1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Pennsylvania Water Trails Program Mini Grants is sponsored by Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) / Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR). These mini-grants aim to enhance outdoor recreation and resource conservation by supporting projects that promote sustainable use of water trails and improve public access to waterways across Pennsylvania. A 1:1 match is required for the Statewide Waterway Access Grant.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) / Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
2025 PA Water Trail Mini-Grants Now Available - PECPA 2025 PA Water Trail Mini-Grants Now Available Pennsylvania Environmental Council FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : September 2, 2025 Contact : Tali MacArthur, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Email : [email protected] PEC Announces 2025 PA Water Trail Mini-Grants Now Available Dallas – The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) has announced the opening of the 2025 PA Water Trails Mini-Grant cycle.
Grants are available on a competitive basis for projects that implement the PA Water Trail Program’s eight guiding principles: Partnership • Stewardship • Volunteerism • Education • Conservation Community Vitality • Diversity • Wellness and Well-being Proposed projects must advance program goals such as creating recreational opportunities for all Pennsylvanians on Water Trails; developing trails that support sustainable use of natural resources; increasing and improving physical and psychological access to Water Trails; and connecting water trails to land trails or to other culturally significant community assets.
The PA Water Trail Program recently released the Five-Year Strategic Action Plan, 2025-2029. This year, the Mini Grant program will prioritize funding for projects that advance the Plan’s Goals and Strategic Outcomes by implementing one or more Actions and Activities in the Plan (view the plan here .)
Also, new this year, applicants will be required to consider how project impact and success will be determined based on appropriate metrics. Water Trail Program staff will require that grantees report on these metrics in progress and final reports.
Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations and public entities (such as a county, municipality, or municipal agency), and all projects must occur on a designated Pennsylvania Water Trail (view map here ). Applicants can request up to $7,000 and project proposals must include a 1:1 match (cash or in-kind). All applications must be submitted online.
Applications and instructions are now available online at: https://pecpa. org/apply . Applications are due by 5:00 PM on October 31, 2025.
PEC is hosting an optional virtual pre-application meeting on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11 AM. Registration is not required. Interested applicants can join the meeting at this link: https://us02web.
zoom. us/j/83174160451 Pennsylvania’s 28 Water Trails link outdoor recreation and water conservation efforts. Since 2008, PEC, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), and the National Park Service have worked together to promote and maintain the Pennsylvania Water Trails Program’s network of creeks and rivers.
The PA Water Trails Program provides technical assistance, shares education and resources, and facilitates networking and peer-to-peer learning for Water Trail managers. On average, PEC supports between 6 and 10 projects under this program per year.
Project outcomes have included improved way-finding signage and safety messaging, inclusive cultural storytelling kiosks, water trail promotional material, up-to-date water trail maps and trip itineraries, new and enhanced physical access sites, streamside habitat improvement, and environmental education and introduction to paddling opportunities for youth and underserved community members.
PEC has administered the PA Water Trail Mini-Grant program since 2017. Mini-grant funding is financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Therefore, applicants should note that mini-grants may not be used as match for other DCNR-funded projects.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Non-profits, municipalities, and educational institutions. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $7,000 (Water Trails Program Mini Grants); Up to $30,000 (Statewide Waterway Access Grant) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
EPA is seeking insightful, expert, and cost-effective applications from eligible applicants to provide the Chesapeake Bay Program’s non-federal partners with technical analysis and programmatic evaluation support related to water quality modeling and monitoring and spatial systems to manage, analyze, and map environmental data. The project assists the partners in meeting their restoration and protection goals and in increasing the transfer of scientific understanding to the Chesapeake Bay Program modeling, monitoring, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) activities. The recipient will support modeling, monitoring, and GIS programs needed to explain and communicate the health of and changes in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-R3-CBP-23-18. Assistance Listing: 66.466. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: ENV. Award Amount: Up to $5.3M per award.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA SBIR Phase I Solicitation invites small businesses to submit proposals for projects addressing critical environmental challenges. Awards are for six months to demonstrate proof of concept. Key focus areas include Clean and Safe Water, Air Quality and Climate, Homeland Security, Circular Economy/Sustainable Materials, and Safer Chemicals.
Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Community Change Grants Program funds projects that provide meaningful improvements to the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. While broadly focused on environmental and climate justice, projects can include aspects that relate to community health and well-being through addressing environmental health risks. The program aims to fund community-driven pollution and climate resiliency solutions and strengthen communities' decision-making power. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.