Frequently Asked Questions for Park and Trail Partnership GrantsEligibilityWho is eligible to apply?VIEW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSOur Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with OPRHP or eligible agreement with DEC per above is about to expire. Will that affect our application or make us ineligible?
Applicants must have a current formal MOA with OPRHP or eligible agreement with DEC at the time the grant is issued. If your agreement has just expired or will expire between the time you apply and the time awards are announced, you will need to provide a letter from agency staff stating that a new agreement is in progress and is expected to be signed. We will also need a copy of the new agreement once it is signed. Until that time, as part of your application, you must upload the most recent agreement with the agency.
If your agreement expires after the grant application is submitted, you will be asked to provide a new agreement or a letter from agency staff as part of your Interim Report.
ApplyingWhen does the application process open for the next round?
Spring 2024
What information should we review before applying?To prepare to apply, please review:
In addition, it will be helpful to participate in one of our application webinars.
If you still have questions, contact Parks & Trails New York at 518-434-1583 x3 or [email protected].
What types of grants are available?There are four types of competitive grants available to eligible organizations through the NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grants:
VIEW GRANT CATEGORIESHow do we apply?Eligible organizations interested in applying for a NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grant must first create an account with our online grants system. Once registered, you will be able to see available grants and follow the steps to apply.
When creating an account, provide the email address of the person ultimately responsible for the grant administration. Parks & Trails New York will communicate all pertinent information to this email address.
Can my organization apply if we received a grant in a previous cycle?Yes. Organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply regardless of previous grant approval or denial.
Can my organization apply for more than one grant in a given cycle?Yes. Organizations may submit more than one application, either within the same grant category or in more than one category. However, given the limited funding available and pool of potential applicants, it is strongly recommended that organizations focus on the projects that are of the greatest priority to the organization and that can be accomplished within the grant period.
Examples of ProjectsWhat types of projects may we apply for in each category?Examples of projects for each category are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list. STEWARDSHIP AND PUBLIC ACCESS CAPACITY GRANTSExamples of projects include, but are not limited to:
Please note: if your Stewardship and Public Access Capacity Grant application includes a project involving construction or rehabilitation, you will need to provide additional documentation (see Projects Involving Construction). CAPACITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS GRANTSExamples of projects include, but are not limited to:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTSThese grants may be used to support:
Note: Professional Development Grants are meant to support permanent increases in staffing capacity. If an organization is interested in hiring temporary contractors or staff to support the organization’s work, this request would fall under a Capacity and Organizational Effectiveness Grant or a Stewardship and Public Access grant. STEP-UP GRANTSStep-up Grants may be used to cover the administrative and legal fees needed to secure 501(c)(3) status, along with the costs associated with completing a consultant-facilitated organizational assessment and resulting plan(s). Projects Involving ConstructionWhat is considered “construction”?
If our project includes construction (as defined above), what will we need to provide?If your Stewardship and Public Access Capacity Grant application includes a project involving construction or rehabilitation, please include the following documents with your application. (Links to these and these instructions can also be found on the application):
In-eligible CostsNYS Park and Trail Partnership Program grant funds may not be used to cover:
501(c)(3) Status / Fiscal AgentOur organization is not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Can we still apply?Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply using a fiscal agent. As part of the application process, you will need to provide the name of the fiscal agent, a copy of your Memorandum of Understanding with the fiscal agent, and a copy of the fiscal agent’s financial statements (as well as your own organization’s financial statements).
Please also note: When completing the registration process, you must use the EIN (Tax Identification Number) of your fiscal agent.
What happens if our organization receives 501(c)(3) status after we register? How can we change our EIN?Please contact PTNY at [email protected] or 518-434-1583. We will be able to make the change to the EIN in the online grants system for you. Review ProcessWhat happens once our application is submitted?When you submit your application, you will receive an automatic email confirmation that it has been received. Applications will first be reviewed for completeness. Organizations may be asked to clarify or resubmit a response or document at that time. Complete applications will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria for each grant category. Professional Development Grant applicants who submit a full application proposal will also be asked to participate in a one-hour interview with PTNY staff as part of the grant application review process.
Grant awards are expected to be announced in early January the following year. Grant recipients will have 30 days following the award notification to sign an electronic grant agreement and provide documentation of the required organizational match.
What if it gets denied?Please keep in mind that the Park and Trail Partnership Grants is a competitive program. We receive far more requests for projects than we have the funds to award. A denied application does not necessarily mean the project or the applying organization is not worthy of funding. Should your proposal get denied, we encourage you to contact us to discuss the reasoning behind our review team's decision.
How will our application be evaluated?Please see the evaluation criteria for each grant category. Organizational MatchHow do I calculate the required organizational match?The NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program is a matching grants program. Other than Step-up Grants, which require a flat $500 match, all grant categories require organizations to contribute a percentage of the total project cost (not the total grant request). Below are some examples of how to calculate the required match. Try our Grant Match Calculator Tool to help you figure the amount.
Capacity and Organizational Effectiveness Grants and Stewardship and Public Access Capacity GrantsGrants may cover up to 90% of total project budget. A minimum 10% match of the total project amount is required, up to 50% of which may be in-kind.
If your organization’s total project cost is $25,000, you may apply for a grant of $22,500 (90% of $25,000) and your organization will need to provide a match of at least $2,500 (10% of $25,000), $1,250 of which may be in-kind.
Alternatively, if your organization expects to raise no more than $3,000 in matching funds, both cash and in-kind, then you should not apply for more than $30,000 in grant funds. [Divide the amount you expect to raise by .10 to come up with the total grant you may request.]
Professional Development GrantsGrants may cover up to 80% of total project budget encompassing a period of two years. A minimum 20% match (cash) of the total project budget is required.
If your organization’s total project cost is $100,000, you may apply for a grant of $80,000 and your organization will need to provide a match of $20,000, all of which must be cash.
Alternatively, if your organization expects to raise no more than $10,000 in matching funds, then you should not apply for more than $30,000 in grant funds. [Multiply the amount you expect to raise by 3 to come up with the total grant you may request.]
What funds may qualify as matching funds?Applicant organizations must match the grant with non-State funds. Cash match may come from a variety of sources, such as individuals, foundations, corporations, and federal and local grants. Other state grants or state funds can be included in your overall project budget but do not count toward the match requirement.
If operating funds or reserve funds are to be used as cash match, a board-approved statement indicating that these specific funds are available and will be dedicated for the required match is required. Note: staff time, if paid by grantee on grant-related activities, is considered a cash donation.
In-kind match contributions must be quantifiable and documented and may include:
Volunteer services must be quantifiable and the applicant needs to have a way of tracking volunteer hours. The rate per hour must adhere to the national standard for New York . A sample volunteer time-tracking tool is available.
Volunteer time does not include board members participating in regular board activities. If a board member contributes professional services above and beyond his or her regular board activities, or if a board member contributes as a volunteer to perform above and beyond grant-related work (e.g., trail construction, administrative functions), this may count as in-kind match.
|
PD Webinar | May 29 |
General Info Webinar #1 | June 6 |
LOIs Due / Review | June 24 |
General Info Webinar #2 | June 25 |