The North Face Explore Fund

The Explore Fund supports organizations that encourage youth outdoor participation, help create a connection to nature that will help empower the future leaders of tomorrow, and inspire the exploration of natural places. In 2013, The Explore Fund will award 40 grants totaling $250,000. 30 of those grantees will receive $2,500 and the remaining 10 grants will be awarded based on online voting taking place summer 2013. Deadline for 2013 was May 1. Please be sure to apply in 2014!

Game ON! Challenge Grants

The Outdoor Foundation, through its Outdoor Nation initiative, partnered with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) as well as leaders in the conservation community and entertainment gaming industry to launch Game ON! Challenge Grants. This first-of-its-kind pilot program invested in youth-inspired projects that leverage entertainment gaming technologies and principles to get a new generation outdoors, active and engaged in conservation challenges.

Paddle Nation Project Grants

The Paddle Nation Project award grants up to $2,500 or less that are designed to give young individuals the resources and funding needed to bring their innovation ideas to life. This funding supports pioneering projects and initiatives that are youth-developed that result in increased paddling participation. Projects reinforce the idea that recreational paddling is one of the most accessible and impactful ways in which young Americans are introduced to the outdoors. CHECK OUT THE 2013 PADDLE NATION WINNING PROJECTS.

Merrell Pack Project Grants

The Pack Project Grants support people and organizations that focus on increasing active outdoor recreation. In 2012, Merrell awarded $25,000 to 10 innovative, impactful and sustainable projects that focus on increasing outdoor recreation in communities across the country. Applications were accepted from individuals between the ages of 18 and 28 and 501c3 non-profits. CHECK OUT THE 2012 CYCLE 1 AND CYCLE 2 WINNING PROJECTS.

Take Me Fishing Awards

The Take Me Fishing Awards of $2,500 or less are designed to give young individuals the resources and funding needed to bring their innovation ideas to life. This award supports pioneering projects and initiatives that are youth-developed and result in increased fishing participation. Projects reinforce the idea that recreational fishing is one of the first and most important ways in which young Americans are introduced to the outdoors. CHECK OUT THE 2013 TAKE ME FISHING AWARD WINNING PROJECTS.

CHECK OUT THE 2012 WINNING PROJECTS.

CamelBak Challenge Grants

The Camelbak Challenge is designed to give millenials and non-profits the resources and funding needed to bring their innovation ideas to life around water conservation and stewardship. This grant opportunity supports pioneering projects and initiatives that are millenial-developed and directly address the question, how will you use $500 and 100 water bottles to connect millenials to environmental issues and create sustainable eco-friendly practices in your community around water conservation?
CHECK OUT THE 2013 CAMELBAK CHALLENGE WINNING PROJECTS.

CHECK OUT THE 2010 WINNING PROJECTS.

Grassroot Outdoor Alliance Activation Grants

**Only available to employees of GOA Members

Outdoor Nation and Grassroots Alliance, a group of independent outdoor retailers, awarded four activation grants totaling $10,000. Grantees are young outdoor leaders ages 18 to 28 who have innovative ideas for ‘grassroots’ projects that get young people outdoors and active. The winning projects come from bright young leaders who work at one of the more than 70 Grassroots Outdoor Alliance specialty stores. The initiative is part of the Outdoor Nation grant program, which invests in projects spearheaded by the next generation of outdoor leaders. CHECK OUT THE WINNING PROJECTS.

Outdoor Nation California Action Awards

The Outdoor Nation California Action Awards awarded $2,500 to four individuals who had the best, most innovative, project ideas for how to strengthen environmental literacy in the state of California. This award was designed to allow youth to grow as leaders and influencers within their community while addressing one of the most challenging issues facing young people today – environmental illiteracy. Winning projects are youth-led and empower young people to be part of the decision making process related to environmental literacy. After all, who better to have a voice in outdoor education than the students themselves! CHECK OUT THE WINNING PROJECTS.

Outdoor Nation Grants

Outdoor Nation recognizes that sometimes the smallest grant can make the largest difference. The Outdoor Nation Grants opportunity is awarded $2,500 to bring innovative ideas to life. This projects support the goals of the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative, launched by President Obama in early 2011, and allow youth to tackle some of the many challenges facing young people today, from a population’s disconnect with the outdoors to a community’s overall declining health. These community-based, youth led-initiatives leverage existing programs and resources, including the National Park Service. CHECK OUT THE WINNING PROJECTS.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about Outdoor Nation grant programs, contact Ivan Levin at ilevin@outdoorfoundation.org.