Game On-Community Places to Play initiative – Sep 5

Posted by Local Initiatives Support Coalition on August 20, 2024

DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation, LISC invite applications for Game On-Community Places to Play initiative

An initiative of DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation and LISC, Game On-Community Places to Play provides funding and technical assistance to community-rooted organizations working to create and renovate multi-use youth sport spaces for youth ages 6-24 years old in under-resourced communities across the country.

Grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 (requiring 1:1 match funding) will be awarded to outdoor and indoor facilities that enable and demonstrate local community access and usage for all organized youth sports, including but not limited to basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, football, tennis, lacrosse, and volleyball. Youth development program services should include but are not limited to life skills workshops, civic engagement and leadership, workforce development, and academic support. Awards will be granted in neighborhoods across the country and chosen based on need and potential impact.

Strong preference will be given to proposals that seek to upgrade existing facilities that are in poor condition or otherwise underutilized; demonstrate active use of the facilities; attract match funding that exceeds the minimum required match of 1:1; promote youth sports and community programming on the recreation spaces; and provide for continuing maintenance and safety of the facilities. Grants are only given for capital expenditures; match from awardees can include in-kind donations, such as construction labor or donations of materials associated with the project. Special consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate how their capital projects will support youth development programming.

Grants will be awarded to nonprofit community-based organizations, including schools and local parks and recreation departments (working in collaboration with local nonprofit community-based organizations. To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by nonprofit community-based organizations registered as tax-exempt as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or elementary, middle, or high schools.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the LISC website.

Deadline: September 5, 2024