The Outdoor Equity Fund supports transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for the lands, waters, and cultural heritage.
Donor Name: New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
State: New Mexico
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/31/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Access to the outdoors is a basic human right—yet many young people, particularly in rural, Indigenous, and historically underserved communities, face significant barriers to experiencing the physical, mental, and social benefits of connecting with New Mexico’s great outdoors.
The first-of-its-kind Outdoor Equity Fund, established in 2019, aims to break down these barriers and ensure equitable access to the outdoors for all youth in New Mexico. This grant supports transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for New Mexico’s lands, waters, and cultural heritage while connecting youth to outdoor recreation career pathways.
Funding Information
$5,000 – $40,000.
Grant Period
Program must be completed within 18 months of the signed contract date.
Eligible Expenses
- Services (recreational & educational)
- Materials (equipment & supplies)
- Transportation & Travel
- Administrative – up to 10%
- Billed labor (staff & youth interns for program)
- Miscellaneous (insurance, food, etc.)
- Examples:
- Insurance fees to cover program liability
- Meals for participants
- Bus fare
- Equipment rentals or gear purchases
- Ski or other access tickets.
Eligible Activities
Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:
- Adaptive outdoor recreation of all types
- Camping: tent, RV, yurts, etc.
- Nature enjoyment: wildlife viewing, wildlife photography, birdwatching, nature walks, plant identification, etc.
- Bicycling: road, mountain, gravel, bikepacking, etc.
- Trail activities: hiking, backpacking, trail running, horseback riding, hunting etc.
- Off-road motorized activities: UTV, ATV, off-road motorcycles, etc.
- Water activities: canoeing, kayaking, rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, etc.
- Snow activities: snowboarding, all skiing types, snowshoeing, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants: Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations; municipalities; counties; nonprofits; public K-12 schools/districts; public colleges/universities.
- Recreation Access: Applicant must have a well-developed written plan to engage youth in nature-based outdoor recreation activities.
- Participants: Serve a population where at least 40% are low-income youth up to age 18.
- Education: Applicant must include some type of education plan on the climate and environment.
For more information, visit NMORD.
