YOUTH SPORTS GRANT PROGRAM - FAQs

What types of grants are available?

YPP provides individual grants to families in need for youth athletes in grades K-12. We also provide organizational grants for non-profit organizations in low income communities that provide community-based recreational level sports for kids in grades K-12 on a case-by-case basis. For each of these types of grants, we provide full and partial grants, depending on qualification.

What are the qualifications for an individual grant?

YPP is focused on families that lack sufficient resources to pay for youth sports. Our qualification criteria include, but are not limited to, following the most recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Estimated State Median Income by Household Size as guidelines to determine qualification for a grant. To qualify for a full grant, you must make less than 60% of the estimated median income by household size for your state. To qualify for a partial grant (50% of the cost), you must make less than the estimated median income by household size for your state. YPP reserves the right to make exceptions to eligibility guidelines for reasonable extenuating circumstances.

What are the qualifications for an organizational grant?

To qualify for an organizational grant, your organization must be a non-profit organization, school sports program, or government-run program (i.e. community park district) in a low income community that provides community-based recreational level or school sports for kids in grades K-12. We do not fund travel, elite, or AAU sports or training programs at the organizational level. You must provide proof of budget constraints, and you must operate in an area in which the local school district has a higher percentage of low income students than the state average or the average household income in the community is lower than 60% of the estimated state median income by household size based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.  YPP reserves the right to make exceptions to eligibility guidelines for reasonable extenuating circumstances.

Are there limitations on individual grants?

• A family may apply no more than 2 times per year for each child for recreational sports (up to $100 per sport per session) or
• A family can generally only apply for a grant for one sport at a time per child. YPP reserves the right to evaluate overlapping grant applications and approve at its discretion, considering many sports seasons have at least some overlap.
• YPP reserves the right to cap total annual grant distributions. 
• Confidential grant applications are addressed on a needs and first-come, first-served basis as funds are available.

Are there limitations on organizational grants?

• An organization may apply 1 time per year. (up to $500 per organization) or
• An organization may apply for grant money due to unforseen hardships.
• Confidential grant applications are addressed on a needs and first-come, first-served basis as funds are available.

How do I start the process work?

The first step is to fill out a contact form by clicking on Apply For A Grant. You will fill out some basic information, and a member of the YPP team will evaluate your initial information and contact you to let you know if we need more information, if your family or organization doesn’t qualify or if we can’t fund your grant at that time. If the initial evaluation indicates you are a potential candidate for a grant, we will then send you a grant application, which will also include requirements for income verification documents. You will submit the application to our Programs team, and they will review the application. A member of the team will then contact you to let you know the outcome of the review. If a grant is awarded, our team will make arrangements for payment directly to the organization and any sports equipment will be purchased and shipped directly to you. Due to overwhelming demand for our youth sports grant program, you may or may not receive a response from the YPP team.

How does the program work once approved?

Once approved for a grant, YPP will pay registration and associated fees directly to the sports organization. If the grant includes equipment, YPP will purchase the equipment and have it shipped directly to you when possible. Other arrangements can be made through communication 

When should I apply for a grant?

While we will make every effort to review grants on short notice, we generally require grant applications to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the sport program registration deadline.