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NRF Welcomes New Cohort of Outdoor Grant Recipients

April 16, 2025  |  black kids adventures, brothers on the rise, brown girls climb, CREATE, diné we can, holistic philanthropy, laru beya collective, localogy, lower brule wildlife, museum of the rockies, national recreation foundation, outdoor grants, outdoor inclusion coalition, she jumps, soul track outdoors, tom's of maine, turner foundation, youth seen
young people practice surfing stances on the sand
Photo courtesy of Laru Beya Collective

NRF is excited to announce a new cohort of Outdoor Grant recipients. The grants will serve thirteen community organizations located in eleven different states plus Washington D.C. Each organization takes a unique approach to connect kids with nature and a throughline across the cohort is innovative programming aimed at creating more inclusive outdoor recreation spaces for youth with marginalized identities. Of the thirteen organizations in the cohort, eleven specifically serve youth of color. Of those eleven, three focus on Indigenous youth, two focus on Black youth, two focus on girls and non-binary youth of color, and one focuses on LGBTQ+ youth of color. Recreation programs that help young people with these identities feel seen and valued in outdoor spaces are invaluable. 

a group posed behind an orange flag
Photo courtesy of Brown Girls Climb

Organizations included in the new Outdoor Grant are: Black Kids Adventures, Brothers on the Rise, Brown Girls Climb, CREATE, Diné WE CAN, Laru Beya Collective, Localogy, Lower Brule Wildlife, Museum of the Rockies, Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, She Jumps, Soul Trak Outdoors, and Youth Seen. 

a group of kids stand with their bikes and helmets
Photo courtesy of CREATE

Funding across organizations totals almost $250,000, but NRF support extends beyond finances. Grantees receive access to professional development workshops, evaluation support from top researchers in the field, peer leadership circles, and networking opportunities. NRF is excited to continue building relationships with the thirteen organizations included in this new cohort and is grateful to our partners at Tom’s of Maine and the Turner Foundation for supporting our holistic grantmaking programs.