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APPLICATIONS FOR LIVE GREENER, LEARN & PLAY GRANTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Applications are now being accepted for the Trail Blazers Foundation’s Live Greener, Learn, and Play grants for nonprofits. Organizations can apply for up to $25,000 per year for two years of funding via an application process administered by Oregon Community Foundation.

Nonprofits in Oregon and SW Washington should review the guidelines below and apply by April 2.

In 2023, the Foundation granted $450,000 to 35 organizations that support youth from historically underserved and marginalized communities where they live, learn, and play. See the previous recipients by category below.


2022-23 Grant Recipients

  • Camp ELSO – Culturally relevant STEAM education and workforce development empowering youth of color
  • Camp Fire Columbia – Salmon Camp accommodations, food, and counselors for Indigenous students 
  • Friends of Pier Park – “Connecting Our Kids to Their Next-Door Nature” Program for Sitton Elementary School students 
  • Friends of Tryon Creek – Tryon Ecology Adventures culturally responsive environmental education day program 
  • High Desert Partnership – Career-level internships and mentoring to create career opportunities for youth in ecological stewardship and restoration 
  • Mary River Watershed Council – Workshops, field trips, & field lessons for bilingual high school students, dual-immersion 3rd graders, & high school science classes 
  • Mount Pisgah Arboretum – Training and compensation for Latinx youth to be bilingual nature educators 
  • Soul River – Environmental education deployments for youth supported by adults who are veterans 
  • Upper Deschutes Watershed Council – Hands-on education and stewardship activities to connect students to rivers and streams  
  • Verde – Support for staff capacity, curriculum, and transportation for field trip-based environmental education 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis – Free “Be Great by 8th" and “Training Teens for Tomorrow” programming
  • Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion & Polk Counties – Staffing and supplies to support Project Learn’s focus on high school graduation and post-secondary education 
  • College Possible – Programming support including materials, technology, and travel for rural Oregon counties 
  • Elevate Oregon – Curriculum, academic and socioemotional support, career development, culturally responsive advocacy, and 1:1 mentoring for at-risk youth 
  • Friends of the Mentor Program – One-on-one, team, and peer mentoring in Lake County  
  • Latino Network – Escalera Educational Access program for Latinx high school students 
  • Mt. Scott Park Center for Learning – Equitable high school education for students who struggle to fulfill their potential in traditional school environment 
  • Portland YouthBuilders – Trainer, tools and supplies, and test fees for Construction Training program 
  • Project Youth+ – Mentoring and support to regain track to post-secondary education
  • Shadow Project – Reading materials and support for volunteer recruitment along with an educator to expand Reading Mentors in the Centennial School District 
  • SMART Reading – Literacy support and book access for Southern Oregon counties 
  • Willamette Academy at Willamette University – College access programming via academic support and mentoring for high school students in Salem-Keizer school district 
  • Young Roots Oregon – Academic support services for teen parents in Greater Albany Public School District 
  • Youth Progress Association – Year-round Learning Center for students in foster care 
  • AC Portland – Recruitment, training, and stipends for mentors in support of roller derby and volleyball programming for girls and gender-expansive youth 
  • Adaptive Sports Northwest – Recreational, fitness and competitive opportunities for youth with physical or visual disabilities  
  • Adelante Mujeres – Staff and supplies for 10-week Soccer Academy for Latinx girls with parenting workshops and family engagement support 
  • Boys & Girls Club of Warm Springs/Snohomish County – Triple Play program re-introduction at the Warm Springs Club 
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Lane County – Multi-Sport equipment including portable basketball hoops, pickle ball supplies, and volleyball nets/stands
  • Building Healthy Families – Pump track at bicycle playground park  
  • Central Oregon Disability Support Network – Bike for Life program at no cost to youth and families 
  • Kids Club of Harney County – Road Running Club and Out of School enrichment programs 
  • Made to Thrive – Participation fees, gear and apparel, transportation, and staff salaries to remove barriers for rural youth to participate in sport 
  • Northwest Association for Blind Athletes – Camp Spark adaptive sports and skill development for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired 
  • Portland Community Football Club – High-quality, affordable club soccer for youth 

2020-21 Grant Recipients

  • Camp ELSO – Community based environmental education that uses the natural world to connect children from underrepresented communities to STEAM.
  • CultureSeed – Expansion of Outdoor Leadership and Bending the Bars programs.
  • Elkton Community Education Center – Student positions on garden crew, purchase supplies, and help cover staff costs for supervising students.
  • Friends of Zenger Farm – Hand-on-outdoor programming to David Douglas School District and other title one schools in Multnomah County.
  • Lomakatsi Restoration Project – Community-based Youth Ecological Stewardship Training and Employment Program.
  • Mary’s River Watershed Council – Outdoor training workshops, field trips, and field lessons for bilingual high school peer mentors, dual immersion 3rd graders, and high school science classes.
  • Oregon Environmental Council – Education and outreach to rural and urban Oregonians on safe and sustainable ways to reduce air and water pollution.
  • Oregon Human Development Corporation – Youth summer jobs program serving 75 additional youth in year-round environmentally focused work-based learning at SupaFresh Youth Farm.
  • Soul River, Inc. – Environmental education deployments for youth and veterans’ program.
  • The Blueprint Foundation – Preparation of Black youth for careers in the green sector via place-based learning, youth-driven watershed stewardship projects, internships and teaching assignments in K-8 schools.
  • Wallowa Resources – Continuation of Youth Environmental Education Program.
  • African Youth and Community Organization (AYCO) – Youth juvenile and violence prevention program with a focus on strengthening a sense of cultural identity within immigrant communities of the Pan Africa Diaspora.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest – One to one mentoring relationships and supportive services for 500 youth in Oregon and SW Washington.
  • Black Parent Initiative – Staff time and program materials to support the health, cultural identity development, and parent education of multi-ethnic children.
  • College Dreams – Individualized mentorship services for students including funds to cover transportation, fees, and materials.
  • College Possible – Program support including teaching and test prep materials, snacks, technology , campus visits, and travel for in person sessions.
  • De La Salle North Catholic High School – Transformative educational experience for 290 low income students to and through college.
  • Elevate Oregon – Mentoring and curriculum designed to address disparities in education while promoting achievement, leadership and self-sufficiency through TeacherMentors.
  • Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin – Salaried professionals to provide enrolled youth individualized, trauma-informed mentoring.
  • KairosPDX – Delivery of equitable K-5 education to underserved children, their families and their communities.
  • Mt. Scott Park Center for Learning – Core academic and life skills classes for 230 high school students.
  • Next Door, Inc. – Staff and program supplies including snacks and materials for Inspiration Circle.
  • Open School – Programming for underserved students to stay in school, meet growth benchmarks, and graduate on time.
  • Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) – Educational wraparound services to remove systemic barriers to education and graduation for students.
  • Portland YouthBuilders – Construction Training Program including a trainer, student work tools, supplies, GED test fees, and construction vehicle costs.
  • REAP – Expansion of the Solutions Program, including staff, services, supplies, and program activity fees for students.
  • SMART Reading – Rural programming offering one on one reading support and new books to elementary school students.
  • The Black United Fund of Oregon – One on one support and workshops for Portland youth, marginalized based on race, gender, and income to reach college, vocational, and career goals.
  • Adaptive Sports Northwest – Staff, rental of accessible facilities for practices and tournaments, referees, and team registration fees.
  • Betties3Sixty – Action sports, outdoor recreation, and life skills education to inspire confidence, well-being, and community among female-identifying individuals.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley – BODY portion of our Triple Play program including daily fitness challenges and sports training activities that encourage regular physical fitness and activity.
  • City of Lincoln City Parks and Recreation – Local Youth Basketball League.
  • City of St. Helens – Staffing, transportation, and equipment for structured and unstructured free play activities.
  • Community Cycling Center – After-school bike clubs at low-income schools for fun, exercise, and transportation.
  • Habitat for Humanity-McMinnville – Basketball half-court as the anchoring feature of the community park in the 34-lot Aspire Community Development MacHabitat.
  • Inner City Basketball – Coaches, trainers, facilities, and tournament fees.
  • John Day Swim Association – Promotion of swimming and fees for competition among teams within the district.
  • Kids Club of Harney County – Road Running Club and Out of School Enrichment program.
  • Kids Club of Jefferson County – Summer Olympics and scholarships for camps.
  • Living Yoga – Weekly remote classes at partner site locations and in-person classes, once safe, for 225+ youth per month.
  • Made to Thrive – Clearinghouse for access to local sports programming for low income youth.
  • Morpheus Youth Project – Artists and educators providing ongoing and one-time break dance workshops and events in and out of youth corrections environments.
  • Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp – Life-changing outdoor and recreational experiences to children with developmental disabilities.
  • Northwest Association for Blind Athletes – Sports programming including adaptive equipment, video resources, travel, facilities, and snacks for youth who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Portland Tennis & Education – Coaching, tutoring and athletic support for low income students, helping them to graduate from high school on-time and lead healthy lives.
  • Self Enhancement, Inc. – Summer basketball programming including instructors, coaches, referees, equipment, and bus passes.
  • Special Olympics Oregon, Inc. – Year-round sports training and competition for children with intellectual disabilities.
  • YWCA of Greater Portland – Financial assistance for at risk children and youth to fully participate in active activities in their communities, like soccer, basketball, swimming, dance, and baseball.