The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) established the R3 Education Grant Program (R3 Grant) to support partner organizations providing hands-on education for the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of anglers and boaters in Pennsylvania.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 12/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The R3 Education Grant Program provides funding to support R3-related educational programs delivered by the partners. Supporting partners in their efforts to deliver such programming significantly increases the number of learning opportunities provided to current, past, and future anglers and boaters.
Education programs play a role in R3 by providing experiences that increase fishing and boating knowledge and skills, facilitate social support, and provide information on fishing and boating opportunities close to home. The PFBC established this grant program to help others start new R3 education programs or expand their existing efforts.
Funding Information
The R3 Grant will reimburse qualifying organizations up to $25,000 for eligible expenses for projects running approximately July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The grants require a minimum 25% match of total project costs. All projects must receive Comptroller approval prior to starting.
Eligible Uses of funds
- Equipment and Educational Supplies
- Program equipment such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, paddles, life jackets, throw bags, dry bags, fishing rod and reels, tackle boxes, terminal tackle, bait, fishing line, and similar.
- Classroom or space rental.
- Costs associated with basic safety equipment such as reasonable first aid supplies and personal protective equipment directly related to fishing and boating education.
- Costs associated with instructor materials, teaching aids, student books, and curriculum.
- Printing or copying instructional materials or student handouts. Preference is given to applications that do not rely heavily on printed material reimbursement.
- Transportation and Travel Costs
- Transportation to and/or from the program location, either mileage or bus rentals. Mileage based on GSA rate. Toll costs are reimbursable with corresponding receipt.
- Lodging costs when the program location is 50 miles or more from home or headquarters. Reimbursement based on GSA rate.
- Staff Time and Substitute Teacher Fees
- Personnel costs for those directly involved with the project can be reimbursed. This may include wages, salaries, volunteer time, and/or substitute teacher costs. Preference is given to applications that do not rely heavily on staff time reimbursement.
Eligible Applicants
Organizations eligible for funding include school districts, universities and colleges, community and civic groups, sporting and conservation organizations, and local recreation departments. Projects can span a variety of topics within fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, such as but not limited to introductory fishing skills, fishing skills targeting specific species (catfish, steelhead, muskellunge, etc.), fly fishing skills, kayak fishing, paddlesports, and similar. Projects and organizations previously funded by this grant will be eligible for future funding only if the applicant can demonstrate how the additional funds will be used to innovate or expand the program.
Priority consideration will be given to applications that incorporate one or more of the following key areas supported by recent R3 research:
- Projects providing multiple, hands-on fishing and/or boating opportunities.
- Projects reaching underrepresented audiences in the fishing and boating population including girls, women, young adults ages 18-25, participants of diverse demographic backgrounds, participants with disabilities, and other groups.
- Projects occurring in environmental justice areas as outlined by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Projects occurring in locations that are accessible to the public or empower participants with an understanding of where to fish or boat in their communities.
- Implementing education efforts targeting outdoor recreationists, to encourage fishing or boating participation as part of other outdoor recreation or social activities.
- Projects that are free or have minimal fees incurred by participants.
For more information, visit PFBC.
