Last week, I highlighted the Chapter Leadership Symposium, which just took place earlier this week at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. The symposium allows chapter leaders from around the country to get together to share best practices. To piggyback off of that — a common theme throughout this series — this week, I’m highlighting the Chapter Outreach Grant, which is set up to help fund endeavors by chapters that promote the chapter, their members and the golf course management profession.

34. Chapter Outreach Grant

GCSAA dedicates considerable resources to national outreach efforts, however, those efforts alone are sometimes not enough to achieve the desired results. For this reason, GCSAA has established a fund to help chapters engage in activities that complement its efforts to communicate the value of membership to key constituents, primarily golfers and employers. A total of $20,000 is available each year for grants.

Funds from the Chapter Outreach Grant can be used in a variety of ways. Some of the previous uses have included:

• Georgia GCSA - Further Community Outreach Program to work with high schools in Georgia and surrounding states to grow the game and profession.
• Greater Pittsburgh GCSA - Host a facility BMP workshop meeting at the First Tee of Pittsburgh Arnold Palmer Learning Center.
• Maine GCSA - Host a "BMP Day" at Riverside Municipal Golf Course to demonstrate and highlight the BMPs and retain an environmental consultant to produce this event for the association.
• Michigan GCSA - Support the Michigan Golf Alliance and Legislative Day on the Capitol Lawn. Legislative Day is an awareness campaign to help legislators understand the financial, environmental, and physical benefits the golf industry has in Michigan.
• Minnesota GCSA - Digital billboard campaign during the PGA Tours 3M Championship displaying environmental stewardship, which has 700,000 views during event week.
• Northern Ohio GCSA - As the NOGCSA nears its 100th anniversary in 2023, the chapter is planning a yearlong observance to commemorate and promote the profession and chapter to key constituents.
• San Diego GCSA - Continue to expand programming of freelance Marketing Manager to do press releases on chapter events/charitable initiatives and other social media promotional efforts that are aimed at those outside of the membership.
• Utah GCSA - Create a short PSA video to be shared on social media channels showing the health benefits of golf, and the environmental measures superintendents are implementing.

The Chapter Outreach Grant applications are currently open and will close on April 15^th. The Application process can be found here.

In addition to the Chapter Outreach Grant, the GCSAA Foundation is offering one-time chapter grants for qualified member education events held in 2023. Affiliated GCSAA chapters may apply for a grant of up to $1,000 to help fund educational events, including speaker fees, event space rental, meeting logistics, F&B and related travel.

This education grant is new this year, with the application process opening on June 1, 2023, and closing on June 30, 2023. All selected grant winners will be notified and receive their funds by July 31. Chapters may apply for a qualified educational event facilitated prior to or after the application period for reimbursement.

As always, if you have missed a previous post, you can find them below:

1. GCSAA Association Health Program
2. GCSAA Foundation
3. Awards Anyone?
4. Conference and Tradeshow
5. Melrose Leadership Academy
6. Melrose Equipment Experience
7. Thank a Superintendent Day
8. Golf Course Environmental Profile
9. First Green
10. Affiliated Chapters
11. Disaster Relief Fund
12. Planning for Retirement
13. Career Resources
14. Compensation and Benefits
15. FFA
16. Priority Issues Agenda
17. Action Alerts
18. Grassroots Ambassadors
19. Advocacy Teams
20. Webinars
21. Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series
22. Equipment Manager Classification
23. Equipment Manager Certificate Program
24. Certified Turf Equipment Manager (CTEM)
25. Modernized CGCS Program
26. GCSAA Golf Championships
27. There’s an app for that: GCSAA and Conference and Trade Show apps
28. Collegiate Turf Bowl
29. Envu Superintendent Grant Program
30. GCSAA Scholarships
31. GCSAA Scholars Competition
32. GCSAA Virtual Education Event
33. Chapter Leadership Symposium