Inspire and enable youth sports participation by addressing barriers and creating awareness through grants, partnerships, storytelling and community investments.
A $2.5 million grant to Every Kid Sport sits at the top of Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation's recent giving and points to the foundation's core pattern: large, sports-centered grants aimed at removing barriers for young people. The foundation backs youth sports participation through programs that cover registration costs, equipment, coaching capacity, and facility access, with a clear emphasis on under-resourced communities. It also uses partnership funding for facility transformations, as seen in its work with local community sport centers. Recent grants show the foundation supporting both direct service organizations and school-based programs. Local Initiatives Support Corp received $2 million, and Good Sports Inc also received $2 million, both through Sports Matter discretionary funding. The foundation also funded McKeesport Area School District with $930,000 for wraparound and engagement support, showing that school-linked sports access can sit alongside nonprofit partnerships in its portfolio. Its multi-year Sports Matter Impact League further signals a preference for transformative, collaborative relationships rather than isolated one-off awards. Across these grants, the throughline is consistent: youth sports access, especially where cost or infrastructure blocks participation.
Facility development is a visible part of the foundation's work. It provided matching Sports Matter support tied to a community sport center project with the Josh Gibson Foundation, including up to $2 million for a Champions Club and Sports Matter Center in McKees Rocks. School-based athletics and youth programming also receive support. McKeesport High School received $275,000 for a summer camp, while Martin Luther King High School Football received $100,000 through an anniversary grant. The foundation also funds intermediaries that expand access at scale. DonorsChooseorg received $500,000, and Good Sports Inc received $2 million to support youth sports participation and access to equipment and other resources. In addition, the grant record includes support for organizations serving specific youth communities, such as Camp Kesem National and Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership, each funded at $100,000.
Recent grant sizes cluster from five figures into the low millions, with the largest awards at $2.5 million and $2 million, and many others at $100,000 to $500,000. The foundation is a private foundation and a regular funder, not a program-related investment maker. Its Sports Matter Impact League points to recurring, multi-year partnerships rather than only one-off grants, and the site also describes matching-fund structures for facility projects. Unsolicited applications are not accepted for the core Sports Matter and partnership programs shown here.
$18M
$34.5M
$20.5M
$19.4M
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Giving is entirely U.S.-based in the provided grant list, with 964 grants to U.S. recipients. Pennsylvania stands out in the recipient record, including McKeesport, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boswell, and Norristown. Other recipient cities appear across the country, such as New York, Braintree, Austin, Shreveport, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Anchorage, Los Angeles, and New Haven. The geographic pattern is local in scope, but not limited to one city.
It funds organizations tied to youth sports participation, including school districts, schools, sports nonprofits, and community partners. Recent examples include McKeesport Area School District, Good Sports Inc, DonorsChooseorg, and local sports groups such as Beat the Streets Cleveland and Youth Soccer Association of New Haven.
The foundation focuses on youth sports participation, facility development and upgrades, equipment and uniforms, coach development and capacity, mental health and wellbeing for student athletes, and equitable access for low-income youth.
Yes. Its Sports Matter Impact League is described as a 3-year initiative supporting a select group of nonprofit organizations with funding, storytelling, and collaboration. That structure is different from a single-award grant and indicates longer-term partnerships.
Recent awards range from $50,000 to $2.5 million. Examples include a $500,000 grant to DonorsChooseorg, $250,000 grants to Marathon Kids and the American Red Cross, and multiple $100,000 grants to youth-serving organizations.
The grant record shown here is entirely U.S.-based, with 964 grants to recipients in the United States. Pennsylvania appears frequently in the recipient list, and the foundation's site also describes programs that work across all 50 states.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVERY KID SPORT | BEND, OR | $2,500,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORP | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| GOOD SPORTS INC | BRAINTREE, MA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| MCKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCKEESPORT, PA | $930,000 | 2025 | MASD WRAPAROUND, ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT |
| DONORSCHOOSEORG | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | DONORSCHOOSE |
| MCKEESPORT HIGH SCHOOL | MCKEESPORT, PA | $275,000 | 2025 | MASD SUMMER CAMP |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | RED CROSS |
| MARATHON KIDS INC | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| MARATHON KIDS | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | BROOKS EVERY KID SPORTS |
| SERIOUSFUN CHILDRENS NETWORK | NORWALK, CT | $150,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| CITY OF SHREVEPORT | SHREVEPORT, LA | $110,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| BENFER ELEMENTARY | KLEIN, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| HARLEM LACROSSE AND LEADERSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| CAMP KESEM NATIONAL | COVINA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| MERGING VETS AND PLAYERS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| ANCHORAGE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | ANCHORAGE, AK | $100,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| KIDS 2 CAMP FUND OF THE GREATER | MONSEY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| EDWARD CHARLES FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| YOUNG MEN AND WOMENS HEBREW ASSOCIATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| BEAT THE STREETS CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION | DURANGO, CO | $75,682 | 2025 | PUBLIC LANDS GRANT |
| ROGERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ROGERS, AR | $75,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| MICHIGAN POWER FUTBOL ACADEMY | BELMONT, MI | $75,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SPONSORSHIP |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA INC | NORRISTOWN, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| OUTDOOR ODYSSEY AT ROARING RUN INC | BOSWELL, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| WENDY HILLIARD FOUNDATION | DETROIT, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| AFAR | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| LOS ANGELES PARKS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN INC | BRIGHTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION OF NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING INC | WINDSOR, CO | $40,874 | 2025 | PUBLIC LANDS GRANT |
| NCDISTRICT 5 | DILLSBORO, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | ST PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC LANDS GRANT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| PORTLAND COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| BEST OF THE BATCH FOUNDATION | HOMESTEAD, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| HOOPS COLLABORATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | BROCKTON, MA | $27,500 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| KAUAI SAILING ASSOCIATION | KAPAA, HI | $26,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD | WASHINGTON, DC | $26,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM OF OHIO | WOOSTER, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| I AM A GOLFER FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS |
| THREE RIVERS ROWING ASSOCIATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS |
| CHICAGO SKY CARES FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA INC | NORRISTOWN, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| STRIDE INC | WEST SAND LAKE, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS |
| JASMINE NYREE HOME | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM |
EVERY KID SPORT
$2,500,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
MCKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
$930,000MASD WRAPAROUND, ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT
DONORSCHOOSEORG
$500,000DONORSCHOOSE
MCKEESPORT HIGH SCHOOL
$275,000MASD SUMMER CAMP
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$250,000RED CROSS
MARATHON KIDS INC
$250,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
MARATHON KIDS
$250,000BROOKS EVERY KID SPORTS
SERIOUSFUN CHILDRENS NETWORK
$150,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
CITY OF SHREVEPORT
$110,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
BENFER ELEMENTARY
$100,000GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
MERGING VETS AND PLAYERS
$100,000GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
ANCHORAGE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$100,00010TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS
KIDS 2 CAMP FUND OF THE GREATER
$100,000GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
MARTIN LUTHER KING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
$100,00010TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS
BEAT THE STREETS CLEVELAND
$100,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
ROGERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$75,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
MICHIGAN POWER FUTBOL ACADEMY
$75,00010TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS
OUTDOOR ODYSSEY AT ROARING RUN INC
$60,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
WENDY HILLIARD FOUNDATION
$50,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION OF NEW HAVEN
$50,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$50,000GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
NCDISTRICT 5
$40,000GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$30,000PUBLIC LANDS GRANT
PORTLAND COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB
$30,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
HOOPS COLLABORATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
$27,500GRANT FOR YOUTH SPORTS
KAUAI SAILING ASSOCIATION
$26,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM OF OHIO
$25,00010TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS
THREE RIVERS ROWING ASSOCIATION
$25,000TEAMMATE RESOURCE GROUP GRANTS
CHICAGO SKY CARES FOUNDATION
$25,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
STRIDE INC
$25,00010TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY GRANTS
JASMINE NYREE HOME
$25,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$25,000DISCRETIONARY GRANTS - SM