National Recreation Foundation

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Our History

The National Recreation Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation administered by a citizens’ Board of Trustees. The Foundation was started to initiate and support the promotion and development of leadership, programs, and facilities in the field of recreation and parks.

History of Foundation

World War I had a galvanizing effect on many American communities. As the United States answered its Allies' call for support by sending thousands of young men into military service, those left at home banded together to support the war effort. War Camp Community Services (WCCS), Inc. was established in 1919 to provide funds for recreation and other services for the "homefront".

By the end of World War I, the WCCS fund contained nearly $1.5 million. This money was invested in an endowment portfolio that grew to approximately $40 million, giving way to the early beginnings of the National Recreation Foundation (NRF). Today, the NRF operates as a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to working with organizations to increase access to recreational opportuni- ties and to use recreation as a tool for improving mental, physical, social and spiritual health.

The NRF Board of Trustees has historically represented diverse geographic areas of the U.S. in order to engage with the different facets of American Life. Nonetheless, Board members have always shared three common bonds: a love of recreation, a deep respect for its value in all our lives, and the belief that high quality recreation programs are vital in fostering social stability and healthy lifestyles in our communities.

Grant Selection Process

The NRF has actively made annual grants since its inception as a foundation in 1965. Grants are generally accepted in two ways: as a Trustee or Special Grant. Every year, each of the Board of Trustees selects a project they believe fulfills the goals of the NRF. The sponsoring Trustee must propose the project to the Board in which recommendations are made for funding the grant. Trustee Grants are limited to $30,000. However, the Foundation also accepts proposals from other pre-selected organizations, which are considered Special Grants. These grants are not subject to a monetary limit, but may be subject to stricter granting criteria.

The NRF generally uses the following criteria for evaluating proposals for projects:

• Grants must be consistent with the NRF Mission statement.
• Grants are made only to organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code or to governmental agencies. Grants are not made to individuals.
• Grants are normally not made for (1) capital expenses; (2) overhead costs beyond those needed for effective and efficient administration of the grant programs; or (3) research.
• Programs that are supported should be innovative within the context in which the recipient organization operates, and should have the potential to contribute to life transformation for disadvantaged youth.
• Programs must have leverage potential, such as matching funds, or the development of partnerships or collaborations, that will enhance a grant's effectiveness.
• Programs should be capable of being replicated in other communities or agencies. Grants can be made to facilitate such replication.
• Grant proposals should show how a program will be sustained at the end of the grant period when it becomes the exclusive responsibility of the grantee.
• Evaluation measures are required. Outcome rather than output measures are preferred and are expected for larger, special grants. However, the NRF recognizes that the costs associated with measuring outcomes (i.e. what happens to participants as a result of the program) can be constraining and not as feasible for smaller grants.

Typical output measures might include:

• Number of participants
• Cost per participant served
• User perceptions of service quality
• User satisfaction levels
• Exportability of the innovative program to other contexts

Typical outcome measures might include changes in:

• Physical well-being, mental health, or stress levels
• Emotional and social well-being such as self-esteem, social interaction, empathy for others, and self-confidence
• Deviant behaviors
• Life or leisure skills such as educational attainment, acquisition of knowledge, problem solving ability, and cognitive processing

The Foundation also accepts proposals from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and from other pre-selected orga- nizations. However, it does not accept unsolicited proposals.