Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO)?
The office is a state agency that supports the following:

• Recreation and Conservation Funding Board
• Salmon Recovery Funding Board
• Washington Invasive Species Council
• Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office

The office staff, under the guidance of a director appointed by the Governor and the boards, administers grants for recreation, habitat conservation, farmland preservation, and salmon recovery. For more information, please visit the About RCO section of this Web site.

2. What grants does the agency offer?
RCO administers a dozen state and federal grant programs for a range of activities from developing parks to providing boating facilities to creating trails to saving salmon. More information is available on the grants section of this Web site.

3. How do I know if I am eligible for grants?
Eligibility varies by grant program, but generally the following organizations are eligible:

1. Municipal subdivisions (cities, towns, counties, ports, and districts such as utility, park and recreation, conservation, and school)
2. State agencies
3. Federal agencies
4. Native American tribes
5. Private landowners
6. Nonprofit organizations
7. Corporations

To check individual program policies, visit the grants section of this Web site.

4. How do I apply for a grant?
Grants are awarded in an open and highly competitive process. More information is available on the grants section of this Web site.

Recreation and Conservation Funding Board Grants: Most of these grant programs require applicants to complete a comprehensive plan and then apply in the spring of even-numbered years. The grants are reviewed by panels of experts and ranked. The ranked projects are submitted to the board for funding approval. For details, visit the grants section of this Web site.

Salmon Recovery Funding Board Grants: Applicants submit grant requests through a local lead entity. After evaluation and review by the lead entity's technical and citizen advisory groups, the lead entity submits a prioritized list of grant proposals to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Lead entity representatives then meet with the board's scientific panel to begin a secondary review. This panel develops final recommendations for the board’s consideration. For details, visit the salmon recovery section of this Web site.

5. What are the application deadlines?
Generally, recreation and conservation grants are due in the spring of even-numbered years and salmon recovery grants are due in September. For details, visit the grants schedules section of this Web site.

6. What is the size of a typical grant?
Grants can range in size from as small as $5,000 to several million dollars. The grant caps will vary by program. For details, visit the grants section of this Web site.

7. Do you provide multi-year funding?
Yes, most grants are for 1-4 years.

8. What types of support can I get?
RCO has a team of grant managers who can advise you on the best grant program for you. There are free workshops to educate you on the grant process. You can practice your grant application before a team of experts, who will advise you on how to make your project score the best it can. There are scientists to help you improve your salmon recovery grant. And there is information on the Web to help you through the grant process. To find out who your grant manager is, visit the Contact Us link on the left.

9. What is PRISM and how can I use it?
PRISM (PRoject Information SysteM) is an automated grant management system that allows people to apply for grants, track grant awards and bills, and produce reports via the Internet. To "read" PRISM data, visit Project Search at the top of this page. If you would like access for entering application information, complete the user name and password request form and then just install the required software and log on.

10. Where can I find information on a project in my community?
Comprehensive project information is available via Project Search at the top of this page or PRISM.

11. What maps are available?
You can view, via a map, public boat launches and moorage facilities and the location of all grant projects (proposed and funded).

12. How may I contact RCO?
Please visit the Contact Us link on the left.

13. When are board meetings?

• Recreation and Conservation Funding Board meeting schedule.

• Salmon Recovery Funding Board meeting schedule.

• Washington Invasive Species Council meeting schedule.