Grant Guide

Parks & Trails Council (P&TC)

Friends Group Grants

2024 Grant Overview

This webinar was recorded live on October 25, 2023, from noon to 1pm. Join us to learn more about the program!

Logo for Friends Group Partner Grants

Overview

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota proudly offers a small grant program for our Friends Group Partners to support habitat restoration projects.

Our public lands are enhanced when volunteers engage in hands-on habitat restoration projects that contribute to a collective land ethic. A major goal of this program is to boost Friends Group efforts to engage with their members and new volunteers with meaningful projects. When Friends Groups, land management agencies, and Parks & Trails Council work together, we can accomplish much more than we would on our own.

Grant Overview (PDF)

Key Dates & Background Info

Draft Application: January 26, 2024

Final Application: February 9, 2024

Please review the Grant Overview pdf above before applying. Be sure to connect with your land management agency contact and the Friends Group Program Manager from P&TC (651-370-7907) while developing your group’s application. Applications can be submitted to friends@parksandtrails.org.

Planning Discussion Guide (PDF)

Application Materials

The minimum grant request is $500 and the maximum grant request is $2,500. Grant awards will be issued to qualifying Friends Groups with appropriate projects in 2024.

Grant Application (Word) Budget & Volunteer Log Template (Excel)

Eligibility

Projects

Projects should be focused on habitat restoration. For example: planting tree/native plants, protecting trees/native plants, seed collection, and invasive species removal.

  • Land / Resource
  • People / Engagement

Applicants

Applicants must be a Friends Group Partner of Parks & Trails Council.

  • 501(c)3
  • Fiscal Client
  • Unincorporated Association

Land Type & Geography

Projects that take place on parks and trails in Minnesota are eligible.

  • Park
  • Trail

Statistics & Examples

P&TC started issuing grants to friends groups in 2018. Below are the statistics for total funds allocated each year.

Funding History

YearFunds Awarded# ProjectsAverage AwardDetails
2024$35703$1,190View Grant Announcement Post
2023$10,0004$2,500View Grant Recap Post
2022$11,5506$1,925View Grant Recap Post
2021$7,5009$800View Grant Recap Post
2020$00N/A
2019$25,3647$2,190View Grant Recap Post
2018$24,6965$4,939View Grant Recap Post