We are bridging the gap for youth camps that are committed to safety but may need financial or technical support to implement new safety standards.
The Safe Summers Fund is an innovative grantmaking program designed to help nonprofit summer camps make meaningful, risk-based safety improvements that protect children and strengthen camp safety systems.
Photos courtesy of Camp Bette Perot, Slumber Falls Camp, and Lake Lavon Camp
At the Safe Summers Foundation, we advocate for legislative reforms to keep kids safe at summer camps — an important first step. Passing laws is one thing, but implementing them is another critical part of ensuring real change. In partnership with The Safety Navigator, we launched the Safe Summers Fund to help translate legislation into action.
The Safe Summers Fund is a grant program that provides financial and technical support to qualifying nonprofit camps so they may implement new rules and regulations before another season of campers arrives.
Funded by generous donors, the Safe Summers Fund is a reminder of the impact that is possible when parents, nonprofits, and funders come together to protect our most vulnerable and precious assets — our kids.
Grants are awarded based on considerations of need, risk, and readiness. The program prioritizes investments that help implement new laws, address a camp’s highest safety risks, and contribute to long-term safety capability and sustainability. Applications are informed by each camp’s unique risk profile and supported by The Safety Navigator’s structured risk assessment framework, tools, and expert guidance.
The Safety Navigator serves as the access point for camps to apply for funding. Camps can review eligibility and criteria, access application guidance, submit their applications, and track outcomes in one place. The Safety Navigator app and platform is free to use and its open-source materials are available to all camps seeking safety resources.
The Summer 2026 round of grants was awarded and has closed. The next round of grant applications will open early 2027. Stay tuned for more information!
Photo courtesy of the Riverbend Retreat Center
Erica Blue
CEO, Austin Sunshine Camps
Eddie Norgard
District Executive Director, YMCA Camp Carter
Kenny Rigoulot
Executive Director of Development and Spiritual Formation at Gilmont Camp and Conference Center
The Safe Summers Fund grantees who received funding for the Summer 2026 cycle include diverse camps spanning 12 Texas counties, with multiple secular and non-secular affiliations, united by a commitment to adhering to new laws and elevating their safety practices.
We are glad to support the following recipients in implementing safety reforms, such as the purchasing of emergency warning systems, NOAA radios, second phone lines, external lighting, and backup power capacities.
The next round of grant applications will open early 2027. Stay tuned!
Austin Sunshine Camps
Camp Fern Legacy, Inc.
GSNETX Camp Bette Perot
GSNETX Camp Gambill
GSNETX Camp Whispering Cedars
Christian Outdoor Alliance
Gilmont Camp and Conference Center
John Knox Ranch
Lake Lavon Baptist Encampment
Riverbend Retreat Center
Slumber Falls Camp
URJ Greene Family Camp
YMCA Camp Carter
YMCA Camp Cullen
The next round of grant applications will open early 2027. Stay tuned!
Help us partner with camps across America to make safety reforms reality by supporting the Safe Summers Fund today.
