$5,000-$15,000 mini-grants to support civic engagement, community projects

The PA Wilds Center announced today that it will be offering $80,000 in mini grants this year for rural communities across the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

The PA Wilds Community Engagement Mini-Grant program, which is funded with support from the Trust for Civic Life and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), will open Jan. 29, with applications due by March 6. Requests can range from $5,000 to $15,000.

The mini grant program will focus on supporting community-driven civic engagement projects that support the regional PA Wilds strategy to grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy, nature tourism, and creative placemaking within the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape.

Examples of eligible projects include public art or other placemaking projects that engage the local community; efforts to mobilize and engage volunteers to support local trails or cultural assets; initiatives that empower and encourage community involvement in local beautification projects; welcoming and wayfinding signage that builds on recommendations from the award-winning PA Wilds Design Guide for Community Character Stewardship – a free resource created by the locally-led PA Wilds Planning Team that is in use throughout the region, and similar types of projects and efforts.

Mini grants will be provided as reimbursement for expenses incurred toward approved projects. All projects must take place in 2026. No match is required.  

“The PA Wilds Center is thrilled to be able to offer these mini grants to our rural communities,” said Ta Enos, CEO of the PA Wilds Center, the nonprofit that spearheads the 20-year PA Wilds strategy in coordination with local and state partners. “There is a lot of momentum around tourism and outdoor recreation as a revitalization strategy in communities across the region, but we know this has been a tough time for funding, and that as a highly rural region we continue to face capacity and capital constraints to support great ideas. We’re proud to work with our state and national funding partners to bring new resources to the table.”

Enos said a number of partner organizations have stepped up to help with mini grant review and selection, including representatives from DCNR, Elk County Council on the Arts, Lumber Heritage Region, PA Route 6 Alliance, PA Wilds Planning Team, and Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

“Many of these partners run mini grant programs themselves or have regional visibility through the work they do,” Enos said. “We greatly appreciate their insights and expertise as we implement this program.”

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS & PROJECTS

Applicants must be PA Wilds Cooperative members, and may be non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, municipalities and councils of government, conservation districts, educational institutions, housing and redevelopment authorities, or businesses. However, 501(c) 4 organizations are not eligible, and funds may not be used for lobbying or voter registration activities. Individuals or informal groups with ideas for projects are encouraged to partner with an eligible organization as a fiscal administrator to apply.

Projects must encourage local civic engagement by engaging the public and encouraging people to get involved in the community, and/or create outlets for people to gather and contribute. Projects should focus on community projects located in the designated Pennsylvania Wilds region, be non-partisan, and be led by staff or leadership living or working in the community served. New or existing projects are eligible, but the applicant must demonstrate how the project is now increasing civic engagement within the community being served.

The projects must also support the regional effort to grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy, nature tourism, and creative placemaking within the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape, which spans 13 counties: Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren. Applicants from Centre County are encouraged to contact PA Wilds Center at support@pawildscenter.org prior to applying to ensure the project is within the PA Wilds region.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Welcome/Wayfinding Signage – Community-led, small-scale projects that improve orientation and community pride in rural towns or park areas, building on recommendations in the PA Wilds Design Guide for Community Character Stewardship
• Community-led Civic Programs – Neighborhood clubs, block parties, or civic associations that create opportunities for residents to gather and contribute to projects that advance the regional PA Wilds effort
• Community Conservation & Beautification – Programs and initiatives that empower and encourage the community to take ownership of blight through group learning and participating in beautification projects and remediation of public spaces
• Public Art Project – Local groups creating murals, sculptures, or other art that celebrates community identity and encourages public interaction
• Arts in Education Residencies – Supports local schools or community centers hosting artists to engage students and residents in creative civic activities
• Volunteer Engagement Initiatives – Programs that mobilize residents to maintain trails, parks, or cultural/heritage assets and community spaces, building local networks and participation

APPLICATION REVIEW & TIMELINE

The application will open on Thursday, Jan. 29, and all applications will be due by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 6, 2026.

PA Wilds Center staff, as well as a panel of partners from other organizations serving the PA Wilds region, will review and score applications following submission. Each application will be evaluated based on whether the proposed project supports PA Wilds Center’s mission within the Conservation Landscape, the project expands opportunities for and encourages civic engagement, the application outlines a strong plan for increasing participation in communities and measuring outcomes, and whether the project will bring residents together by investing directly in community-driven projects that reflect local priorities and creativity.

Organizations will be notified by early April, and projects must be completed in 2026. Final reports will be due by Nov. 30, 2026.

HOW TO APPLY

Learn more and apply at PAWildsCenter.org/mini-grants.

To learn more about the PA Wilds Cooperative and how to join, visit Members.PAWildsCenter.org/join.

Prospective applicants with questions may contact PA Wilds Center at support@pawildscenter.org or by calling 800-895-1376.