H-GAC provides this list of regional, state, federal, and private funding sources for improving and maintaining parks for information and convenience for parks managers.
These are annual grant programs. Some due dates have passed but may be anticipated around this time every year.
Other agencies, including Keep Texas Beautiful and National Recreation and Park Association, provide grant opportunities and resources.
All content, including links to other websites, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
Federal Programs
| North American Wetlands Conservation Act Standard Grant |
| Provides funds to conserve wetlands and wetlands-dependent fish and wildlife through acquisition (including easements and land title donations), restoration and/or enhancement. |
| Offered By |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Eligible Entities |
All applicants, including partners, must be eligible to participate in federal grant programs. |
| Total Program Funding |
$40,000,000 annually |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$100,001 - $1,000,0000 |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
February and July each year |
| North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grant |
| Provides funds to conserve wetlands and wetlands-dependent fish and wildlife through acquisition (including easements and land title donations), restoration and/or enhancement. |
| Offered By |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Eligible Entities |
All applicants, including partners, must be eligible to participate in federal grant programs. |
| Total Program Funding |
$40,000,000 annually |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$100,000 maximum award |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
October each year |
| Community Facilities Grant Program |
| Provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. |
| Offered By |
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development |
| Eligible Entities |
Public bodies, community-based nonprofits, federally recognized tribes |
| Total Program Funding |
Dependent on funding requests |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
Dependent on population and median income in project area |
| Match |
15% – 75%, depending on population and median household income |
| Application Due Date |
Rolling |
State Programs
| Local Park Grant Program: Small Community (Eligible Population 2010 Census < 20,000) |
| Assists eligible entities from communities with a population of 20,000 or less with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout Texas. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local governments, river authorities, municipal utility districts (MUDs), other special districts |
| Total Program Funding |
$750,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$150,000 maximum award |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
November each year |
| Local Park Grant Program: Non-Urban Indoor/Outdoor Recreation (Eligible Population 2010 Census < 500,000) |
| Assists eligible entities from non-urban communities with a population of 500,000 or less with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout Texas. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local governments, river authorities, municipal utility districts (MUDs), other special districts |
| Total Program Funding |
$2,000,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$750,000 maximum award |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
November each year |
| Local Park Grant Program: Urban Indoor/Outdoor Recreation (Eligible Population 2010 Census > 500,000) |
| Assists eligible entities from urban communities with a population of 500,000 or more with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout the State of Texas. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local governments, river authorities, municipal utility districts (MUDs), other special districts |
| Total Program Funding |
$4,000,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$1,500,000 maximum award |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
November each year |
| Community Outdoor Outreach Program (Co-Op) |
| Provides reimbursement grants for programming that introduces under-served populations to environmental and conservation programs. Eligible expenses can include personnel, food, travel expenses, participant liability insurance, entrance fees, outdoor recreation equipment, and environmental education supplies. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Non-traditional constituents to TPWD related outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education programs; local governments; tax exempt organizations |
| Total Program Funding |
$1,500,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$30,000 maximum award |
| Match |
N/A |
| Application Due Date |
November each year |
| Recreational Trails Fund |
| Provides funding for motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects such as the construction of new recreational trails, to improve existing trails, to develop trailheads or trailside facilities, and to acquire trail corridors. Funding is provided on a cost reimbursement basis. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local governments, river authorities, municipal utility districts (MUDs), other special districts, federal land managers, nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
$3,900,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$200,000 maximum for nonmotorized trails and $400,000 maximum for motorized trails |
| Match |
Reimbursement grants up to 80% |
| Application Due Date |
February each year |
| Boating Access Grants |
| Provides reimbursement grants for the development of boat launching facilities, including land acquisition, ramps, boat lifts, signage, restrooms, parking areas, etc. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local, state, and federal governments |
| Total Program Funding |
$2,200,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$500,000 maximum award |
| Match |
25% |
| Application Due Date |
February each year |
| Conservation Grant Funding (Birding) |
| Provides conservation funding for nature tourism and avian habitat restoration, enhancement, and acquisition projects. |
| Offered By |
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) Great Texas Birding Classic |
| Eligible Entities |
Local, state, and federal governments, nonprofits, tribes, community groups |
| Total Program Funding |
Dependent on team registration fees and corporate sponsorship dollars each year |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$1,000 – $20,000 |
| Match |
Not required, but encouraged |
| Application Due Date |
May each year |
| Texas Capital Fund: Planning and Capacity Building Fund (PCB) |
| Provides financial assistance to prepare a comprehensive plan or any of its components. |
| Offered By |
Texas Department of Agriculture |
| Eligible Entities |
Non-entitlement cities and counties with a need for comprehensive or targeted planning |
| Total Program Funding |
$600,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$55,000 maximum award |
| Match |
5% – 20%; See the link for detailed match requirement information |
| Application Due Date |
Fall each year |
| Texas Preservation Trust Fund |
| Provides reimbursement grants for preservation projects, including restoration work, preservation planning, architectural planning, and/or heritage education training. |
| Offered By |
Texas Historical Commission |
| Eligible Entities |
Public or private entities who either own the project or whose purpose includes historic preservation |
| Total Program Funding |
See detailed funding award information in link |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
See detailed funding award information in link |
| Match |
50% |
| Application Due Date |
Spring each year |
Regional Programs
| Community Development Partnership Program (CDPP) |
| Funds capital improvement projects including energy efficiency and water conservation, education, volunteer fire departments, and public safety organizations impacted by wildfires and extreme drought conditions. Projects must be in LCRA's service area. |
| Offered By |
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) |
| Eligible Entities |
Local governments, school districts, emergency medical services, volunteer fire departments, libraries, civic groups, nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
$1,000,000 |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$50,000 maximum award |
| Match |
20% |
| Application Due Date |
January and July each year |
Private Programs
| Arts and Parks |
| Supports efforts to maintain and strengthen the robustness of local arts and cultural organizations and efforts toward enhancing community connectivity through greenspaces. |
| Offered By |
Houston Endowment |
| Eligible Entities |
Harris County and its contiguous counties (Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties), nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
N/A |
| Match |
None |
| Application Due Date |
Rolling |
| Open Grants Program |
| Funds projects promoting arts and culture, community improvement/enrichment, and healthy families. Preference is given to projects and project sponsors in Entergy service area, including Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery, and Walker counties. |
| Offered By |
Entergy |
| Eligible Entities |
State, county and local governments, schools, hospitals, nonprofit religious institutions, volunteer fire departments, nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
None |
| Match |
None |
| Application Due Date |
Rolling |
| Kaboom! Grants Program |
| Promotes development of outdoor playgrounds. |
| Offered By |
Kaboom! |
| Eligible Entities |
City and county governments, schools, child-serving nonprofits, particularly in the Houston area |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
Varies per program |
| Match |
Varies per program |
| Application Due Date |
Varies per program |
| Shade Structure Grant Program |
| Funds the installation of permanent shade structures to cover outdoor areas not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools or recreation spaces. |
| Offered By |
American Academy of Dermatology |
| Eligible Entities |
Public schools, nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$8,000 maximum award |
| Match |
None |
| Application Due Date |
December each year |
| Skatepark Grants |
| Promotes building new, high quality, public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States. |
| Offered By |
Skate Park Project |
| Eligible Entities |
State and local agencies, nonprofits |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
$1,000 – $25,000 |
| Match |
None |
| Application Due Date |
Annual |
| Union Pacific Community-based Grant Program |
|
Assists community-based organizations and related activities that improve and enrich the general quality of life in community spaces. This category creating, sustaining, or expanding on artistic and cultural experiences; preserving and sharing unique history; providing clean, safe, and positive outdoor recreation or education opportunities; beautifying neighborhoods and main street areas; and planning for, creating, or enhancing unique spaces.
|
| Offered By |
Union Pacific Foundation |
| Eligible Entities |
Nonprofits in communities served by Union Pacific Railroad |
| Total Program Funding |
N/A |
| Max-Min Award per Project |
N/A |
| Match |
N/A |
| Application Due Date |
May each year |
713-627-3200
