NFL Youth Football Fund

About the Program

The NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations and high schools with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of football fields in underserved areas of NFL markets. A partnership between the YFF and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the program makes available matching grants up to $200,000 for capital improvement projects including field surface grants and general field support.

Since 1998, the YFF has awarded $30 million in NFL Grassroots field grants for 241 projects with total development costs of $125 million in more than 70 cities nationwide. Grants are announced and awarded annually in the early spring.

How the NFL Grassroots Program Works

The YFF and LISC issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), or an open invitation to all qualified non-profit organizations in eligible areas of NFL markets to submit proposals for funding. LISC reviews the proposals, requests additional information where necessary, and makes site visits to the finalist organizations. Then LISC recommends to the YFF which organizations have the capacity, plans and partners to renovate their local football fields and to attract increased youth football programming to the site. The YFF Board of Directors make the final funding decisions.

Once the YFF confirms the award recipients, LISC works with local NFL teams and the award recipients to make press announcements and handle media events. LISC then manages the flow of funding, making sure that projects move forward on a timely schedule. The proposal and review processes are designed to ensure that the capital improvements to renovate older fields and establish new football fields will have a stream of maintenance funds and the community support needed to sustain the use of the fields over the long term.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for the NFL Grassroots Program, organizations applying for grant funds must meet all of the criteria listed below:

 

• Be a community-based organization registered as exempt from Federal Income Tax under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) or a middle school or high school.
  Please note:
  
  
  • Schools must demonstrate the ability of the community to also utilize the field;
  • Universities and college campuses are not eligible to apply for NFL Grassroots grants and will not be considered for funding.
• All organizations applying for funds must be located specifically and exclusively within NFL Target Markets listed in Attachment A and serve low to moderate income areas within those markets.
  
  
  • Not all areas within NFL markets are eligible for the NFL Grassroots Program. Specific target markets for this program are identified by ensuring that the locations demonstrate a high percentage of low-income residents and that LISC has the necessary staff and resources on the ground to service those areas.
• Have at least one full-time staff person (all-volunteer organizations will not be considered);
• Be in existence for at least three years;
• Have a proven track record in real estate development and/or parks programming;

 

2011 Important Dates

The NFL YFF and LISC are accepting 2011 NFL Grassroots funding proposals from September 19, 2011 until December 16, 2011. Grants will be announced and awarded in early spring 2011.

Award Amount

Two levels of NFL Grassroots Field Grant funding are available: 1) general field support (e.g. irrigation, bleachers, lights, etc.) and, 2) field surface grants.

General Field Support: Applicants may submit matching grant requests of up to $50,000 for capital projects not associated with the actual field surface. This support includes the installation/refurbishment of bleachers, concession stands, lights, irrigation systems, etc.

Field Surface Grants: Matching grants of up to $200,000 are available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school or high school football field. Matching grants of up to $200,000 will be available to applicants seeking to install new synthetic sports turf surfaces. The ability of these new surfaces to withstand constant use and require little ongoing maintenance costs makes this an attractive option for communities, schools and youth groups to consider.

A smaller number of matching grants of up to $100,000 will be available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school or high school football field utilizing natural grass/ sod surfaces. If applicants choose to utilize natural grass/sod surfaces as opposed to the synthetic sports surfaces, a minimum five-year maintenance plan and corresponding financial budget must be provided in order to demonstrate that the applying organization will maintain the field despite projected wear and tear and potential overuse by youth sports participants. Funds from the Program may not be used to maintain field surfaces, as all grant funds must be used for capital expenditures.

Detailed Requirements

Please consult the 2011 NFL Grassroots Field Grant RFP to review detailed requirements associated with this program.

Click here to view the 2011 NFL Grassroots Program Overview.

Click here to view the 2011 NFL Grassroots Field Grant RFP.