Grants
REI Tool Grants
Availability: Awarded each year
How to apply: You must be nominated by an REI employee to receive this grant.
Past Recipients in TN: SORBA Chattanooga, SORBA Middle TN ($5k each)
More info: http://www.rei.com/aboutrei/gives02.html
Other Notes: If you would like to inquire about getting nominated, please contact president@mtbtn.org
If you are nominated: Your organization will be asked to fill out an application and if awarded, you will be contacted by REI through email PLEASE NOTE: If they can not get in touch with you, you will LOSE your grant. This happened to SORBA Knoxville last year and they will be reapplying in 2009. It might be good to send a secondary email address to be safe!
TN RTP Grant Program
Some Facts to keep in Mind:
Availability: RTP Trail funding is only available in TN every other year, though RTP education grants are available every year
Eligibility: Private non-profit organizations who are certified 501(c)(3) by the IRS may apply if the trail that will be constructed or maintained is on publicly owned land.
Deadline: Generally around beginning of March (2006: March 1st, 2008: March 7th)
Max/Min $$ request: Max: $100k, Min: $10k (remember this is the 80% portion)
Matching: You must provide 20% match (this can be done through volunteer hours, other donations & grants, etc) If you plan to use volunteer hours, please note, you MUST keep track of the hours and you MUST have SS# for each volunteer on record – otherwise RTP will not accept the hours!
Users: MUST be multi-use!
Other: If you can partner with a government agency when applying, it will increase your chances of approval
Assistance: Try contacting the NPS River, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program. Our TN Contact is Alison Bullock email: alison_bullock@nps.gov phone: (423) 266-2359. More information about the NPS RTCA is available at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/wwd_what_we_do.html
TN RTP Application & Information Link: http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/recreation/rtp.shtml
