Cape Coral kayaker using launch
25 Jan

Local nonprofit, state, and federal grants are proliferating to increase outdoor accessibility with adaptive kayak launches and other ADA recreational products.

As many advocates and community groups seek to expand outdoor recreation opportunities and water access for those living with disabilities, or who have mobility challenges, funding and initiatives are becoming available to help secure investments in accessibility. If you are seeking to make your park, lake, river, stream, or other marina location ADA accessible with an adaptive kayak launch or fishing pier, then you may benefit from the following list.

Investing in accessibility can be expensive, but it is worth the time and effort. To help raise money more quickly or help decrease the financial burden on community groups, BoardSafe Docks has created a list of potential grant funding organizations to offset the cost of outdoor accessibility products like an adaptive kayak launch.

Please review the list of organizations and contact them directly to see if your project qualifies. If you know of an organization that could be added to our list, please contact us to submit the information. Together, we can expand the world of outdoor recreation for people of all abilities!

StateFunded byAdministrated byLink
ALAL Waterway Enhancement ProgramAlabama Scenic River Trailhttps://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com/about/projects-initiatives/al-waterway-enhancement-program/
Appalachian RegionCNX Foundation Grantshttps://www.cnx.com/about-us/cnx-foundation
CAState of CADept. of Parks and Recreationhttps://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/division-of-boating-and-waterways-local-assistance-statewide-non-motorized-boat-launching-facility-grant-program-fy23/
CTSmall Town Economic Assistance Program funding (STEAP grant)State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management Intergovernmental Policy and Planning Divisionhttps://portal.ct.gov/OPM/IGPP/Grants/STEAP/STEAP_Home
CTBrownfield Municipal Grant ProgramConnecticut Department of Economic and Community Developmenthttps://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Community-Development/03_Funding_Opportunities/Brownfields-Remediation/Brownfield-Municipal-Grant-Program#:~:text=The%20Brownfield%20Municipal%20Grant%20Program,entities%20are%20eligible%20to%20apply.
DEHealthy Communities Micro Grant ProgramThe Delaware Public Health District’s (DPHD) Community Health Divisionhttps://www.delawarehealth.org/2024/05/07/microgrant2024/
FLFlorida Inland Navigation Districthttps://flaglerlive.com/183721/at-waterfront-park-a-favorite-trailhead-will-soon-become-accessible-by-boat-or-launch-them/
GA2024 Wildlife-Viewing Grant – Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation FundGeorgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR)https://georgiawildlife.com/WildlifeViewingGrants
GAGeorgia DNRGeorgia Outdoor Stewardship Programhttps://gadnr.org/gosp
GAGeorgia Rehabilitation Institutehttps://georgiarehabinstitute.com/
Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico Energy and Security Act (GOMESA)https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/energy-economics/gulf-mexico-energy-security-act-gomesa
IAPrairie Meadows Legacy Grant ProgramPrairie Meadowshttps://www.prairiemeadows.com/about-us/grant-programs
ILOpen Space Land Acquisition and Development GrantsIllinois Department of Natural Resources
ILIllinois Department of Natural Resourceshttps://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/grants/Pages/default.aspx
ILNational Park Service Land and Water Conservation FundIllinois Department of Natural Resourceshttps://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/index.htm
INBall Brothers Foundationhttps://www.ballfdn.org/
INKosciusko County Community Foundationhttps://www.kcfoundation.org/grants/
KYOlmstead Park Conservancyhttps://www.olmstedparks.org/what-we-do/
MAOne Stop for Growth Grant Programhttps://www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth#:~:text=The%20Community%20One%20Stop%20for,based%20on%20a%20Development%20Continuum.
MACPACPA/CPChttps://www.communitypreservation.org/about
MACPA (Community Preservation Act)
MDChesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training programNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationhttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/noaa-chesapeake-bay-watershed-education-and-training-program
MEMaine Infrastructure Adaptation FundMaine Department of Transportationhttps://www.maine.gov/jobsplan/program/maine-infrastructure-adaptation-fund
MICommunity Foundation for Southeast Michiganhttps://cfsem.org/
MIRalph C. Wilson Foundation https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/
MIMichigan DNRLand and Water Conservation Fundhttps://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/grants
MIMichigan DNRRecreation Passporthttps://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/grants
MIMichigan DNRMichigan Natural Resources Trust Fundhttps://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/grants
MIMichigan DNRMichigan Sparks Grant Programhttps://www.whmi.com/news/article/howell-city-scofield-park-dnr-grant
MNGet Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences)MN DNRhttps://www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/get-out-more/index.html
MSMississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust FundMississippii Department of Finance and Administrationhttps://www.dfa.ms.gov/most
NationalOutdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)National Park Servicehttps://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/outdoor-recreation-legacy-partnership-grants-program.htm
NationwideThe Kelly Brush Foundationhttps://kellybrushfoundation.org/theactivefund/
NationwideChoice Neighborhood Implementation GrantDepartment of Housing and Urban Developmenthttps://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/cn/grants#:~:text=Choice%20Neighborhoods%20Implementation%20Grants%20support,Plan%E2%80%9D%20to%20redevelop%20the%20neighborhood.
NationwideSportfishing and Boating Safety ActU.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicehttps://www.fws.gov/program/boating-infrastructure
NationwideHome DepotHome Depothttp://www.communitydevelopmentgrants.info/GrantDetails.aspx?gid=19052
NationwideT-Mobile Hometown GrantsT-Mobile Hometown Grantshttps://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants
NationwideCommunity Development Block GrantU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmenthttps://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/cdbg#:~:text=The%20Community%20Development%20Block%20Grant,%2D%20and%20moderate%2Dincome%20persons.
NationwideNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Fish and Wildlife Foundationhttps://www.nfwf.org/apply-grant
NationwideChristopher Reeves FoundationChristopher Reeves Foundationhttps://www.christopherreeve.org/get-support/grants-for-non-profits/application-process
NationwideREI REI Cooperative Action Fundhttps://www.reifund.org/grantees/people
NationwideRobert Wood Johson FoundationRobert Wood Johson Foundationhttps://www.rwjf.org/en/grants.html
NationwideWalmart Stores Local Community GrantsWalmart Stores Local Community Grantshttps://walmart.org/how-we-give/local-community-grants
NationwideFord Bronco Wild FundNational Association of State Park Directorshttps://www.ford.com/bronco-wild-fund/
NCLand and Water Conservation FundNorth Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resourceshttps://www.ncparks.gov/about-us/grants/land-and-water-conservation-fund
NCParks and Recreation Trust FundNorth Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resourceshttps://www.ncparks.gov/about-us/grants/parks-and-recreation-trust-fund
NCRecreational Trails Program GrantNorth Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resourceshttps://trails.nc.gov/trail-grants/apply-grant
NYConsolidated Funding GrantNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservationhttps://parks.ny.gov/grants/#:~:text=Consolidated%20Funding%20Application%20(CFA),-OPRHP%20is%20dedicating&text=Funds%20are%20available%20to%20municipalities,to%20%24750%2C000%20may%20be%20requested.
NYChautauqua Region Community Foundationhttps://www.crcfonline.org/organizations
NYRalph C. Sheldon Foundationhttps://www.rcsheldonfoundation.org/
NYRalph C. Wilson Foundation https://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/
NYEnvironmental Protection FundHudson River Estuary Watershedhttps://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html
NYHudson River Valley Greenway GrantsNew York Statehttps://hudsongreenway.ny.gov/grants-funding
NYErie CanalErie Canalwayshttps://eriecanalway.org/resources/grants
NYDepartment of StateDowntown Revitalization Initiativehttps://www.ny.gov/downtown-revitalization-initiative/dri-round-five-winners
NYDECNew York Sea Granthttps://seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/t/small-grants-big-impacts-making-ny-s-coastal-resources-accessible-for-all-ny-great-lakes-basin-marine-small-grants-programs-news?q=
NYRural Outdoor Investment Acthttps://web.archive.org/web/20221001233816/https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/standing-at-idyllic-canandaigua-lake-schumer-launches-his-rural-outdoor-investment-bill-to-boost-finger-lakes-over-3-billion-tourism-industry-accelerate-economic-recovery-create-new-jobs-and-revitalize-finger-lakes-picturesque-communities-
NYLocal Waterfront Revitalization ProgramNYS Office of Planning and Developmenthttps://dos.ny.gov/local-waterfront-revitalization-program
NYErie Canal Heritage Foundation
NYRegional Economic Development Council InitiativeNew York Statehttps://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/
NYDowntown Revitalization InitiativeNew York Department of Statehttps://www.ny.gov/programs/downtown-revitalization-initiative
NYUpstate Revitalization Initiativehttps://esd.ny.gov/about-us/signature-projects/upstate-revitalization-initiative
NYBetter Buffalo Fundhttps://esd.ny.gov/better-buffalo-fund-program
NYNY Forward programhttps://www.ny.gov/programs/ny-forward
NYReimagine the Canals InitiativeNew York Statehttps://www.ny.gov/programs/reimagine-canals-initiative
NYErie Canalway National Heritage CorridorNew York Statehttps://eriecanalway.org/resources/grants
OHH2Ohio – Wetland Grant ProgramODNRhttps://h2.ohio.gov/odnr-accepting-project-applications-for-2024-wetland-grant-program/
OHAppalachian Community Grant ProgramProgram funds are provided by Ohio’s designation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The program is administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development.https://development.ohio.gov/community/governors-office-of-appalachia/appalachian-community-grant-program
OHMuskingum Water Conservancy District water trails grantMuskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD)https://www.mwcd.org/flood-reduction-and-conservation-stewardship/conservation/pwm-grant-program
OHOhio DNRNatureWorkshttps://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/apply-for-grants/grants/natureworks
PAThe Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – Canoe Access Development Fundhttps://waterlandlife.org/
PACrawford Heritage Community Foundationhttps://www.crawfordheritage.org/grants/
PAWestern PA Conservancyhttps://waterlandlife.org/watershed-conservation/canoe-access-development-fund-cadf/
PACommunity Conservation Partnerships Program GrantsDCNRhttps://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Grants/pages/default.aspx
PAPA Environmental Council https://pecpa.org/water-recreation/
PAPA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers https://pawatersheds.org/
PA State of PAPA Fish and Boat Commissionhttps://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/Grants/Pages/BoatingFacilityGrantProgram.aspx
SoutheastAppalachian Regional Commissionhttps://www.arc.gov/investment-priority/building-appalachias-infrastructure/
TNLocal Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) GrantsTDEChttps://www.tn.gov/environment/about-tdec/grants/grants-recreation-grants/grants-local-parks-and-recreation-fund-lprf-grants.html
TXValley Baptist Legacy Foundationhttps://www.vblf.org/
TXTexas Parks and Wildlife Department Recreation GrantsTexas Park and Wildlifehttps://tpwd.texas.gov/business/grants/recreation-grants
VAVirginia Department of Wildlife Resourceshttps://dwr.virginia.gov/virginia-wildlife-grant-program/
WAWashington State Recreation and Conservation Officehttps://rco.wa.gov/recreation-and-conservation-office-grants/find-a-grant/
WIDestination Door County – Community Investment FundDoor County Community Foundationhttps://doorcountycommunityfoundation.org/community-investment-fund/
WIKnowles Nelson GrantsWisconsin Department of Natural Resource
WIWI DNRKNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMhttps://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Stewardship/ApplyFriends
WIState of WIRecreational Boating Grant
WI State of WI / Federal FundsSport Fishing Restoration Grant
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