Who else wants money to improve boating in the USA?

A Grassroots grant helped these youngsters understand marine debris in their own community © Scott Croft

Would you like to help boaters be safe and keep waters clean in your local area? Begun over 25 years ago and one of the longest-running boating community grant programs, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water Grassroots Grant program provides local groups up to $10,000 to help educate boaters on safe and clean boating topics.

A 365-day rolling grant application process allows applicants to apply at any time throughout the year, speeding the review process and allowing flexibility in funding projects.

To get started, all a local group has to do is submit a short letter of intent explaining its idea. If the idea is strong and meets Grassroots Grant program guidelines, the BoatUS Foundation will ask for a full proposal. Past projects have ranged from public service announcements on the effects of boating under the influence and installing fishing line recycling bins to hands-on education about the effects of marine debris and even a distinctive airborne blimp adorned with boating safety messages.

"Our goal is facilitate behavioral changes in the boating community," said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach Alanna Keating. "We are always looking for unique ideas that reach local boaters, either through technology or in other ways that can be measured in terms of success."

Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million to organizations that have developed creative projects to promote safe and clean boating on their local waterways. For more information or to apply, go to BoatUS.org/Grants.