The Friends Grant Program was created in the 2020 County Budget and provides matching funds to Friends groups and other nonprofit organizations to implement capital improvements on Dane County parkland. Grants can range from $3,000 - $18,750. All grants must be matched with cash. The application deadline is October, 31, 2020.
To apply for a grant, an entity must:
Grants will be awarded for capital projects on county parkland. Capital improvements are generally defined as permanent changes that have a life expectancy of at least ten years. Projects must be far along in the planning process and meet the following minimum eligibility requirements to be considered for funding:
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
Grants will not be awarded for the following projects:
$100,000 is available for the program. The standard grant amount will be up to 75% of the project costs with a maximum grant award of $18,750 and a minimum grant award of $3,000. All grants must be matched with cash.
Eligible expenses for projects include construction materials and contracted services. Acceptable match includes cash (including donations and grants for private foundations), and state or federal grants. In-kind services will not be accepted as match, such as donated labor, materials or supplies.
Applicants must contact Rhea Stangel-Maier, Parks Volunteer Coordinator, prior to submitting a grant application to determine project eligibility. If the project is eligible, submit the following application materials by October 31, 2020:
Staff will review the applications and recommend projects to the Dane County Park Commission for consideration. If you have questions, contact:
Rhea Stangel-Maier
Parks Volunteer Coordinator
Office (608) 224-3601 or cell (608) 516-3703