Trails Grant Committee Charter: The Trails Grants committee wll advertise for trail projects and then review the proposals to recommend to the AERC Board of Directors those that should be funded. The BOD should propose an annual budget for the committee to work within. The committee should consist of a small number of directors from various regions and the Trails Advocacy Committee chairman. The proposals should be reviewed on an agreed upon advertised criteria from AERC bylaws.

To make your grant request a reality:

AERC has grant funds available for projects and we look forward to getting your application. With so many budget cuts in these tough economic times, it is more important now than ever before to get involved with trail improvement. Whether you organize a project or volunteer on a project every effort counts and will go a long ways to making sure we have miles of trails to ride with our wonderful equestrian friends.

Be organized before you make the application for the grant. Know the project specifics including what work is to be done, what material is needed, who will be doing the work, what matching funds are available, total costs, what AERC rides are held on the trail, and when the work is expected to be done.

For the grant application form, click here.

Send your completed grant application to either the chair of the Trails and Land Management Committee or to the Trails Grants Program Liaison. Check the committee page of the AERC website, phone the AERC office, 866-271-2372, or check the committee pages of Endurance News.

Review of grants will be an ongoing process. Requests should be made as soon as your project has clear definition.

If you have any question about AERC trails grants, contact the Grants Program Liaison, Dawn Hilliard.

American Hiking Society’s National Trails Fund is the only privately funded, national grants program dedicated solely to building and protecting hiking trails. Created in response to the growing backlog of trail maintenance projects, the National Trails Fund has helped hundreds of grassroots organizations acquire the resources needed to protect America’s cherished hiking trails. To date, American Hiking Society has funded 217 trail projects through 170 organizations by awarding over $698,000 in National Trails Fund grants.

AQHA’s Stewards for Trails, Education and Partnerships (STEP) is a program to increase participation in trail stewardship among equine enthusiasts while casting a positive light on horseback riders to land managers and other trail users. Funding requests are due one or before August 1 of each year. For more information, visit: AQHA STEP program.

Extreme Terrain offers grants of $250 to support trail improvement projects. Click for the link to Extreme Terrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program. Grants can range from trail clean-up, restoration, expansion, etc.

Lowe’s Community Partners Grants. You are invited to apply for grants from $2,001-$100,000 for capital projects in the United States. Link for: Lowe’s Community Partners Grants page.

NEEF, National Environmental Education Foundation, provides grants and awards to educational and public land partners across the U.S. Visit to find out more, visit: NEEF to see their Every Day Event and Every Day Capacity Building grants.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation focuses on Western New York and Southeast Michigan in four different areas of commitment, including “livable communities.” They are open to grant funding in parks, trails and green design. To find out more, visit: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

REI – contact your local REI store for details.