NFL Foundation Grassroots Program – Mar 30

Posted by Local Initiatives Support Coalition on January 20, 2026

LISC, NFL Foundation partner to improve local football fields

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program will provide grants of up to $250,000 to nonprofit, neighborhood-based organizations to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields.

The program is a partnership between the National Football League (NFL) Foundation, which provides funding for the program, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which provides technical assistance and manages the program.

Projects must be sponsored by nonprofit community-based organizations registered as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)(3) or middle or high schools. In addition, all organizations applying for funds must be located specifically and exclusively within NFL target markets and serve low- to moderate-income areas within those markets.

Strong preference will be given to those proposals that seek to upgrade existing facilities that are in poor condition or otherwise underutilized; (2) demonstrate active use of the fields; (3) attract matching funding that exceeds the minimum required match of 1:1; (4) involve local partnerships with nonprofit community partners (e.g., USA Football, parks and recreation departments, YMCA branches) to promote youth sports safety and community programming on the fields; (5) provide for continuing maintenance and field safety; and (6) involve youth football programs that are currently registered and compliant with USA Football’s football development model education program.

There are two levels of funding available: 1) general field support (e.g., irrigation, bleachers, lights); and 2) field surface grants.

General Field Support: applicants may submit requests of up to $50,000 for capital projects not associated with the actual field surface. This support includes the installation/refurbishment of bleachers, concession stands, lights, irrigation systems, etc.

Field Surface Grants: Matching grants of up to $250,000 are available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school, or high school football field. Matching grants of up to $250,000 will be available to applicants seeking to install new synthetic sports turf surfaces.

The ability of these new surfaces to withstand constant use and require little ongoing maintenance costs makes this an attractive option for communities, schools, and youth groups to consider.

A smaller number of matching grants of up to $100,000 will be available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school or high school football field utilizing natural grass/ sod surfaces. If applicants choose to utilize natural grass/sod surfaces as opposed to the synthetic sports surfaces, a minimum five-year maintenance plan and corresponding financial budget must be provided to demonstrate that the applying organization will maintain the field despite projected wear and tear and potential overuse by youth sports participants. Funds from the program may not be used to maintain field surfaces, as all grant funds must be used for capital expenditures.

Organizations applying for grant funds must meet all criteria: Be a community-based organization, middle school, or high school serving a neighborhood consisting primarily of low and moderate-income families and individuals; demonstrate the ability of the community to also utilize the field; have at least one-full time staff (all-volunteer organizations will not be considered); be in existence for at least three years and have a proven track record in real estate development and/or parks programming; have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status/school status; and located in an NFL target market.

Organizations and their projects will be selected for funding based on the feasibility of the proposed project, project readiness, and impact on neighborhood and support from the community.

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program requires a minimum local match of 1:1, and match funding at a higher ratio will strengthen the proposal.

Proposals also must have written commitments of maintenance funding for a minimum of five years and a detailed five-year maintenance plan to demonstrate that the applicant will maintain the field despite projected wear and tear and potential overuse by youth sports participants.

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

Deadline: March 30, 2026