Sports & Recreation Grants

9,790 foundations$10.6B total annual giving$10K median grant57 states with funders

Discover 9,790 grantmaking foundations funding sports & recreation programs, with combined annual giving of $10.6B. The median grant size for sports & recreation is $10K.

Sports & Recreation Grantmaking at a Glance

Foundations

9,790

Total Annual Giving

$10.6B

Total Assets Under Management

$168.9B

Median Grant Size

$10K

States with Funders

57

Total Grants on Record

253,884

Open Grant Opportunities

Live programs funding sports & recreation that your nonprofit can apply to now.

Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Up to $15K

CFY Grant Program — General (Youth Athletic Grants)

From Clearwater for Youth

youth athleticsathletic equipmentregistration reimbursement+2 more

Who can apply: Organizations based in Pinellas County with a youth organization Board of Trustees. Groups affiliated with public, private, or charter school programs are not eligible. Organizations not previously funded by CFY must first complete a consultation with CFY offices. Programming must be active for the season requested. For registration reimbursement, support prioritizes Title I eligible Pinellas County youth.

View & apply
Open nowCloses Sep 30, 2026

Community Foundation of Randolph County Grants Program

From Community Foundation of Randolph County

YouthElderlyEducation+6 more

Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations serving Randolph County; proposals are considered after consultation with the Foundation's Executive Director and/or Community Grants & Operations Manager. The Foundation generally prefers one-time projects, start-up costs, and capital needs, and is reluctant to fund ongoing operating budgets or multi-year requests.

View & apply
Open nowCloses Oct 1, 2026

Annual Grantmaking / Mad Anthonys Foundation Grant Program

From Mad Anthony Childrens Foundation

Youth sports & recreationScholarships for participation/travel/trainingInfrastructure and facility enhancement (athletic facilities, playgrounds, fields)+3 more

Who can apply: Must be a nonprofit organization serving youth in Northeast Indiana. Projects should align with the foundation's mission and values, ideally using athletics or physical activity as a vehicle for impact; other child- and family-focused nonprofit programs may be considered.

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Open nowCloses Nov 30, 2026Award: Varies

Soccer Field Grant Program

From Fc Cincinnati Foundation

soccer accesssports facilitiesmini pitches+3 more

Who can apply: Organizations must demonstrate a plan for community access that welcomes players of all ages and abilities. Proposals must show inclusive use and long-term benefit for the surrounding community.

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Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Up to $750

Afterschool Program Grant

From Georgia Tennis Foundation

youth tennisafterschool programmingsports access+1 more

Who can apply: A school or tennis affiliated organization may apply; instructors/coaches must be Safe Play approved; program must be a minimum of 6 weeks long.

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Deadlines and program details come from public sources and can change. Always confirm on the funder's official site before applying.

Largest Sports & Recreation Foundations

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

CHARLOTTE, NC

Annual Giving

$736.6M

Total Assets

$364.4M

Median Grant

$43.8M

N400unknown
National Collegiate Athletic Association

Indianapolis, IN

Annual Giving

$705.7M

Total Assets

$1.1B

Median Grant

$61K

N400National
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

IRVING, TX

Annual Giving

$126.8M

Total Assets

$88.2M

Median Grant

$8.3M

N40National
Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Annual Giving

$122.4M

Total Assets

$19.2B

Median Grant

$70K

N500National
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Annual Giving

$103.4M

Total Assets

$50.6M

Median Grant

$5.2M

N70Regional
NFL FOUNDATION INC

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$97.6M

Total Assets

$64.8M

Median Grant

$20K

N120National
PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES ASSOCIATION

PASADENA, CA

Annual Giving

$90M

Total Assets

$71.1M

Median Grant

$15K

N520Regional
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Annual Giving

$84.3M

Total Assets

$602.2M

Median Grant

$814K

N710Regional
UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

PURCHASE, NY

Annual Giving

$65.1M

Total Assets

$909.2M

Median Grant

$18K

N99National
PAC-12 CONFERENCE

SAN RAMON, CA

Annual Giving

$58.5M

Total Assets

$65.8M

Median Grant

$35.3M

N60ZRegional
See all 9,790 foundations

Explore Sports & Recreation Foundations

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Sports & Recreation(locked)

Where Sports & Recreation Funders Are Located

Top 15 states by foundation count

CaliforniaView all
Foundations

820

Total Giving

$470.3M

TexasView all
Foundations

770

Total Giving

$562M

FloridaView all
Foundations

660

Total Giving

$539.3M

New YorkView all
Foundations

640

Total Giving

$722.3M

PennsylvaniaView all
Foundations

492

Total Giving

$104.9M

IllinoisView all
Foundations

435

Total Giving

$341.2M

OhioView all
Foundations

409

Total Giving

$89.3M

MassachusettsView all
Foundations

301

Total Giving

$76.7M

WisconsinView all
Foundations

295

Total Giving

$74.2M

ColoradoView all
Foundations

280

Total Giving

$304.2M

MichiganView all
Foundations

264

Total Giving

$113.1M

MinnesotaView all
Foundations

259

Total Giving

$109.9M

MissouriView all
Foundations

216

Total Giving

$110.5M

New JerseyView all
Foundations

216

Total Giving

$69.5M

VirginiaView all
Foundations

215

Total Giving

$76.1M

Types of Foundations in Sports & Recreation

Family Foundation3,153 (32.2%)

$1.3B in annual giving

Independent Foundation2,253 (23.0%)

$856.1M in annual giving

Operating Nonprofit1,621 (16.6%)

$781.8M in annual giving

Private Operating Foundation783 (8.0%)

$61.6M in annual giving

Service Club / Fraternal483 (4.9%)

$180M in annual giving

Community Foundation246 (2.5%)

$125.6M in annual giving

Professional Association194 (2.0%)

$474.7M in annual giving

Other1,057 (10.8%)

$6.8B in annual giving

Typical Grant Profile in Sports & Recreation

Median Grant Size

$10K

New Grantee Rate

41%

Accept Unsolicited Proposals

73%

Most Recent Filing Year

2026

The typical Sports & Recreation foundation awards grants of $10K. Approximately 41% of Sports & Recreation foundations actively fund new organizations, and 73% accept unsolicited proposals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sports & Recreation Grants

How many foundations fund sports & recreation?
There are 9,790 grantmaking foundations that fund sports & recreation programs across 57 states.
What is the median grant size for sports & recreation?
The median grant from foundations funding sports & recreation is $10K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and giving strategy.
What are the largest sports & recreation foundations?
The largest foundations funding sports & recreation by annual giving include ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE, National Collegiate Athletic Association, AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE, with combined giving of $1.6B.
Which states have the most sports & recreation funders?
The states with the most sports & recreation foundations are California (820), Texas (770), Florida (660). Use the geographic breakdown above to see the full distribution.
How do I find sports & recreation grants for my nonprofit?
Kindora's free foundation directory includes 9,790 foundations funding sports & recreation with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by state, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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