New Funding Possibilities for Underwood
Securing grant dollars is not a task for the faint of heart. If you’ve ever tried to write a grant proposal, you know what we mean. There’s a common misconception that grant applications are easy to pull together and easier yet to get funded. But that’s never been the case for us. Small nonprofit organizations often lack the human resources needed to be competitive in the grant funding space, and the Underwood Park and Recreation District (UPRD) is no exception. We are powered by volunteers and, to date, we haven’t had the bandwidth to take on a project like grant writing.
Still, grant opportunities open up tremendous possibilities for organizations like ours. They provide supplemental funds for projects we want to move forward. They connect us to new networks, relationships, and agencies — resources that reach above and beyond financial benefits. They help organizations diversify their income streams, making ambitious goals more attainable. While the UPRD could not exist on grant dollars alone, funding from grants would help us expand our vision and fulfill our mission exponentially.
In February of 2024, the UPRD board submitted a grant proposal to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Community Outdoor Athletic Facilities (COAF) grant program. It wasn’t the first time we’ve applied for this grant, but it was the first time we’ve ever come very close to being funded.
This is a big deal for a number of reasons.
First, we learned how to successfully get ourselves beyond round one of considerations. Grant writing requires hundreds of hours of research, data collection, writing, and editing. It also demands a certain amount of expertise that, in the absence of skilled volunteers for the task, has taken our board a few years to cultivate. This year, we not only made it past the first round of evaluation. We made it through multiple rounds and, in the end, ranked 3rd in a line-up of over 27 competitive entries. We feel very proud of that fact.
Second, our ranking underscored the tremendous potential that now exists for the UPRD to seek and find grant funding as we move forward into the future. From the time our community first assumed responsibility for the Park and Community Center in 2016, our elected board and volunteers have been working tirelessly to establish the UPRD as a park and recreation district that is successfully run by residents and capable of providing leadership for property maintenance, civic services, and enrichment programs for our community. After years of diligent effort, we have built a compelling narrative around how and why the UPRD will be a responsible recipient of grant dollars from public agencies and private foundations. This also makes us feel proud and, more importantly, that we’re closer than ever to making grant funding a very viable reality.
Finally — the grant application process reminded us that grant money is never really free money. The COAF grant required at least 120 board hours to complete. If we put a number on the value of volunteer time given to that proposal, we would have easily (and conservatively) spent upwards of $4000 — just to toss our hat in the ring. In the past, that calculation has felt like a gamble. Now, it feels like a big step toward seeing a return on that investment.
Why does this matter?
One of our goals for 2025 is to increase the UPRD’s capacity for adding grant dollars to our small portfolio of revenue streams. We want to research and apply for grants that support the UPRD in tackling the projects on our list. We want to find and be funded by grants that help us provide programs and services that matter to our community.
We’ve learned a lot this year, and in the last few years, we’ve worked hard to put our organization in a position where we’re poised to be more successful and efficient at grant writing. We have a solid foundation, but we could use more help.
If you, or someone you know, has any expertise in grant writing or experience (and/or interest) in research, writing, or editing for grants, we hope you’ll reach out. You can drop us a line here.
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Contact Us
Community Center and Park
951 School House Rd.
Underwood, WA 98651
PO Box 172
Underwood, WA 98651