Seven Sports and Recreation Grants for Children

Most kids are back in school now. And for many, a major part of their experience will involve sports. Whether participating in sports through school or an outside organization, staying active is crucial to keeping children healthy and social.

According to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during 2017-18, the prevalence of obesity in youth between the ages of 2-19 years was 19.3 percent, which is about 14.4 million youth. The State of Childhood Obesity website shows the cost of obesity for kids in the U.S. to be approximately $14 billion annually in direct health expenses.

Not only are the increasing rates of obesity among children costly, but they are also dangerous for the mental and physical well being of the children involved. Obesity can lead to poor mental health and a reduced quality of life. The CDC notes obesity as “the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.”

Sports help prevent obesity in children and have many other benefits as well. For example, Stanford Children’s Health notes many advantages of participating in sports including:

• Better vision
• Healthy weight
• Motor skills development
• Social skills development
• Self-confidence
• Sportsmanship
• Fun and enjoyment
• Friendship

In order to keep these sports programs available to kids, funding is crucial. Getting equipment and uniforms can be expensive, and grants can be a way to help with these costs. For that reason, GrantWatch has a category for Sports and Recreation grants in its database, including these seven grants listed below.

Promoting Wellness with Seven Grants for Youth

1. Grants available for U.S. high school and nonprofit youth football programs for equipment and resources. These $5000 grants are to ensure that high school or nonprofit youth programs players can play safely.
2. There are grants available to U.S nonprofits, youth organizations, schools and agencies for outdoor recreational equipment. Funds are to help communities promote physical activity, encourage all people to play together, and combat childhood obesity.
3. Funding available to U.S. middle schools for after-school athletics programs. Funding for these programs are to support U.S. athletics programs for students in grades 6-8th to purchase uniforms and equipment.
4. In addition, there are grants available for U.S. nonprofits, municipalities, schools, and tribal nations to build or renovate football fields.
5. Grants to U.S. eligible youth athletic organizations to enhance programs and experiences for youth in sports programs. Priority will be given to applicants located in low-income areas. 
6. There are grants available for U.S., Canada, and International organizations to increase access and participation in softball and baseball for youth age elementary through high school.
7. Grants of up to $150 to U.S. families to provide access to youth sports programs. Funding is to provide scholarships for sports participation to children ages 4-18. 

GrantNews Notes

Looking for more grants for children? GrantWatch has an entire category to help. Look through this category and all the others on GrantWatch to find the right grant for your initiative.

Also, make sure to sign up for a paid GrantWatch subscription to gain access to the resources you need in your grant-seeking journey.