The USGA promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf, acting in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it.
The United States Golf Association’s recent grantmaking shows a two-track pattern: support for junior golf programs and sustained backing for turfgrass and course-care research. In the largest award in the dataset, the USGA gave $1,245,075 to SCGA Foundation for internship/subsidy support, pointing to a long-running investment in workforce development around the game. Large recurring grants also go to youth-golf intermediaries such as The First Tee, which received $650,000 in 2023 and $325,000 in 2024, and to the LPGA Foundation, which received $480,000 in 2023, $475,000 in 2024, and $505,000 in 2025. On the research side, the USGA has funded universities and research institutions for turfgrass grants, including Rutgers the State University of New Jersey and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The foundation’s giving also reaches initiatives tied to access and inclusion in golf, including one grant labeled DE&I initiative to One World Golf Place. Across these awards, the USGA appears to use philanthropy to support both the people entering the game and the technical work that keeps courses playable.
Youth golf is a central theme. The United States Golf Association gave $760,660 to Masters Tournament Foundation Inc. for junior programming in 2025, and $505,000 to LPGA Foundation for junior work in the same year. Access and growth programs also appear in grants such as $350,000 to World Golf Foundation for a DE&I initiative and $325,000 to PGA Tour First Tee Foundation Inc. for junior programming. On the technical side, the USGA supports turfgrass and agronomy work through grants like $271,568 to Texas A&M AgriLife Research for turfgrass grants and $209,972 to Rutgers the State University of New Jersey for the same purpose. Internships and career pathways are another visible line of support, including $183,202 to Metropolitan Golf Association for internship support.
Typical grant size sits at $31,226 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $92,779 at the 75th percentile, but the distribution includes much larger awards for recurring programs. Several recipients appear in multiple years, especially in junior golf and turf research, including Masters Tournament Foundation Inc., LPGA Foundation, The First Tee, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, and Metropolitan Golf Association. The USGA is a regular funder and does not fund individuals. The active grant programs described are Foundation-based, and the available descriptions do not indicate an unsolicited application process.
$7.9M
$806.1M
$296.6M
$304.3M
Most grants fall between $31K and $93K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$31K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$93K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in FL.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for United States Golf Association.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 273 | $24.7M | 99.6% |
| 2 | Guam |
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Grantmaking is national, with 99.6% of recipient organizations in the United States and one grant to Equatorial Guinea. Ohio is the top state by grant count, even though the headquarters are in Liberty Corner, New Jersey and only 2% of grants go to New Jersey recipients. In the recent grants list, awards land in places such as Augusta, Georgia; Daytona Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; and Piscataway, New Jersey. California also appears repeatedly through recipients in Studio City and Pebble Beach.
The USGA funds junior golf programs, turfgrass and golf-course sustainability research, internships and workforce development, and access or DE&I initiatives connected to golf. Recent grants show junior programming, turfgrass grants, and internship/subsidy support as repeated patterns.
No. The foundation is listed as not funding individuals, and the recent awards go to organizations such as foundations, golf associations, universities, and research institutions.
The 25th percentile grant is $31,226, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $92,779. The recent grants also include larger program awards above $500,000 for junior golf and internship support.
Yes. Multiple organizations appear across years, including Masters Tournament Foundation Inc., LPGA Foundation, The First Tee, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, and Metropolitan Golf Association. The repeat awards suggest ongoing support rather than one-off grants only.
The active program descriptions say the USGA Foundation accepts and distributes funds, but the program listings specify that it does not accept unsolicited applications. That indicates giving is managed through the foundation’s own selection process rather than open submission.
MICHAEL WHAN
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $9K |
0.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUNDATION INC | AUGUSTA, GA | $760,660 | 2025 | JUNIOR |
| LPGA FOUNDATION | DAYTONA BEACH, FL | $505,000 | 2025 | JUNIOR |
| WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $350,000 | 2025 | DE&I INITIATIVE |
| PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $325,000 | 2025 | JUNIOR |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $271,568 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $173,274 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| METROPOLITAN GOLF ASSOCIATION | ELMSFORD, NY | $162,000 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY | LAS CRUCES, NM | $147,549 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| TEXAS GOLF ASSOCIATION | ADDISON, TX | $146,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION | STUDIO CITY, CA | $146,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION | SOUTHERN PINES, NC | $146,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $143,627 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| GOLF ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA | BROOMALL, PA | $134,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $134,074 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $124,000 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| MASS GOLF | NORTON, MA | $118,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| GEORGIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | ATLANTA, GA | $116,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| HORRY-GEORGETOWN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | CONWAY, SC | $115,375 | 2025 | GREENKEEPER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION | PEBBLE BEACH, CA | $113,010 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| USDA-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE | ALBANY, CA | $103,149 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| CENTRAL LINKS GOLF | LENEXA, KS | $102,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | CORVALLIS, OR | $95,000 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| BOARD OF REGENTS UNIV OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $95,000 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION | EDINA, MN | $86,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $86,387 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| VIRGINIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | MIDLOTHIAN, VA | $84,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| FLORIDA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | TAMPA, FL | $83,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $83,696 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| NEW YORK STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | JAMESVILLE, NY | $80,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| LOUISIANA GOLF ASSOCIATION | LAFAYETTE, LA | $78,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| NATIONAL TURFGRASS FEDERATION | BELTSVILLE, MD | $78,750 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| MISSOURI GOLF ASSOCIATION | JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $78,125 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| OREGON GOLF ASSOCIATION | WOODBURN, OR | $74,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| MONTANA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | HELENA, MT | $74,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| GOLF ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $73,700 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $72,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| ALABAMA GOLF ASSOCIATION | HOOVER, AL | $72,350 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| SUN COUNTRY AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION | RIO RANCHO, NM | $71,140 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| TENNESSEE GOLF ASSOCIATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $68,000 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION | DES MOINES, IA | $65,700 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| UTAH GOLF ASSOCIATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $64,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA | DAVIE, FL | $63,800 | 2025 | TURFGRASS GRANTS |
| NORTHERN OHIO GOLF ASSOCIATION | NORTH OLMSTED, OH | $62,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| WISCONSIN STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | WEST ALLIS, WI | $62,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| WASHINGTON GOLF | FEDERAL WAY, WA | $60,800 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION | ROCKY HILL, CT | $60,180 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| IDAHO GOLF ASSOCIATION | BOISE, ID | $59,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE GOLF | CONCORD, NH | $58,000 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| NEW JERSEY GOLF | KENILWORTH, NJ | $56,850 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
| SOUTHERN NEVADA GOLF ASSOCIATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $56,676 | 2025 | INTERNSHIPS |
MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUNDATION INC
$760,660JUNIOR
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
TURFGRASS GRANTS
METROPOLITAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
$162,000INTERNSHIPS
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
$147,549TURFGRASS GRANTS
TEXAS GOLF ASSOCIATION
$146,850INTERNSHIPS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$146,850INTERNSHIPS
CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION
$146,850INTERNSHIPS
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
$143,627TURFGRASS GRANTS
GOLF ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA
$134,850INTERNSHIPS
COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION
$134,074INTERNSHIPS
ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$124,000INTERNSHIPS
MASS GOLF
$118,850INTERNSHIPS
GEORGIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$116,850INTERNSHIPS
HORRY-GEORGETOWN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$115,375GREENKEEPER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$113,010INTERNSHIPS
USDA-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
$103,149TURFGRASS GRANTS
CENTRAL LINKS GOLF
$102,850INTERNSHIPS
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
$95,000INTERNSHIPS
BOARD OF REGENTS UNIV OF WISCONSIN
$95,000TURFGRASS GRANTS
MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$86,850INTERNSHIPS
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$86,387TURFGRASS GRANTS
VIRGINIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$84,850INTERNSHIPS
FLORIDA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$83,850INTERNSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
$83,696TURFGRASS GRANTS
NEW YORK STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$80,850INTERNSHIPS
LOUISIANA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$78,850INTERNSHIPS
NATIONAL TURFGRASS FEDERATION
$78,750TURFGRASS GRANTS
MISSOURI GOLF ASSOCIATION
$78,125INTERNSHIPS
OREGON GOLF ASSOCIATION
$74,850INTERNSHIPS
MONTANA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$74,850INTERNSHIPS
GOLF ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
$73,700INTERNSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$72,850INTERNSHIPS
ALABAMA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$72,350INTERNSHIPS
SUN COUNTRY AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION
$71,140INTERNSHIPS
TENNESSEE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$68,000INTERNSHIPS
IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$65,700INTERNSHIPS
UTAH GOLF ASSOCIATION
$64,850INTERNSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
$63,800TURFGRASS GRANTS
NORTHERN OHIO GOLF ASSOCIATION
$62,850INTERNSHIPS
WISCONSIN STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$62,850INTERNSHIPS
WASHINGTON GOLF
$60,800INTERNSHIPS
CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION
$60,180INTERNSHIPS
IDAHO GOLF ASSOCIATION
$59,850INTERNSHIPS
NEW HAMPSHIRE GOLF
$58,000INTERNSHIPS
NEW JERSEY GOLF
$56,850INTERNSHIPS
SOUTHERN NEVADA GOLF ASSOCIATION
$56,676INTERNSHIPS