Tennessee Trails Association

Promoting the development and enjoyment of Tennessee trails.

Grants

Evan Means Grants Program

The next due date for grant requests is October 1, 2023.

Purpose

The Evan Means Grants Program was created in 1999 to honor the memory of Evan Means, one of the co-founders of the Tennessee Trails Association in 1968. The program provides funding for volunteer-based nonprofit groups that may feel their request is too small to submit to more formal grant-making organizations.

Requirements

  • Grant requests must be for projects related in some way to improving or enhancing trails and/or the hiking experience in Tennessee.
  • Grant requests are generally expected to be less than $1,000, but requests for any amount will be considered.
  • Applications must benefit non-profit grantees.
  • Projects must be freely accessible to the general public.
  • There should be a significant use of volunteer labor in the project.
  • Grant requests will generally be for tools and materials, not for general labor. However, payment for specialized skills may be considered. Tools purchased for a project may be retained by the recipient, passed on to another non-profit, or returned to TTA. They may not be sold to other organizations, or sold or given to individuals.
  • Individuals submitting grant requests do not have to be members of the grantee organization, but should have the organization’s approval.
  • Projects generally should be completed within 12 months and TTA should be advised of any delays encountered as a project progresses. Significant delays in starting a project may result in revocation of the grant, with resubmission in a later cycle. Significant delays in completing a project should be discussed with TTA as soon as possible.
  • Applications must include plans for publicity regarding the award and for recognition of TTA’s contribution to the project.

Application

Grant requests will be submitted to the TTA Grants Committee and must include:

  • Grantee name (the organization to which the check will be written)
  • A brief narrative description of the project and how it fits within the range of the organization’s total activities
  • A description of how the project will benefit hikers and the usage level at the location.
  • An estimate of the project’s start and completion dates
  • A detailed budget for spending the amount requested
    • The scope should be for the project at hand and not for any larger initiative
    • This should not include the value of volunteer or staff labor
  • The total cost of the project from all funding sources
  • The number of total man-hours required by the project, and
  • The amount of volunteer hours expected to be used.

Review

A Grants Committee, appointed by the TTA President and approved by the TTA Board of Directors, will evaluate each grant request and make a recommendation to the Board to approve the grant in full, approve the grant for a different amount, or reject the grant.

The Committee will consider both subjective and objective factors in evaluating each request. Requests should be complete but succinct. Priority is given to projects with significant volunteer labor content, which impact a substantial number of hikers. Plans that include an acknowledgement of TTA’s support on permanent fixtures such as signage are favored.

The Grant cycle will be quarterly. Requests must be submitted by email and received by the Grants committee no later than 30 days prior to a regularly scheduled board meeting. Receipt of the request will be acknowledged by email; contact the committee if you have not received a confirmation within 3 business days.

Publicity

The grantee will acknowledge TTA’s participation in the project, either by attaching tags or placards to a structure, or by inclusion in signage or in publications prepared by the recipient.

TTA is free to publicize its contribution to the project.

The grantee agrees to participate in a press release or other publicity that acknowledges TTA’s participation in the project

Completion

The grantee must keep the committee informed about the project’s progress and completion with emails and photos.

Click here to contact the TTA Grants Committee

Evan Means Email Address: ttagrants68@tennesseetrails.org

Download Application
black and white photo of Evan Means
TTA Co-Founder Evan Means
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