Sports 4 Life initiative – Apr 7

Posted by Women’s Sports Foundation on March 21, 2023

Women’s Sports Foundation invites LOIs for Sports 4 Life initiative

Cofounded by the Women’s Sports Foundation and espnW in 2014, the Sports 4 Life initiative was created based on the knowledge that while sports participation offers tremendous life-long benefits, young girls of color are disproportionately excluded.

The program aims to increase the participation and retention of Black, African American, Hispanic, and/or Native American girls, including American Indian and Alaska Native communities. A minimum of $280,000 will be awarded through the 2023 Sports 4 Life Partner funding cycle. Grants may be used for coaching, curriculum, equipment, uniforms, transportation, facility rental, tournaments and/or team-building activities, all while fostering the Sports 4 Life benefits: leadership, self-esteem, confidence, and perseverance.

Applicants must demonstrate that their program meets the following criteria: serves predominately Black, African-American, Hispanic, and/or Native American girls (representing more than 70 percent of the enrolled program participants); can deliver structured, developmental sports programming to girls ages 11 to 18 through experienced and committed leadership; can provide ongoing funding to implement sports programming after the life of the funding has expired; and complies with all of the applicable Federal Civil Rights laws, including the requirements about developing and submitting an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP), reporting Findings of Discrimination, and providing language services to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit schools, parks and recreation departments, nonprofit organizations, or amateur sports leagues.

Letters of intent are due April 7, 2023. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Women’s Sports Foundation website.

Deadline: April 7, 2023 (Letters of Intent)