The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking applications to provide grants to friends groups and nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) to improve facilities, build new recreation projects and restore habitat on state properties.
Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
State: Wisconsin
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/15/2022
Size of the Grant: $60,000
Details:
The program recognizes the important role friends groups play in meeting the development and restoration needs of state properties.
Funding Information
A total of $500,000 is available each year for grants under this program, with a limit of $20,000 per property. Depending on the number of applicants, there may be competition for available funds. Funding for large projects may be applied in three phases with a limit of $20,000 per year or a maximum of $60,000 per project. There must be a usable component of the project at the end of each phase.
Who can apply?
- Eligible friends groups must be nonstock, nonprofit corporations described under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) and in good standing with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. In addition, the group must have formed to raise funds for a state property and also have a written friends agreement with DNR.
- Eligible NCOs must be nonprofit corporations, charitable trusts or other nonprofit associations described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501 (a). In addition, the purpose of the organization must include the acquisition of property for conservation purposes.
Eligible Projects
The first 5 eligibility requirements below existed before this program guidance document. Eligibility requirement #6 is new and helps clarify the department’s expectation for projects that take more than one year to complete (also called “multi-phased projects”). This clarification is included based on comments the department received from sponsors about their multi-phased projects. Projects must meet all of the following requirements as per s. NR 51.83, Wis. Admin. Code:
- The project is for nature-based outdoor recreation as defined in s. NR 51.002(19) any activity where the primary focus or purpose is the appreciation or enjoyment of nature. These activities may include but are not limited to: hiking, bicycling, wildlife or nature observation, camping, nature study, fishing, hunting, trapping, public shooting range, boating, picnicking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and multi-use trail activities. Eligible support facilities for these activities may include but are not limited to: access roads, parking areas, utility, and sanitation systems, sanitary and shelter building, signs, interpretive items and other features that enhance nature-based outdoor recreation or improved disabled accessibility. Playgrounds and playground facilities that supplement the appreciation of nature and occupy a minor portion of the property are also eligible. Ineligible activities include but are not limited to: extensively developed open space such as dedicated sports fields, swimming pools and tennis courts.
- The project addresses unmet needs consistent with DNR approved plans for the property, unless the project is for a state trail managed and maintained by a governmental unit or other cooperator with a memorandum of agreement with DNR.
- The project is identified in a property’s plan, unless the project is habitat restoration project described in s. NR 51.84(2)(e) or the project is for a state trail managed and maintained by a governmental unit or other cooperator with a memorandum of agreement with DNR.
- The project makes long-term capital improvements or installs durable equipment with an expected useful life of 20 years or more, unless it is a habitat restoration project [as described in s. NR 51.84(2)(e)] that is consistent with approved plans governing the management of the property.
- The application has submitted required reports and returned any unused funds for all prior projects within the required timeframe.
- The project is a stand-alone project, the first phase of a multi-phased project, or a multi-phased project for which DNR will have awarded $60,000 or less in Friends grants for all phases.
For more information, visit WDNR.
