Aquatic Center Grant Program

Aquatic Center Grant Program is sponsored by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). This program offers grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities, and local agencies in California that provide on-the-water training to enhance basic boating safety.

The grants can be used to purchase boating equipment (including canoes and kayaks), provide student scholarships, and offset costs for instructor training and boating safety-related events.

Aquatic Center Grant Program Aquatic Center Grant Program Alert Something is happening and people are freaking out. 2025-26 AQUATIC CENTER GRANT The application period for the 2025-26 grant cycle closed on October 24, 2025, at noon. If you have questions, contact Amy Rigby amy.

rigby@parks. ca. gov .

All applications must be submitted through the Online Grant Application System.

Use these instructions to find the following documents for the grant application Allowable Requests and Funding Priorities Scoring Explanations and Rubric Application Information and Tips Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) promotes a safer and more enjoyable boating environment through grants to non-profit organizations, colleges, universities and local agencies operating in California that offer on-the-water training to enhance basic boating safety.

Click here to see Participating Aquatic Centers. The Aquatic Center Grant program is designed to enhance boaters’ knowledge of boating laws, practical handling of vessels on the water, weather and water conditions, rules of the road, equipment requirements and environmental stewardship.

Grantee Grant Funded Grant Amount Alameda Community Sailing Center, Inc Equipment, scholarship, training, event America's Boating Club Oceanside / United States Power Squadrons Associated Students Inc. of Sacramento State Univ. dba Sac. State Aquatic Ctr.

Equipment, scholarship, event Associated Students of CSU, Chico Inc. Associated Students of San Diego State University Equipment, scholarship, event Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley California State University, Channel Islands Equipment, scholarship, event Equipment, scholarship, event Coast Community College District CSU Long Beach Research Foundation Equipment, scholarship, training Dana Point Aquatic Foundation Equipment, scholarship, event Environmental Traveling Companions Global Alliance of Community Science Workshops Equipment, scholarship, training Healing Waters Wilderness Adventures HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation Equipment, scholarship, training, event King Harbor Youth Foundation Lake Tahoe Community College Equipment, scholarship, training Long Beach Area Council Boy Scouts of America Scholarship, training, event Pacific Coast Sailing Foundation Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation Equipment, scholarship, training Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation Regents of the University of California (Berkeley - Cal Adventures) Equipment, scholarship, training, event Regents of the University of California (Los Angeles) Equipment, scholarship, training Regents of the University of California (San Francisco) Regents of the University of California, Santa Barbara Equipment, scholarship, training Sailing Education Adventures Equipment, scholarship, training, event San Diego-Imperial Council, Boy Scouts of America Equipment, scholarship, training Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation Tahoe City Public Utility District Equipment, training, event The San Diego Canoe Kayak Team Equipment, scholarship, training, event The University Corporation Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District United States Adaptive Recreation Center 2026 Aquatic Center Directors' Meetings Northern California & Southern California AQUATIC CENTER DIRECTORS' MEETINGS These meetings provide an opportunity for aquatic center directors throughout the state to come together and discuss boating-related topics.

Meeting attendees are able to network with others who direct programs similar to theirs, affording them a chance to share ideas and find ways to offer better, safer, and often more cost-effective programs. These meetings are open to the public and organizations who are considering applying for a grant should plan to attend. Two meetings are held in the fall each year, one in Northern California, and one in Southern California.

Frequently Asked Questions Section 668. 2 of the Harbors and Navigation Code allows DBW to distribute funding to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities operating within California. What are my first steps as a new applicant?

Prospective applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the following resources. Follow these instructions to read the minimum qualifications, sample application, scoring rubric and other grant related documents on DBW's OLGA site . Discuss them with other members of your organization to ensure that your organization can comply with them.

If the timing permits, consider attending one of DBW’s annual Aquatic Center Directors Meetings. For 501c(3) organizations, make sure that your organization’s CA Dept. of Justice charity registration is up to date and that you have “current” status.

Register with the federal System of Award Management (SAM). If you are unsure you meet the minimum qualifications or have concerns, please contact Aquatic Center Grants staff. When can I apply for funds?

DBW opens the application period in the fall each year. During this period, dates and deadlines are posted on the DBW website. Please visit the website for updates since the application period can change.

What does DBW look for during the grant application process? DBW will consider awarding grant funds to public agencies, colleges, universities and non-profit organizations (501(c)(3) only) that can provide on-the-water programs for enhancing boating safety education. The grant process is competitive in nature.

The organization must have a positive boating safety record, must have adequately trained staff and have a safe environment in which to teach. In addition, ideal candidates for funding would have several of these attributes: Program goals that support DBW’s mission. Self-sufficient program that does not totally depend on DBW funding.

Adequate permanent staff to ensure continuity of programming. Located in sites where boating is prevalent, but there are limited opportunities to receive boating education. Year-round courses where weather and water conditions permit.

Comprehensive and cost-effective boating safety training courses for a large segment of the general public. Training for underserved populations. Basic boating safety education Safety training for boating activities associated with accidents.

The Aquatic Center Grant Program Manual includes grant management, as well as terms and conditions that must be followed. Online Grant Application (OLGA) information may be found by clicking the links in the right-hand column on this page. After DBW receives an application for grant funds, it is reviewed to see how closely the applicant's program funding request aligns with the Aquatic Center Grant Program's goals and objectives.

Usually a site visit is conducted in order to further evaluate the program. Only the most qualified applicants are granted funding. If the application is approved, an agreement is sent to the grant recipient for signature, and then it is processed through DBW's Administrative Services Unit and signed by the Deputy Director.

Additional approval occurs at the Department of General Services Office of Risk Insurance Management. Why wasn’t my organization awarded a grant? If your organization applied in the past cycle and was not approved for funding, please consider requesting a grant application review where DBW’s grant staff can go over areas where you may have scored low or have a potential weakness.

Take or repeat any of the steps in the “New Applicants” section What type of equipment can be purchased with grant funds? Vessels, and/or associated equipment that provide for boating safety education are eligible for grant funding.

Examples include but are not limited to sailboats, trailers, water ski boats, canoes, kayaks, rafts, stand-up paddle boards, windsurfing equipment, boat engines, safety boats, and associated safety equipment, such as life jackets, radios, and wetsuits. Life jackets must be worn by all participants during any training paid for by grant funds or when using any vessels purchased with grant funds.

Additionally, applicants may apply for associated portable equipment such as storage sheds, equipment racks and portable docking systems. What types of scholarships are available through grant funds? Scholarships are available for basic non-competitive boating safety education.

Scholarship funding can be used to lower the overall cost of a course in order to make it more affordable to all participants if it is estimated that the majority of people in an area cannot afford the actual tuition.

Scholarship funding can also be used to partially or completely fund the tuition of individual students or specific groups of students such as school groups, outreach clubs, etc. Funding is available for disabled students as well. What are some of the grant agreement requirements?

There are both general terms and conditions that are required by all state agreements as well as specific terms and conditions that apply to this grant program that all organizations must be able to comply with in order to be considered for funding.

These include Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions (UC System) Exhibit C - General Terms and Conditions Exhibit C – General Terms and Conditions (UC System) Prospective applicants should ensure that they can comply with both the general and specific terms and conditions. What happens after a grant is awarded?

After a grant is awarded, follow-up visits are periodically scheduled between the organization and DBW representatives. Such visits include a review of the program’s goals and inventory of the equipment purchased with DBW funds. Additionally, the grantee shall ensure that the grant requirements are met such as attending one Aquatic Center Directors’ Meetings each year and completing an annual program report.

How long must I continue to provide annual and inventory reports to DBW? Reports are required from grantees receiving scholarship, training, and National Safe Boating Week funds each year they receive funding for the stated program requirements.

For vessels, engines and other equipment purchased with grant funds, annual reports and inventory forms are required as long as the equipment remains in use or until it is approved by DBW to be sold and/or replaced. How do I receive the funds I have been awarded? No money is awarded upon approval of the grant; all funds are distributed through reimbursement only.

Reimbursement requests must be submitted in accordance with the specific terms and conditions and must be accompanied by proof of payment. Purchase orders from manufactures/dealers will not be accepted in place of invoices when requesting reimbursement from DBW. The length of time to receive reimbursement varies.

Grantees should ensure that they carefully follow the billing instructions to ensure maximum speed of payment. Once the correctly completed request for payment leaves DBW, it goes to the DPR Accounting Unit and then to the California State Controller’s Office where the actual check is processed and mailed to the grantee. This process generally takes six weeks to complete if all documentation is in place.

Programs without sufficient funds to cover payments while waiting for reimbursement should not apply for grant funding.