The Skatepark Project is in a strategic planning phase and have postponed grantmaking until January 2024 to restructure our programs. When we resume grantmaking, we will review applications, and decisions will be made on a quarterly basis.
Skatepark Construction Grants
The primary mission of the The Skatepark Project is to help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for youth.
Only organizations seeking to build free, public, concrete skateparks in underserved communities may apply for a construction grant from The Skatepark Project.
The Skatepark Project Grants Committee primarily considers skatepark projects that:
• are designed and built from concrete by qualified and experienced skatepark contractors.
• include local skaters throughout the planning, fundraising, and design process.
• are in underserved areas.
• can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment to the project, particularly in the form of fundraising by local skateboarders/wheeled stakeholders and other community groups.
• have a creative mix of street obstacles (rails, ledges, stairs, etc.) and transition/vert terrain (quarterpipes, bowls, halfpipes, etc.)
• don’t require skaters or their parents to sign waivers.
• encourage skaters to look after their own safety and the safety of others without restricting their access to the park or over-regulating their use of it.
• are open during daylight hours, 365 days a year.
• don’t charge an entrance fee.
• are unsupervised
• allow all types of skatepark users (skate, BMX scooter, rollerskate, Wheelchair (WCMX) and inline)
• are in areas that currently have inadequate skateboarding facilities.
SUPPLY VS. DEMAND
As skateparks grow in popularity, the demand for grants from The Skatepark Project is far exceeding our available resources. We have received as many as 450 applications in a single year, with the vast majority requesting our maximum grant. In other words, the competition for The Skatepark Project funds is stiff, so please don’t get your hopes too high. If your proposed skatepark is not located in an underserved area, and if you are not able to illustrate strong community and grassroots support for the project, and if your project does not meet the criteria listed below, you are unlikely to receive a significant grant from our organization.
Before beginning the Grant Application process, you should review these eligibility requirements.
THE SKATEPARK PROJECT NATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM
Skatepark Project offers grants of up to $50,000. The average grant amount for a National Program applicant is $10,000.
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Many types of public concrete skatepark projects may be eligible for a skatepark construction grant from The Skatepark Project.
• New Skatepark Construction
• New Skate Spot Construction
• Skateable Art Sculptures
• Active City Space Conversion (legalizing skateboarding in shared spaces)
• Accessibility Improvements/Repairs
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY
Letters of Inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis.
Grant Award decisions are made by the Grants Committee on a quarterly basis.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
The organization may offer technical assistance on design and construction, promotional materials, and other information. The organization may also provide letters of support and/or facilitate support from vendors, suppliers, and community leaders. If you are interested in receiving free Technical Assistance from our Programs Department, please email contact@skatepark.org
DEFINITION OF “UNDERSERVED”
The primary mission of the The Skatepark Project is to help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for youth. “Underserved” can be defined as communities marginalized by poverty, geography, or racial, gender and other forms of social inequality or discrimination. Below are some examples of information The Skatepark Project may use to determine if a community qualifies as underserved:
• Distance to existing contemporary skate space (concrete, public)
• Median Household Income
• Racial and Ethnic Composition
• Poverty Rate
• Free and Reduced Lunch Rate
• Suicide, Overdose & Disconnected Youth Rates”
GRANT APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Can we apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project?
• If your organization is a public charity, for example, a 501(c)(3), or your organization is a state or local agency, it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization plans to build a custom concrete skatepark it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization seeks funds for the construction of a NEW skatepark, it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization is seeking funds for a project within the United States, it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If the Median Household Income (MHI) in the city or town where the skatepark will be located in is significantly at or below your State’s Median Household Income, your organization is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization has achieved some significant fundraising goals, it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization has secured a location for your skatepark, with municipal approval, you are eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your organization has a preliminary design for the skatepark, it is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your skatepark is free to use, and does not require a fee or membership, your organization is eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
• If your skatepark will be located on public property, you are eligible to apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project.
FREQUENCY
Grants are based on a one-time, single-year award, although they may be paid over more than one year, if appropriate. The organization does not provide sustaining funds or multi-year grants.
ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must be a public charity, organized under IRC Sec. 501(C)(3), and qualified under IRC Sec. 170(B)(1)(A), or a state or local agency, including public school systems or public projects. For organizations that are not municipalities or state or local agencies, proof of federal tax-exempt status is required with the grant application. A photocopy of the organization’s IRS Determination Letter, showing its tax-exempt status, will satisfy this requirement. The organization is legally prohibited from providing grants to private, for-profit entities.
Parties that don’t meet eligibility requirements or are “premature” will be given project notes and an invitation to receive free Technical Assistance before reapplying at a later date.
APPLICATION PROCESS DETAILS
If your organization submits a Letter Of Inquiry and is invited to apply for funding, TSP staff will reach out with further instructions.
The Skatepark Project grant applications are completed online, and all supporting documents are submitted through the same online portal.
Supporting documents (“supplemental materials”) emailed to our offices that do not correspond to a completed online application will not be considered.
Supporting (or supplemental) documents include the following:
• IRS Determination Letter: If this application is coming from a non-profit organization other than a municipality or public agency, a copy of your IRS Determination Letter must be submitted with this application. A scan or digital version will suffice.
• Press Clippings: Please include documentation (such as newspaper clips or letters from prominent officials) of community support for your skatepark. We only request a few of your favorite pieces but are happy to review anything that you think helps tell your skatepark’s story. Scans of articles and/or links to online articles are acceptable.
• Skatepark Design: A copy of your skatepark design must be submitted. A rendering of the final proposed skatepark design is preferred, but a preliminary concept may be acceptable.
• Financial Statements: Most recent financial statements and budget of skatepark committee, if any. (Please don’t include your municipality’s entire budget. We just need to see numbers pertinent to your skatepark project).
Only applications submitted via the online form will be considered. Applications may not be submitted via printed forms, FAX, e-mail, or CDs and other digital media.
The Skatepark Project approves grant requests four times a year. To be considered within a quarter, applications should submit a Letter of Inquiry via the online form. If invited to apply, all required supporting documents must be postmarked within one business day following the Grant Application deadline given to the applicant during communication with TSP Staff.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be reminded of upcoming grants opportunities and intervals.
GRANT FULFILLMENT REQUIREMENTS
If the grant application is approved, the applicant will be required to sign a Grant Agreement, confirming the terms of the award. These terms and conditions highlight the three year term to complete the project, the requirement to notify The Skatepark Project of the skatepark’s pending opening date, as well as deliverables such as photos of the completed space and testimonials of the advocacy experience.
GUIDELINES FOR REAPPLYING
There is no limit to the number of times an organization or community can apply for a grant from The Skatepark Project, though any applicant may only receive one grant from The Skatepark Project over $1,000 (per area skatepark). Grant recipients that have received no more than $1,000 from The Skatepark Project may re-apply for another grant.
HOW TO APPLY
To be invited to apply for a grant, interested parties must register their skatepark project and submit a Letter of Inquiry through our grant management software.
