Funding Opportunity for Trail Projects 

In previous years the Waterman Fund has discussed providing larger grant awards towards trail projects to better serve the mission of the Fund. The Fund has cumulatively awarded over $22,000 towards trail projects since 2002, consisting of only 11% of the total grants awarded. These individual grants have been generally between $2,000- $3,000. As a result, the Fund has not been able to invest a significant amount of funding towards trail projects.

In recent dialogue with land managers, trail maintainers, and researchers there appears to be a need to invest into the greater alpine trail infrastructure. This improved trail infrastructure will help protect the fragile alpine ecosystem that surrounds these trails.

In the 2019-20 grant cycle, the Waterman Fund is offering up to $15,000 towards alpine / sub-alpine trail reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. This grant will be in addition to our annual grants awarded and will follow the same guidelines and parameters.

We encourage nonprofit trail maintenance organizations to apply to the Waterman Fund if there is a trail project that the Fund can contribute to. The Fund is excited to offer this expanded opportunity to help strengthen trail stewardship in the alpine areas of Northeastern North America. Please submit a grant application by December 15, 2018 to [email protected].