATION & PARKS
$24,437PROGRAM SUPPORT
HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
$24,292PROGRAM SUPPORT
MECHANICSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
$23,430PROGRAM SUPPORT
ASHEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION
$23,265PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF TAMPA
$23,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CALVERT COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
$22,843PROGRAM SUPPORT
MISSOULA PARKS AND RECREATION
$21,892PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF GAHANNA
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF RIALTO
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF PUYALLUP
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF SUISUN CITY
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF KERMAN
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF COLUMBUS RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BEREA COLLEGE
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF AURORA
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF MESA PARKS RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
$19,991PROGRAM SUPPORT
TUALATIN HILLS PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT
$18,300PROGRAM SUPPORT
TOWN OF VIVIAN
$18,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF IRVINE
$17,835PROGRAM SUPPORT
ROANOKE CITY PARKS AND RECREATION
$16,557PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK
$15,840PROGRAM SUPPORT
COUNTY OF ROBESON
$15,425PROGRAM SUPPORT
DERBY RECREATION COMMISSION
$15,382PROGRAM SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from National Recreation and Park Association that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Parks and park partners who participate in the annual BioBlitz (details on eligibility provided on the program page).
Deadline: Annual: held each September (participation window within September).
Who can apply: Local park and recreation agencies must apply and complete the process to become an MLS GO League operator as part of eligibility.
Deadline: Applications are due December 31, 2026.
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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.
