Deadline: 30-Sep-2024
The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is dedicated to those who work and play outdoors including, but not limited to, those who rely on off-highway vehicles (OHVs) to ride, camp, hunt or fish.
Supporting the outdoor enthusiast, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s mission is to provide practical support for efforts that promote safe, responsible use of OHVs, educate the public on proper recreational land use and wildlife conservation practices, and protect appropriate and sustainable access to public lands.
Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax exempt groups (clubs & associations), public riding areas (local, state and federal), outdoor enthusiast associations and land conservation organizations, and communities with an interest in protecting, improving, expanding and/or maintaining access for safe, responsible and sustainable use by motorized off-road vehicles. The committee will review each application and award funds to deserving projects.
Examples of how Outdoor Access Initiative funds may be used:
- Land Management and Conservation Projects
- Trail Development, Restoration, Maintenance, Signage and Maps
- Staging Area and Facilities
- Safety and Education
- Outdoor Recreation
Eligible Projects
- The following are examples of appropriate projects for a Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative grant:
- Trail development, restoration and/or maintenance (i.e. purchasing materials, hiring contractors, renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear).
- Trail signage (i.e., purchasing signs, equipment, installation tools, etc.).
- Stage area renovation/facilities (i.e., renting equipment, purchasing materials, hiring contractors, etc.).
- Protecting environmentally sensitive areas from illegal or inadvertent OHV use (fencing, bridges, hardscape, etc.).
- Adopt-a-Trail (renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear, volunteer coordination, etc.).
- Trail mapping/Map production (GPS equipment purchase, production and printing, etc.).
- Safety and Education (educational materials, signage, safety gear, events, etc.).
- Wildlife and habitat maintenance and management.
- Land management projects that increase the diversity of use of land for recreational activities.
- Establishing, increasing and/or maintaining access to land for outdoor recreation (including but not exclusively limited to motorized recreation).
- Note: Outdoor Access Initiative grants will not be awarded for the purpose of purchasing Yamaha vehicles and the program is not able to donate vehicles outright.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations must be based in the United States and have tax exempt (e.g. 501c3, 501c7) or non-profit status. Documentation from the certifying government agency validating tax exempt or non-profit status must be provided.
- Organizations can only receive one Outdoor Access grant per calendar year. However, an applicant may reapply each quarter until a grant is approved and awarded.
- All applications must include an endorsement letter from a local Yamaha dealership. This letter should demonstrate the dealer’s familiarity with the applicant as well as the benefits of the project outlined in the application.
- Organizations must provide a copy of its last year’s tax return or pro forma financial statement. Only government agencies are exempt from this requirement. Government agents must include a letter of support for the project from a senior agency executive or elected official.
- U.S. Forest Service properties seeking grant funding for projects must partner with a local OHV riding group or state OHV riding association to administer the application and grant funds. Priority for funding will be given to those partnerships codified by a volunteer service contract or Memorandum of Understanding. If a grant is awarded the funds will be given to the OHV riding group/association for the specific and exclusive use for the project specified in the application.
- Applicants should carefully consider how Yamaha or the Yamaha brand will be included in the funded project.
Ineligible
- The Outdoor Access Initiative has a limited ability to approve the loans of certain vehicles. Yamaha ATV/SxS loans include, but are not limited to, the following restrictions:
- Law enforcement agencies (including emergency responders, forest field staff, etc.) must first explore their options through the Law Enforcement Loan Program available at most Yamaha dealers across the country.
- Organizations receiving approval must work directly with a Yamaha dealer to secure the vehicle(s). Dealers are not required to participate.
- Organization must pick up vehicle within 60 days of approval.
- Loans are only valid for up to 12 months from when vehicle is picked up.
- Organizations are responsible for maintaining the units as recommended by Yamaha, and repairing any damage prior to returning the unit to the dealership.
For more information, visit Yamaha Outdoors.