Since 2002, the ACA has partnered with L.L.Bean to sponsor the Club Fostered Stewardship Program, which was refocused in 2021 as the Club Fostered Community Grant (CFC) Program. This program provides grant funding to paddling clubs and organizations that implement projects and events on their local waterways.
ACA member non-profit organizations, clubs, and volunteer groups are invited to apply for funding for their ongoing activities, projects, and programs which illustrate substantial and quantifiable efforts at inviting and including new community members. The goal of these efforts is to create a welcoming environment for new paddlers to get involved and to create lifelong connections to their waterways and the larger paddling community.
Applications will be accepted from now until March 1st.
Qualifying Criteria
- Eligible applicants must be ACA member organizations (clubs, affiliates, or pro schools)
- Eligible projects may focus upon paddling education, competition, stewardship initiatives, or any combination of the three.
- Priority will be given to applications from active paddling clubs or outdoor clubs that have a significant paddling component.
- Clubs are not required to be official 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organizations, but they must be a not-for-profit entity in purpose and function. For-profit business interests are not eligible for funding under this grant program.
- Grant awards will only be made for specific community outreach projects. No grants will be awarded for “general support.”
- Proposed projects should utilize volunteer efforts to the maximum extent possible.
- Projects that are harmful to the waterway, the surrounding environment, or to wildlife will not qualify. Projects that are exclusionary to any particular community group(s) or member(s) will not qualify.
- Funding will not be awarded for lobbying or litigation activities.
Grant requests will be evaluated on the merit of the proposed project and its overall contribution to the goals of the CFC Program. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis as determined by the ACA. The CFC Program offers access to grants of up to $2,000. The ACA reserves the right to award an amount less than the amount requested in the grant application.
