Weatherby Foundation International

2012 and 2013

Outdoor Expo and Hunter

Mentoring Grants Program

Purpose:  The purpose of the Weatherby Foundation International Outdoor Exposition and Hunter Mentor Grants is to:

1. Provide financial, organizational, and planning support to state wildlife agencies, organizations, local communities, municipalities and cooperative partners for the production of annual Outdoor Expo events that provide hands-on learning opportunities for  youth and families in the areas of wildlife and habitat conservation; explore the role of hunting and the hunter in wildlife conservation;  and introduce shooting sports, fishing, camping, boating and paddling, and many other skills necessary to responsibly enjoy our great outdoors.
2. To provide wildlife agencies, organizations, and other entities support for projects and programs that provide mentors, coaches, and introductory mentoring opportunities to families and youth wanting to participate in hunting and the shooting sports as recreational and conservation activities.

Click on the appropriate link below to download the application you are requesting:

Outdoor Expo Grant Application 6 Nov 2011

Hunter Mentor Grant Application 6 Nov 2011

About the Grants:  The Weatherby Foundation offers four types of grants to help support Outdoor Expo events and family participation in hunting and fishing:

A)   Large Outdoor Expo Grants - initial year and continuing grants for $2,500 to $5,000.  These grants are available to new and continuing events with 5,000 or more participants, annually.  A state with more than one expo event having collectively 5,000 or more participants would qualify.  Only one grant would be issued pre state.

B)    Community and Regional Expo Grants- $250 to $2,500 depending on size, emphasis, other supporting entities, and number of state regional events.  This could be a one-time start-up or continuing grant. These grants are applied to those expos in a state with an event or events with less than 5,000 participants, collectively, on an annual basis.  The same application form, guidelines, and requirements as that used for the “A) – Large Outdoor Expo Grants” are used in making application and reporting results. These expos encourage participation in outdoor mentor programs and support state and organizational hunter mentor programs.

C)   State Hunter Mentor program grants – These grants are made available only to those states with continuing large Outdoor Expo Events (>10,000 participants) for use in production of family and/or youth mentor programs.  These grants are one-time or continuing grants and are in addition to an Outdoor Expo Grant (A).  The amount is based on need and level of support from other cooperators/contributors.

D)   Family and Youth Hunter/Angler  Mentor Camps and Programs – These grants are made available to family and youth hunter and angler mentor programs that encourage life-long participation in hunting and angling activities through an intensive training and mentoring program.  The grant amount would depend on need, and support from other cooperators.  To qualify, the program must provide mentoring opportunities to a minimum of 50 participants, annually.  The program must have had at least two years of operation and demonstrated its ability to provide services supported by and cooperatively assisted by the state wildlife agency’s hunter education program. This program could be conducted by any state wildlife agency, organization, or private entity; however, it must have the state wildlife agency involved.  Applicants must provide a letter of support from this agency.

All applications must meet the qualification criteria, funding criteria, grant application guidelines, and are subject to Weatherby Foundation Board approval.

New Grant Application Deadline and Approval Dates for 2012 and 2013:

1)     Outdoor Expos scheduled for spring, 2012 and all Hunter Mentoring program applications must be submitted by December 15, 2011.  Grant funding decisions will be made and grants will be awarded by mid-April, 2012.

2)     Outdoor Expos scheduled for fall, 2012, Outdoor Expos scheduled for spring, 2013, and all Hunter Mentoring program applications for 2013 must be submitted by May 15, 2012.  Grant funding decisions will be made and grants will be awarded by late July, 2012.

Who Can Qualify and Submit a Grant Application?

• A state wildlife agency, community, municipality, conservation organization, private entity, or a cooperative partner can host or co-host the event(s) or program; however, the state wildlife agency must have a lead or prominent support role in the planning and production of the Expo event or Mentor Program.  A letter of agreement between the State Wildlife agency and the entity submitting the application must accompany the application.  This letter must include information indicating the role the State Wildlife Agency will play in helping support this event(s).

• The grant recipient must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit foundation, organization, governmental agency, or if a private entity must work with a qualifying non-profit entity.  The Outdoor Expo event or mentor program project must take place within the time period specified in the grant application.

• Each applicant will only qualify for one grant each year with the exception of that grant described in “About the Grants, Item C”.

Outdoor Expo Funding Criteria (Grants A and B)– to be considered for funding, your Outdoor Expo must:

1. Be a stand-alone exposition, or if part of another event has a demonstrable prominence at the event, with a major focus on education and not part of an on-going sports show, commercial outdoor trade fair or similar event.  The expo can have commercial vendors, as long as they are not the primary focus of the event and support the purpose of the event.
2. Provide “hands-on” education focusing on natural resource conservation and management concepts, outdoor ethics and responsibility, and outdoor skills through interactive activities that engage the participants in the learning process.
3. Foster an appreciation of and for the role of hunting and the hunter in wildlife conservation.
4. Collaborate with organizations and mentoring programs (youth and adult) that one can join to further learn about and participate in hunting, shooting sports, fishing, wildlife watching, and other outdoor recreation activities. Examples include, but are not limited to: 4-H Shooting Sports and Sport fishing, Becoming an OutdoorsWoman, National Wild Turkey Federation programs, National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Boy and Girl Scouts, Shotgun Training Education Program, Audubon Society, Archery in the Schools, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Trail Blazers, etc.
5. Incorporate hands-on shooting sports, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching skills, outdoor skills, wildlife and habitat stewardship, outdoor ethics, outdoor safety, landowner respect, wildlife conservation/management, and a variety of other outdoor skills and activities as important components of the Expo.  Include these in the event’s goal.
6. Be free-of-charge to participants or charge a nominal fee that would not be a barrier to participation.
7. If a smaller, local event(s) that serves a community within the state most of the funding and non-monetary support should be demonstrably provided by community members and organizations.
8. If a larger event it should be at least a two day event, and if a smaller event at least a one day event which meets the criteria above for total attendance.
9. Be an on-going annual or semi-annual event.
10. Conduct a survey of Expo participants.  A participant survey summary report must be submitted to the Weatherby Foundation following the Expo(s) and must include the following:  total number of participants; gender and ethnicity breakdown; percentage of youth less than 18; and percentage of first time participants.  If feasible, conduct and submit a survey of the volunteers and  presenters helping produce your Expo.  Renewing applicants will be asked to include a summary report and significant data with their grant renewal application.  The Weatherby Foundation will provide guidance on the conduct of your survey if requested.  To apply for future grants a good participant survey and report on results of your event/s will be expected.

Mentor Grants Funding Criteria and Requirements (Grants C and D) – to be considered for funding, your Mentor Program must:

1. Meet the approval of the state’s Hunter Education Coordinator for safety and ethics training.  A letter of support from the coordinator must accompany the application.
2. Provide adequate hunt coaching and mentoring staff.
3. Demonstrate a balanced curriculum of training prior to, during, and after the first mentored hunts.
4. An evaluation based on a detailed participant survey is required, and should include sufficient information that program quality, participant numbers, and improvements in program delivery can be ascertained.  An evaluation of the program’s effectiveness from the viewpoint of the presenters and supporters should also be included.
5. Involve local state wildlife agency personnel in planning and/or conduct of the hunting experience and associated training.
6. The hunt must employ the concepts of “fair chase” and high ethical standards,  conform to state wildlife regulations relative to what is or is not regarded as hunting areas or techniques qualifying within the realm of “fair chase”, and must be demonstrated in the written material provided in the application, as well as in program advertising.
7. An itinerary or curriculum of pre-hunt training, during hunt coaching and mentoring, and post-hunt activities must be provided.
8. Demonstrate that the first time hunting experience in your program provides some form of long-term follow-up hunt mentoring.
9. Programs for first time youth hunters, inexperienced and first time adult hunters, first time women hunters, and first time and inexperienced disabled hunters qualify.
10. Priority will be given to those programs that have an organizational structure, operational, and funding framework that can be self-sustaining with minimal outside funding assistance in the long-term; has other contributors; has broad-based community/agency/organizational support; has potential for longevity and growth; and has a fund assistance need to insure growth and development.
11. Programs that involve long-term mentoring and coaching of many new hunters each year, and provide multiple experiences in successive years for new hunters to gain proficiency and the capability to participate on their own at some point in the hunter training and maturation process will also be given priority status.
12. Provides equal and fair opportunity for participation, and an equitable method for advertising and acquiring new hunters.

The Submission Process for an Expo Grant (A and B) and a Mentoring Grant (C and D):

1.  Submit a cover letter from the director of the state wildlife agency or nonprofit organization taking the lead in planning your expo.  In the case of a mentor grant submit a cover letter from the director of the agency, organization, or private entity submitting the application.  If you are a private entity submitting a Mentoring Grant (D) application, submit a letter of support from the State Wildlife agencies State Hunter Education Coordinator or Supervisor.

2.  If you are a non-profit organization and this is your first grant request, furnish a copy of the letter of Agreement or M.O.U. from the community or municipality indicating their commitment to play an important role in the planning and production of your expo.  Written verification of your, or a partner, organization with 501 (c)(3) status and your tax id number must be included.

3.  Complete the appropriate accompanying application in full. (There is a link at the top of this page for each application.)  Only include the application form.  Send any accompanying exhibits or information by mail.

4.  Complete, sign and return the Terms of Agreement with your application.

5.  Your application will not be considered if you do not fill-out all parts of the application and meet all of the Submission Requirements.

6. Submit one copy in a Microsoft Word document format of the completed application by the Deadline Date for your application type.  No applications will be accepted after the deadline.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Any supportive documents that cannot be scanned and sent with the Word document application must be mailed to the address given.

Successful applicants will be notified as specified on the application.  Applicants must provide all information requested and comply with the Outdoor Expo Funding Criteria or Mentor Program Funding Criteria and other qualifications.  The Weatherby Foundation International Board of Directors retains the prerogative to adjust grant amounts from those identified to successful applicants, based on the funding available each year.

Submission Requirements:

Send a cover letter and grant application as an email attachment in a Microsoft Word Document Format.  A copy of all supportive materials and the last expo report should be scanned and sent as an email attachment not to exceed 8MB or sent by mail to:           

Dave Lockman, Project Leader, Outdoor Expo Campaign

Weatherby Foundation International

4709 New Bedford Dr.

Cheyenne,WY82009

Phone:  307-635-3865     email address: wyodave@qwestoffice.net

Contact Dave if you have any questions relative to your qualifications or the application process.