Sustainable Slopes Grant Program

Grant Applications will open in January 2026

Thank you to everyone who applied in 2025. The next round of Sustainable Slopes grant applications will be posted in January 2026.

Grant Program Overview

Launched in 2009 and now in its 17th year (2026), NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes Grant Program offers valuable grants to NSAA member ski areas that are endorsers of Sustainable Slopes. These grants can help you earn Sustainability Badges and meet your targets in the Climate Challenge if you participate in that program. Past grant recipients completed projects with many positive benefits, including more efficient snowmaking, increased protection of habitats and watersheds, reductions in waste and resource usage, on-site renewable energy generation, partnerships with sustainability consultants, and receiving significant ROI as a direct result of their work. To date, $975,535 in cash and in-kind funding has been awarded to ski areas seeking to reduce their footprint and increase their environmental stewardship. This year, there are three types of grants ski areas can apply for: Cash Grants, which provide cash to fund your next sustainability project, the Herman K. Dupré Sustainable Snowmaking Grant, which provides energy efficient snowmaking equipment, and the new Recycling Grant, which provides cash to fund your next recycling project and is sponsored by PepsiCo. Find more details about the Sustainable Slopes Grant Program here. 

Thank you to HKD Snowmakers for providing equipment to ski areas to make their snowmaking programs more efficient.

Herman K. Dupré

HKD Snowmakers and NSAA are proud to honor the life and environmental stewardship of HKD Co-Founder Herman K. Dupré through the Sustainable Slopes snowmaking grant. This grant, officially renamed as the Herman K. Dupré Sustainable Snowmaking Grant, annually provides energy efficient snowmaking equipment to NSAA member resorts around the country helping them reduce their snowmaking carbon footprint. "My father-in-law, Herman K. Dupré, always sought to leave the earth better than he found it, and this snowmaking grant, now in his name, will inspire and support others to do the same," said Charles Santry, President and Co-founder of HKD Snowmakers. Learn more about Herman K. Dupré here.

2025 Grant Recipients

• Wisp Resort, MD - recycling program expansion
• Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO - renewable diesel pilot project
• Steamboat Ski Resort, CO - renewable diesel pilot project
• Mt. Ashland Association, OR - waterless urinals initiative
• Big Sky Resort, MT - HKD Impulse air/water snowguns
• Sugarbush Resort, VT - HKD Impulse air/water snowguns
• Big Sky Resort, MT - AI recycling / tracking camera initiative
• Copper Mountain Resort, CO - Community Drop Off Center expansion
• Bridger Bowl Ski Area, MT - outdoor waste station expansion

Past Sustainable Slopes Grant Winners

2025 Highlight

In 2025, ski areas could apply for three types of grants: the Cash Grant, which provides cash to fund sustainability projects; the Herman K. Dupré Sustainable Snowmaking Grant, which provides energy efficient snowmaking equipment; and the new Recycling Grant, which provides cash to fund recycling projects sponsored by PepsiCo. NSAA thanks dedicated sponsors HKD Snowmakers and PepsiCo for providing these opportunities for ski areas.

“Sugarbush and Big Sky both have well outlined goals in mind for continuing to improve snowmaking energy efficiency on critical terrain,” said Charles Santry, president of HKD Snowmakers, in recognition of the grant recipients, “HKD Snowmakers is excited to award this grant, together with NSAA, and continue to support both resorts in reducing their overall environmental impact.